He attended military schools during much of his early years and became a skilled pilot who seized government in a coup d'tat in 1979, and turned it over to civillians. Then in 1981 he seized government again, abolished the constitution, cracked down on dissent and initiated tough price controls. He survived four coup attempts. He shed his military garb in 1992 and won election to the presidency. He won re-election in 1996.
Ghanaian law forbids a third term.
Most of these photographs will appear in a book called 'Ghana Under Rawlings' by Stanley Felten. The photographs come courtesy of Black Tech Company Ltd, Accra. AllAfrica Global Media.