Pete Edochie recounts friendship with Jerry Rawlings, plans grave visit

Veteran Nollywood actor Chief Pete Edochie has opened up about his close relationship with Ghana’s late former President Jerry John Rawlings, describing the former Ghanaian leader as a “brother” following their striking physical resemblance and shared birth year.

Mr Edochie, who arrived in Ghana on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, for Accra Legacy Week, said he was deeply saddened when he learnt of Rawlings’ death on November 12, 2020.

The veteran actor recalled that during his previous visit to Ghana, he met Rawlings and the two spent considerable time together discussing several issues.

“I tell you the truth, I’m sad. You know, the last time I was in Ghana, I visited him. We had a very good time together. We discussed extensively, and he promised me he was going to come to Nigeria,” he said.

Edochie said their physical resemblance became a talking point in Nigeria after photographs of the two together circulated.

He recalled that some Nigerians who saw the photographs jokingly suggested that Rawlings was actually his brother.

“When I got to Nigeria, a lot of people had seen the photograph of the two of us and they were telling me, look, this man is your brother actually,” he said.

The actor also pointed out that he and Rawlings were born in the same year, further deepening his sense of connection with the late statesman.

Edochie recounted how he initially refused to believe reports of Rawlings’ death when he first heard the news.

According to him, after learning about the death of Rawlings’ mother, he contacted Ghana and was told that the former president had also died.

“When I heard that the mother had died, I phoned Ghana, and the person I got was telling me that Rawlings had died. I said, you are mad. His mother is the person who died, not him,” he recalled.

He said he later contacted another person and confirmed the death, leaving him with the feeling that he had lost a brother.

Edochie has now disclosed plans to visit Rawlings’ grave during his current stay in Ghana to pay his respects.

“I would like to go to his grave. I want to pay some respect to him when I go to his grave,” he said.

Beyond his connection with Rawlings, Edochie said he also intends to visit veteran Ghanaian actor Emmanuel Armah, whom he said has been ill for a long time.

He also mentioned actress Moesha Boduong, who played his wife in a Ghanaian film production, as someone else he hopes to see.

Describing his longstanding relationship with Ghana, Edochie said the country has become a second home to him.

“Ghana is a second home for me,” he added.