With the demise of 73 year old former President of Ghana Jerry John Rawlings, another tree from Africa has fallen, taking Ghana to the prosperous shift from a military dictatorship to a prosperous democracy.
Early Life and Career
On June 22, 1947, John Jerry Rawlings was born in Accra, Ghana. After his demise, historians take the fragments of their lives and examine them and eventually give them a position in history. Born to a mother from Ghanaian-African origin and father from White Scottish origin, Jerry John Rawlings was a man of people.
In 1967 Rawlings completed his high school at Achimota College. A short time after he became the part of the Air Force of Ghana. In January of 1969 he graduated and was designated as pilot officer. Just after the coup of 1979, he entered a student group at the University of Ghana where, reading and learning about political and social theories, he established a more leftist ideology.
Rawlings is loved to express the truth to authority with his charm and bravery. In Ghana’s past. He is Ghana’s longest serving President ruling from 1981 till 2001. After having decided to restore the nation to democratic rule after its military rule for more than a decade, moreover he is first Ghana’s President of the Fourth Republic.
After the coup which took place on 31 December 1981, he became Head of State in 1981. Rawlings expelled Hilla Limann who said that civil rule was poor and the economy deteriorated. While not ideal, many note the man with his view and viewpoint was principled and genuine.
Rawlings’ Civilian Rule
Prior to his victory in 1979 and in 1981, Rawlings planned two coups. But with the transition from Ghana to democratic elections, he shocked the detractors. Prior to the 1992 elections, Rawlings founded the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and used it to analyse civilian views in order to promote democratic change. The NDC has published a study which recommends the establishment of a national assembly and the formation of a Prime Minister’s post. This study paved the way for Ghana’s democracy.
After leaving, Rawlings remained an African Union delegate in Somalia, a democratic force broker in the Ghana region, whilst working in a variety of foreign diplomatic roles. “The most remarkable thing that Ghanaians will remember Jerry Rawlings for is that he handed over power to a civilian moreover from the opposition something unheard of not only in Ghana but across Africa,” Micah said. “The Ghanaians liked Jerry for being transparent. In his affairs and everything he said stalwart parties or high officials, he was truthful. They loved him.
Vision 2020
In 1995, he delivered a paper named Vision 2020 to Ghana’s Parliament, proposing an ambitious long-term strategy to enhance the human and economic growth of their countries and their networks, as well as rural and urban development. In the 1960s, Singapore had been a middle revenue nation, according to Rawlings, but its illusion was shattered after his replacement John Kuffour had different ambitions for growth. The first move was to pursue Singapore’s example.
Alliance with other Nations
In a “Solidarity of the struggle” Mr. Rawlings allied with the countries of Suriname, Nicaragua, Cuba, Burkina and Faso; he also formed strategic partnerships with the Caribbean countries and some other African countries.
In 1989, Mr. Rawlings welcomed Hon. Minister Louis Farrakhan in Ghana to open a Nation of Islam office which would serve the African Region, against the desires of many advisors who were risking the wrath of America and Britain, and made a move against a determined attempt by the U.S. government to obstruct the reception of Minister Farrakhan by African politicians.
Man of People
Mr. Rawlings claimed he abstained even after his rule, according to observers of his management. After having stepped down, Mr. Rawlings advocated the common man and was close to the citizens owing to constitutional terms limitations.
Ghanaians recall him in Ghana, where Rawlings is nicely recognised as ‘Papa Yay’ – as a warrior in all times who after his time of office, instituted peacefully and democratically shifted influence. The supporters kept the group that they established and worked twice as the elected president of Ghana – the “National Democratic Congress” or NDC, during a vigil in Accra.
“Our founder who has been a legend, and he is still a legend for centuries to come, his legacy reigns, and we are still going to have him in our memory. NDC, as a party, we are going to celebrate a week-long for our departed hero” said the Hajai Mariama Zakeri, NDC organisers.
In 2001, Rawlings shocked analysts, but he managed to dominate Ghana. In 2001 he quit office again. The supporters wept outside his home in Accra after Rawlings’ death on November 12 when the top officials of his party came to meet his family.
Treatment with Refugees
Hundreds and thousands of refugees from Liberia were hosted by Mr Rawlings, displaced in Ghana by a vicious civil war which he had managed to alleviate as a leader of Ghana. President Rawlings has survived by his wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, a candidate for president in elections next month; his 3 daughters; and one sibling, who has passed away two months after Victoria’s mum. President Rawlings will not be overlooked as they leave a global family benefitting from his commitment.
Author: Teejay Okunlola
teejayok@gmail.com