“I Lost a Brother” — Pete Edochie Remembers Rawlings and Plans Visit to His Grave

Legendary Nigerian actor Chief Pete Edochie has spoken emotionally about the death of Ghana’s former President, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, describing him as a brother whose passing left him deeply saddened.

The 79-year-old Nollywood icon arrived in Ghana on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, for Accra Legacy Week and the launch of his Legacy Project, “Celebrating the African Legend: The Lion That Needs Not to Roar.” However, his return to a country he considers his second home has revived memories of his friendship with the late Ghanaian leader.

Edochie recalled the confusion surrounding the news of Rawlings’ death in November 2020. Rawlings’ mother, Victoria Agbotui, had died in September that year, only a few weeks before the former President passed away on November 12.

According to Edochie, when he first called Ghana after hearing of Madam Agbotui’s death, the person he spoke to told him that Rawlings had died. He rejected the report because he believed the person had confused the former President with his mother.

“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’re mad,’” Edochie recounted.

It was only after receiving further confirmation that the painful reality began to sink in. When journalists later approached him for his reaction, he described Rawlings’ death as the loss of a brother.

“When people came to interview me for my comments on him, I said, ‘Well, I lost a brother, but okay, that’s the way God wants it,’” he said.

The bond between the two men extended beyond their fame and influence. Edochie said that during his last visit to Ghana before Rawlings’ death, they spent considerable time discussing Pan-Africanism, culture and life. Rawlings had also promised to visit him in Nigeria—a visit that never happened.

“I tell you the truth, I’m sad. 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,” Edochie said.

Their friendship also attracted public attention because of their striking physical resemblance. Photographs of Edochie and Rawlings together circulated widely, particularly in Nigeria, where many people jokingly suggested that the two African icons must have been biological brothers.

“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 actually your brother,’” he recalled.

The similarities did not end with their appearance. Both men were born in 1947—Edochie in March and Rawlings in June—only three months apart. Each went on to become an influential figure in his field: Rawlings in African politics and Edochie in African cinema and storytelling.

For Edochie, the visit to Ghana is therefore both a celebration and an emotional homecoming. While the country honours his five decades of contribution to African cinema, he hopes to find a quiet moment to remember the friend he lost.

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

The planned visit will be more than a ceremonial gesture. It will be a final act of respect from one African legend to another and a reminder that genuine friendship can transcend professions, generations and national borders.

Jerry John Rawlings may no longer be alive, but the relationships he built and the memories he left behind continue to speak across Africa. For Pete Edochie, Rawlings was not simply Ghana’s former President. He was a friend, a kindred spirit and, in his own words, a brother.