Hilla Limann

**Hilla Limann** (12 December 1934 – 23 January 1998) be Ghanaian diplomat den politician wey serve as de eighth President of Ghana from 1979 to 1981. Before dat, he serve as diplomat for Lomé den Geneva.

## Education
Limann, ein original surname be Babini, dem born am for northern Gold Coast town called Gwollu, insyd Sissala West District of de Upper West Region. Limann finish ein basic school education for Government Middle School, Tamale, for 1949. Between 1957 den 1960, he study political science for London School of Economics. After dat, he complete diploma for French insyd Sorbonne University, France. He sana get BA (Hons) degree for history from University of London, den Ph.D. for political science plus constitutional law from University of Paris.

## Foreign service
Limann hold de position of Head for Europe Desk inside de Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ghana between 1965 den 1968. For 1967, he be member of de Constitution Commission wey draft de 1969 Constitution of Ghana. For 1968, he turn Head of Chancery/Official Secretary for Ghana embassy inside Lomé, Togo. For 1971, dem appoint am as Counsellor for Ghana ein Permanent Mission inside Geneva, Switzerland. He take over de position of Head for Europe, Americas den Southeast Asia Desk back for Ghana insyd de Ministry of Foreign Affairs for June 1975.

## Politics
After de 1979 coup wey Jerry Rawlings lead, Limann get elect as President on top de People's National Party ein ticket, wey he get strong support from followers of former Ghana President Kwame Nkrumah. He contest de elections after dem disqualify Alhaji Imoru Egala by de then ruling Supreme Military Council, den he win 62% of de popular vote for de second round of voting.

Dr. Limann take office as president on 24 September 1979. He be economic moderate, wey dey support democratic values den Pan-Africanism. Rawlings overthrow am again through coup on 31 December 1981. So he be de only president for de Third Republic of Ghana.

Insyd 1992, after de PNDC military rule wey overthrow am come end, Dr. Limann enter politics again den contest as de candidate of de People's National Convention, new party wey he form, for de presidential election dat year. He get 6.7% of de popular vote for de elections, wey make he come third. Until he die, he remain active among de Nkrumahist political movement for Ghana.

## Addendum
After de handover ceremony for 1979, Military Intelligence people dey report constant destabilising activities from some former members of de AFRC. But Dr. Limann talk say under democratic system, no legal reason dey to hold dem for custody. Dis decision later cost am ein presidency plus de years of humiliation den rejection wey he suffer under Rawlings ein administration. 

## Death den burial
Limann get chronic health problems wey later lead to ein natural death. Ein wife, Fulera Limann, plus seven children survive am: Lariba Montia (née Limann), Baba Limann, Sibi Andan (née Limann), Lida Limann, Daani Limann, Zilla Limann, den Salma Limann. Dem bury am for private burial ceremony inside ein hometown, Gwollu, insyd Sisala District of de Upper West Region, around midnight on 1 March 1998. Government delegation wey de then Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, lead, dey present to mourn plus de family.

## Hilla Limann Foundation
De Hilla Limann Foundation be one charity wey dem launch during de commemoration of de 40th anniversary of ein presidency for September 2019. Ein aims be to stop human rights abuse through education, push human development matters for poor den vulnerable people, promote understanding about true democracy, den raise awareness about human rights.

## Honours
For 1981, dem honour Limann plus de Knight Grand Cross of St Michael and St George wey Queen Elizabeth II of de United Kingdom give am. Dat same year, he get de Order of de Yugoslav Great Star award.

## References


## External links

* Hilla Limann on Ghanaweb