Former President Jerry John Rawlings is dead.
The former president passed on, today, November 12, 2020,
after a brief illness.
According to state-owned Daily Graphic, the former President had been on
admission at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for about a week for an undisclosed
ailment. He was 73.
It will be recalled that Mr Rawlings recently lost and buried his mother last
month.
Jerry John Rawlings was born in Accra on 22nd June 1947, to a Ghanaian mother
from Dzelukope, near Keta, in the Volta Region, and a Scottish father.
Background of Rawlings
Jerry John Rawlings was born in Accra on 22nd June 1947, to a Ghanaian mother
from Dzelukope, near Keta, in the Volta Region, and a Scottish father.
He was educated at Achimota School where he obtained his General Certificate of
Education 'O' Level in 1966.
He enlisted as a Flight Cadet in the Ghana Air Force in August 1967, and was
subsequently selected for officer cadet training at the Ghana Military Academy
and Training School, Teshie, in Accra.
In March 1968, he was posted to Takoradi in the
Western Region to continue his course.
He passed out in January 1969, as a commissioned Pilot Officer. He won the
coveted "Speed Bird Trophy" as the best cadet in flying and
airmanship.
He earned the rank of Flight-Lieutenant in April 1978. He was an efficient
officer with a close rapport with his men.
During his service with the Ghana Air Force, he witnessed the deterioration of
discipline and morale, reflecting the corruption of the regime of the Supreme
Military Council (SMC) at that time.
As promotion brought him into contact with the privileged classes and their
social values, his awareness of the injustices in society was sharpened.
He was thus regarded with some unease by the SMC. He read widely and discussed
social and political ideas with a growing circle of like-minded friends and
colleagues.
On May 28, 1979, Flt.-Lt. Rawlings, together with six others, appeared before a
General Court Martial in Accra, charged with leading a mutiny of junior
officers and men of the Ghana Armed Forces on 15th May, 1979. There was strong
public reaction, especially after his statement had been read in court,
explaining the social injustices that had prompted him to act.
The ranks of the Armed Forces, in particular, expressed deep sympathy with his
stated aims. When he was scheduled for another court appearance on 4th June,
1979, Flt.-Lt. Rawlings was sprung from custody. With the support of both
military and civilians, he led a revolt, which decisively ousted the Supreme
Military Council from office and brought the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council
(AFRC) into being.
The AFRC, under the chairmanship of Flt.Lt. Rawlings carried out a
"house-cleaning exercise" aimed at purging the Armed Forces and
society at large of corruption and graft as well as restoring a sense of moral
responsibility and the principles of accountability and probity in public life.
Meanwhile, following the programme already set in motion before the 4th June
Uprising for civilian administration, general elections were held.
On 24th September 1979, the AFRC handed over to the civilian Government of the
People's National Party (PNP) under President Hilla Limann.
On 31st December 1981, Flt. Lt. Rawlings led a section of the Armed Forces to
overthrow the PNP administration. A Provisional National Defence Council
(PNDC), composed of both civilian and military members, was established, with
Flt-Lt. J.J. Rawlings as the Chairman.
His interests include reading, building model aircraft, horse-riding and
swimming. He is married to Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings with whom he has four
children - three girls and a boy.
Flt-Lt. Rawlings ceased to be a member of the Ghana Armed Forces with effect
from September 14, 1992. He formed the National Democratic Congress, which
contested and won the 1992 Presidential and Parliamentary elections. He and the
party again won the 1996 elections.
His term of office ended in the year 2000.
He is the joint recipient of the 1993 World Hunger Prize. He holds an Honorary
Doctor of Law Degree from Medgar Evers College, City University of New York and
Lincoln University Doctorate Degree for Diplomacy and Development.
Source: Ghanaweb.com
0 Comments