Nigerian movie star Pete Edochie arrives in Accra, Ghana, for his Legacy Project and shares memories of his late friend, President Jerry Rawlings.
Famous Nigerian actor Chief Pete Edochie has arrived in Accra, Ghana. The popular 79-year-old Nollywood star came to the country on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
He traveled to Ghana to launch a big program called the Pete Edochie Legacy Project and to take part in events for Accra Legacy Week.
When he landed at the airport, many fans, dancers, and news reporters came out to give him a big cultural welcome with traditional dancing and drums.
Even though he came to work on his legacy project, the famous actor spent time talking about his late friend, former Ghanaian President Jerry John Rawlings. Rawlings passed away on November 12, 2020.
Edochie told journalists that he plans to visit the grave of the late leader while he is still in the country so he can pay his last respects.
Talking about their tight bond, Edochie remembered the special moment they shared the last time he visited Ghana. He said they sat together and talked for a long time.
He said, “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.”
Edochie explained that many people used to confuse them for family because they looked so much alike. He said people in Nigeria often thought they were blood brothers.
He added that they were even born in the same year, just three months apart. “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,” the actor recalled.
He also noted, “I was born in March of 1947. He was born in June. We were born three months apart.”
The movie icon shared the funny but sad story of how he first heard the bad news in 2020. At first, he called someone in Ghana to check on Rawlings because the former president’s mother had just died.
However, the person told him that Rawlings himself was dead. Edochie said he was so shocked that he argued with the person on the phone.
“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,” he said.
But after calling another person in Ghana, he found out the terrible truth. “When people came to interview me for my comments on him, I said, well, I lost a brother,” he said.
Coming back to Ghana without his friend has been painful for the actor. He admitted that it is not easy for him, knowing he will never see Rawlings again.
See Also: Former Georgia Police Officer Arrested Over Stolen Evidence Room Money
“So, you know, coming to Ghana and knowing I will not see my friend Rawlings is… I don’t know. Well, I tried to cope with it,” he shared.
He promised to make time for the grave visit, saying, “I would like to go to his grave. I want to pay some respect to him when I go to his grave.”
Besides visiting the grave, Edochie wants to see some of his old Ghanaian movie friends. He mentioned veteran actor Emmanuel Armah and popular actress Moesha Boduong, who once acted as his wife in a movie.
“She played my wife in a production in Ghana here. The last time she called me, she said she had a stroke,” Edochie said, adding that he wants to check on her health.
Edochie treats Ghana as his home. His legacy project includes a new book about his life, a movie documentary, and a mentorship program to teach young people. “Ghana is a second home for me,” the actor concluded.
Jennifer Baba is a journalist, international news correspondent, and writer at Moderncrux, where she covers artificial intelligence, fintech, emerging technologies, global politics, and international affairs. Based in Nigeria, she is passionate about transforming complex global developments into clear, engaging stories that inform and inspire readers.
