Jerry Rawlings

**Jerry John Rawlings** (22 June 1947 – 12 November 2020) be Ghanaian Presido, Soja den politician wey lead de country from 1981 to 2001 wey he san lead for some small time be for 1979 insyd. He lead soja government ahh till 1992, den he san serve two terms as presido wey be democratically for Ghana.

Rawlings come chop power for Ghana as he be flight lieutenant for Ghana Air Force after he make coup d'état for 1979 insyd. Before that nu, he led a coup bi wey do yawa on 15 May 1979, as Major Abubakar Sulemana (Rtd) of RECCE regiment barb am plus ein boys wey dey come do de coup. Dem lock Rawlings den some of ein boys wey dem barb nu. De Soja govament for dat time decide say dem go kill Rawlings. But on June 4, 1979, some Soja boys wey dey feel Rawlings ein vibes break am out from de gaaroom wey he come be dema leader for June 4th insyd. After June 4 nu, he carry power give civilian govament. After he hand power give civilian government, he san go take control of de country for 31 December 1981 as de chairmo of de Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC). 

For 1992 insyd, Rawlings resign from de soja, wey he go create de National Democratic Congress (NDC), den ge come turn de first President of de Fourth Republic. Dem san elect am for 1996 insyd wey he chop four years add. After de two terms he dey office nu, limit time wey dey de Ghana Constitution insyd, Rawlings support ein vice-president John Atta Mills so say he go stand as a presidential candidate for 2000 insyd. Rawlings go serve as de African Union envoy give Somalia. He die for November 2020 insyd, he chop 73 wey dem accord state funeral give am.

## Ein background
Dem born Rawlings as Jerry Rawlings John for 22 June, 1947 for Accra, Ghana insyd, to Victoria Agbotui, Anlo Ewe wey komot Dzelukope, Keta, den James Ramsey John, chemist wey komot Castle Douglas for Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland insyd. Rawlings attend Achimota School, den military academy for Teshie. Rawlings marry Nana Konadu Agyeman, he meet am for Achimota College. Na dem get three kiddies: Zanetor Rawlings, Yaa Asantewaa Rawlings, Amina Rawlings; den one son, Kimathi Rawlings. Na Junior Agogo be Rawlings ein nephew.

#### Education den military career
Rawlings complete him secondary school for Achimota College for 1967. E join Ghana Air Force sharp- sharp after that. For him application, dem change him surname John plus him middle name Rawlings to John Rawlings. For March 1968, dem post am go Takoradi for Ghana West Region to continue him studies. He graduate for January 1969 and dem commission am as pilot officer, plus him win de big 'Speed Bird Trophy' as di best cadet wey sabi fly di Su-7 jet. E even reach flight lieutenant rank for April 1978. While e dey serve for Ghana Air Force, Rawlings see say discipline and morale dey drop because of corruption for di Supreme Military Council (SMC). As promotion carry am go meet di big boys wey get money and their wahala, e begin dey see di injustice wey dey for society. So, SMC no too dey feel am again. After di 1979 coup, e begin mix with di student community for University of Ghana, where e start to dey read and discuss social and political ideas wey make am ginger leftist ideology.

## 1979 coup plus purges
Rawlings no dey happy with Ignatius Kutu Acheampong government wey take power through coup for January 1972. Dem fit talk say Acheampong dey chop money, plus e no help Ghana stand on e own, make we dey rely on old colonial powers, wey cause our economy to dey fall and people dey suffer from poverty.

Rawlings be part of Free Africa Movement, na underground group of military officers wey wan make Africa one through plenty coups. For Tuesday, 15 May, 1979, five weeks before dem go vote, Rawlings and six soldiers do coup wey no work, dem catch dem for military. Dem give Rawlings death sentence for General Court Martial and lock am up, but as e talk about the social wahala wey make am act like dat, people wey dey outside start to like am. While e dey wait make dem execute am, soldiers come rescue am for Monday, 4 June, 1979. E dey claim say the government dey corrupt pass wetin fit change, and Ghana need new leadership to develop, so e lead the soldiers to remove Akuffo Government and Supreme Military Council. After small time, Rawlings form plus be de Chairman for 15-member Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), wey be mostly junior officers. Him plus de AFRC rule for 112 days and dem arrange say dem go use firing squad execute eight military officers, include Generals Kotei, Joy Amedume, Roger Felli, and Utuka, plus three former Ghana heads of state: Acheampong, Akuffo, plus Akwasi Afrifa.

Dis executions be serious wahala for Ghana history, as dem no really see plenty political violence before. Rawlings later run bigger 'house-cleaning exercise' wey involve killing and kidnapping over 300 Ghanaians. Elections happen on schedule after di coup. For Monday, 24 September 1979, Rawlings hand over power peacefully to President Hilla Limann, wey him People’s National Party (PNP) get Nkrumah followers support. Two years later, on 31 December 1981, Rawlings come remove President Hilla Limann for another coup, talk say civilian rule dey weak and economy dey go down. Di killing of di Supreme Court justices Cecilia Koranteng-Addow, Frederick Sarkodie, and Kwadjo Agyei Agyepong, plus military officers Major Sam Acquah and Major Dasana Nantogmah happen under di second military rule of Rawlings. But dis one no be like di 1979 executions, as dem kidnap and kill dem quietly, and e dey unclear who do di killings, although Joachim Amartey Kwei and four others get jail for di Justices and Acquah matter and dem execute dem for 1982.

## 1981 coup den reforms
Rawlings tink say Limann no fit solve Ghana wahala wey come from neocolonial economy, so e lead another coup wey carry Limann plus all di politicians go down for 31 December, 1981. Instead of Limann People National Party, Rawlings set up di Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC)  military juntas as di official government.

Rawlings dey host state visits from some revolutionaries wey come from other countries, like Dési Bouterse (Suriname), Daniel Ortega (Nicaragua), plus Sam Nujoma (Namibia). De wan wey everybody sabi, Rawlings change Limann's boycott of Gaddafi's Libya, give Black Stars chance to play for 1982 African Cup of Nations. Dem carry AFCON trophy go home four times, na dem last win as of 2022.

Even though PNDC talk say dem dey represent people, e no get any experience for making and running clear economic plans. Rawlings, like plenty wey don come before am, blame di wahala wey dey happen for economy and society on di 'bad trade matter and other bad behavior' from some business pipo. For December 1982, PNDC throway dem four-year economic plan wey go make state get monopoly for export-import trade to stop di wahala wey dey happen around import license and also shift trade from Western market dependency. Dem come put unrealistic price control for market and enforce am wey plenty dey feel am, especially di business pipo. Dis strong mind to use state control for di economy show well well for how dem destroy Makola No.1 Market. PNDC create Workers' Defence Committees (WDCs) and People's Defence Committees (PDCs) to mobilize peeps make dem support big change wey dey happen for economy. Price control for food benefit urban workers but e dey burden 70% of rural people wey their money dey depend on how agriculture product take sell. Rawlings' economic policy cause wahala for economy in 1983, e force am to do adjustment and fit carry election make e retain power. Elections happen for January 1992, wey carry Ghana go back to multiparty democracy.

## 1992 elections

Rawlings start National Commission on Democracy (NCD) not long after 1982 coup, make dem fit check wetin people dey think and talk wetin go help our democracy waka. March 1991, NCD drop report wey suggest say make we get president wey go lead, create national assembly, plus make prime minister post too. The PNDC use NCD suggestion do committee wey go write new constitution, based on old Ghana constitution wey lift ban on political parties for May 1992 after people approve am for referendum.

For Friday, 3 November, 1992, di election results wey INEC compile from 200 constituencies show say Rawlings' NDC don win 60% of di votes, and dem get di majority wey go stop any second round. E clear say, NDC win 62% for Brong-Ahafo region, 93% for Volta, and dem still carry majority for Upper West, Upper East, Western, Northern, Central, and Greater Accra regions. Him opponents, Professor Adu Boahen, win 31% of di votes, former President Hilla Limann get 6.8%, Kwabena Darko 2.9%, and Emmanuel Erskine 1.7%. Voter turnout na 50%.

De way opposition parties fit compete, e no dey easy, because Rawlings get plenty advantage wey be strong. Him win because of di party structures wey dem build during him time, wey dem call am ‘organs of di revolution’. Dis structures include Committees for di Defence of di Revolution (CDRs), Commando Units, 31 December Women’s Organization, di 4 June movement, Peoples Militias, and Mobisquads, and dem dey run am with plenty fear. Rawlings get control over national media, and e fit block any print or electronic media with PNDC newspaper licensing law, PNDC Law 221. Plus, him put 20,000 Cedis (about $400) limit for campaign money, make am hard for opposition parties to get any national publicity. Rawlings himself don start campaign before dem officially lift ban on political parties and e get access to state resources plus e fit meet all the cash wey dem need for successful campaign. Rawlings waka all over the country, dem start public-works projects and e give public workers 60% pay rise before election day.

Opposition parties no gree the election results, dem talk say dem see vote stuffing for areas wey Rawlings go dey lose, plus some rural places wey people no plenty. Dem also talk say voters' register too big and electoral commission dey show bias. But Commonwealth Observer Group wey Sir Ellis Clarke lead, dem approve say the election be “free and fair” because polling stations no get wahala and no major voter coercion happen. But International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) still drop report wey support say wrong entries for voter registration fit affect the election results. Carter Center acknowledge say small electoral wahala dey but dem no see am as serious electoral fraud matter.

Opposition parties no gree show for Ghana elections wey follow, so e be like dem dey run only one-party show for National Assembly. NDC people chop 189 out of 200 seats, e mean say dem get one-party parliament wey no too get legislative power plus e no dey legit. After de wahala wey happen for election, PNDC change to National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Rawlings take office for Thursday, 7 January 1993, the same day new constitution sabi start, and dem call di government Fourth Republic of Ghana.

## Policies den reforms
Rawlings start the Economic Recovery Program (ERP) wey World Bank and International Monetary Fund suggest for 1982, because economy be dey jom after 18 months wey e try run am with administrative controls and mass mobilization. De policies wey dem implement make Ghana cedi drop sharply, dem remove price controls, plus social-service subsidies wey dey favor farmers pass urban workers, plus dem privatize some state-owned companies, and dem put cap on government spending. Funding come from bilateral donors, wey reach US$800 million for 1987 and 1988, plus US$900 million for 1989.

From 1992 to 1996, Rawlings no dey control judiciary and civil society like before, e give Supreme Court chance to dey independent and make independent newspapers fit publish. Opposition parties dey operate for outside parliament, dem dey hold rallies and press conferences.

## 1996 elections
After all de wahala wey happen for 1992 elections, 1996 elections come better well well for oversight. Dem gather voter registration again, wey about 9.2 million voters come sign up for nearly 19,000 polling stations, wey opposition guys approve after dem check the list well. Dem focus on transparency make NGOs for Ghana fit start Network of Domestic Election Observers (NEDEO), wey train almost 4,100 local poll watchers. This group popular for all political parties and civic dey enjoy. On election day, over 60,000 candidate agents dey monitor almost all polling sites, plus dem dey report results straight to demma party leaders. De parallel vote-tabulation system help polling sites compare wetin dem get with wetin Electoral commission release. Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) na for talk about election plans wey all parties and Electoral Commission go fit join. Dem sef go fit set rules to check any wahala wey fit come up. Presidential and parliamentary elections happen for same day, and dem use see-through boxes to make sure say elections be legit. Even though some people dey fear say wahala go happen, election go smooth, 78% people show face vote, and e go success small small problems like ink no plenty and parliamentary ballots no dey enough.

For 1996 election, two main people dey contest: Rawlings own NDC plus John Kufuor own Great Alliance,an amalgamation of de New Patriotic Party (NPP) plus de People's Convention Party (PCP). Dem plan be to kick Rawlings comot, and dem dey blast the government for their bad money wahala. But dem no fit gree talk wetin dem go do or any better plan wey go change how economy dey run. Ghana dey depend plenty on international help, so local leaders no fit change economy matter much. Electoral Commission talk say Rawlings win by 57%, Kufuor gather 40% of votes. Results for district be similar to 1992, with opposition take Ashanti Region and some places for Eastern and Greater Accra, but Rawlings win for him own Volta Region plus do well everywhere else. De NDC gather 134 seats for Assembly, opposition get 66, den de NPP grab 60 seats for parliament.

## After military time
Di 1992 constitution dey limit president to two terms, even if dem no be back-to-back. Rawlings no try change di paper make e fit run for third term for 2000. E retire for 2001, and John Kufuor, wey be him main rival and opponent for 1996 take over. Na di first time for Ghana history wey sitting government go hand over power peaceful to elected opposition member.

Kufuor chop di presidency after e beat Rawlings’ vice, John Atta Mills, for runoff in 2000. For 2004, Mills just gree give Kufuor after dem do another election between dem two.

## After-presidency
For November 2000, Rawlings be di first International Year of Volunteers 2001 Eminent Person wey UN General Secretary Kofi Annan name am, e dey go different events and conferences to promote volunteerism.

For October 2010, Dem name Rawling as de  African Union person wey dem send go Somalia. For November 2010, e go Dési Bouterse inauguration as President of Suriname, and e chop tour for the country. E dey curious for de Ghanaian side of de Maroon people.

Rawlings dey give lectures for universities, even Oxford University insyde England. He still dey show strong support for NDC. For July 2019, he waka go Burkina Faso for three days work as Chairman for Thomas Sankara Memorial Committee.

For September 2019, e lead Ghana government people go Robert Mugabe funeral, wey be di late ex-president of Zimbabwe.

## Ein death den state funeral
Rawlings die 12 November 2020 for Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for Accra insyd, week ein back after dem admit am secof "short term illness" for Ghana insyd. Sum reports dey claim say, COVID-19 complications wey cause ein death. Ein death come after ein mummie, Victoria Agbotui, die for 24 September 2020. Presido Nana Akufo-Addo declare seven-day period of mourning secof ein honor wey dem fly flags for half-mast. Ein family members appeal give de Government of Ghana so say dem go bury am for Keta for Volta Region insyd. Dem gbele schedule sake of make dem sign book of condolence for ein memory. Dem originally plan ein funeral for 23 December 2020, wey dem postpone am secof ein family request dat.

### State burial
From 24 come 27 January 2021, dem organize funeral ceremonies for Accra secof Rawlings ein memory. Holy Spirit Cathedral hold requiem mass secof Jerry Rawlings for 24 January 2021, later nu dem take vigil follow for de Air Force Officers' Mess for Accra insyd for eveningti insyd. Dem lay ein body in state for de foyer for de Accra International Conference Centre from 25 come 26 January 2021. Na de Anlo Ewe people for ein maternal ancestry sanso perform traditional rites. For 27 January 2021, national den international political leaders, paramount chiefs, diplomats den oda dignitaries, attend state funeral wey dem hold for Black Star Square before ein burial service for de Military Cemetery for Burma Camp, plus full military honors, wey dey include funeral cortège dema slow march, Ghana Air Force helicopter dema flypast, army buglers sound dema Last Post den 21-gun salute.

## Ein awards den honors
* July 1984: de Order of Jose Marti by de Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
* October 2013: Honorary degree (Doctorate of Letters) wey komot de University for Development Studies for Northern Ghana insyd.
** Dis award recognise Rawlings ein contribution for de establishment of de university. For 1993 insyd, he use ein US$50,000 Hunger Project cash prize as seed money wey he take sponsor de establishment of de state-owned university (dem found for May 1992 insyd), de first of ein kind for de three northern regions for Ghana.
* October 2013: de Global Champion for People's Freedom award bestow de Mkiva Humanitarian Foundation.
* August 2014: Doctor of Letters, Honoris Causa.
* August 2018: Marcus Garvey Awards.
* December 2018: dem enstool am de **Togbuiga Nutifafa I** for Anlo, development chief for de Ghanaian chieftaincy system insyd.
* December 2021: na dem wrep de book, 'J.J RAWLINGS: MEMORIES AND MEMENTOS' make dem honor am by de Pan-African Writers Association.

## Ein legacy
Presido Nana Akufo-Addo propose to de Governing Council for UDS make dem rename de institution after Jerry John Rawlings since Rawlings use ein US$50,000 Hunger Project prize as seed money he take establish de university. Ein family accept dis suggestion.

Na dem name foundation dem dey bell de JJ Rawlings Foundation after am wey ein kiddies, Madam Yaa Asantewaa Agyeman-Rawlings den Madam Amina Agyeman-Rawlings dey lead am.

For May 2025, Burkina Faso government name street for Ouagadougou after am. Di sign for di road talk say, "Avenue Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, Old President of Ghana, wey born 22/06/1947 - die 12/11/2020." Dem name di street same day dem reveal monument for him friend wey dem kill, former Burkinabe leader, Thomas Sankara.

## References


## Read further
De physical books wey dey follow be relevant to Jerry Rawlings, wey no fi be available online, but dem add in case you dey look for more info.
* Danso-Boafo, Kwaku (2012). *J. J. Rawlings and the Democratic Transition in Ghana*. Accra: Ghana Universities Press. ISBN 978-996430384-6.
*Ahwoi, Kwamena (2020). *Working with Rawlings.* Tema: Digibooks Ghana Limited. ISBN 9789988892999.
* Nugent, Paul (1996).  *Big men, small boys and politics in Ghana*.  London: Frances Pinter. ISBN 9781855673731
* Shipley, Jesse Weaver. "Alternative Histories of Global Sovereignty: Ghana's Lost Revolution" *Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East*. Vol. 42, No. 2, 2022, pp. 532–537. DOI 10.1215/1089201X09988009.

## External links

* [Flight Lieutenant Jeremiah John Rawlings](https://web.archive.org/web/20120201105334/http://www.ghana-pedia.org/org/index.php?option=com_directory&listing=(Flt-Lt)%20Jeremiah%20J.%20Rawlings&page=viewListing&lid=120&Itemid=36) at ghana-pedia.org