Biography of Jerry John Rawlings.

Jerry J. Rawlings, in full Jerry John Rawlings also called J.J. Rawlings, (born June 22, 1947, Accra, Ghana—died November 12, 2020, Accra), military and political leader in Ghana who twice (1979, 1981) overthrew the government and seized power. His second period of rule (1981–2001) afforded Ghana political stability and competent economic management.

Date of birth: 22nd June, 1947 Place of birth: Accra, Ghana

Date of death: 12 November 2020 Education: Achimota School

Early Life of Jerry John Rawlings

He was a former Ghanaian military officer and politician who governed the nation from 1981 to 2001 and even for a short time in 1979. He headed the military junta until 1992 and then served two terms as the constitutionally elected President of Ghana.

Initially, Rawlings rose to power in Ghana as a flight lieutenant of the Ghana Air Force after a coup d'état in 1979. Prior to that, he headed an ineffective coup attempt against the governing military government on 15 May 1979, just five weeks before the proposed democratic elections. Since briefly handing over authority to a civilian government, he reclaimed charge of the country as Chairman of the Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC) on 31 December 1981.

In 1992, Rawlings retired from the army, created the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and became the first President of the Fourth Republic. He was re-elected in 1996 for a further four years.

After two terms of office, according to the constitution of Ghana, Rawlings supported his vice-president, John Atta Mills, as presidential nominee in 2000. He was the representative of the African Union to Somalia. He died on 12 November 2020 at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Ghana at age 73.

Hometown and Family

Jerry John Rawlings was born in Accra, Ghana, in June 1947, to Victoria Agbotui, Ewe of Dzelukope, Keta environment, and James Ramsey John, a chemist from Douglas Castle in Kirkcudbright shire, Scotland. James Ramsey John was married to someone else in England, and his descendants remain in Newcastle and London.Rawlings attended the Achimota School and the Teshie Military Academy.

Rawlings is married to Nana Konadu Agyeman, whom he met at the Achimota College. They have three daughters: Zanetor Rawlings, Yaa Asantewa Rawlings, Amina Rawlings, and one boy, Kimathi Rawling.

Life After Military

In compliance with his legislative order, the term of office of Rawlings expired in 2001.He retired in 2001, replaced by John Agyekum Kufuor, of the opposition New Patriotic Party in 1996. Kufuor succeeded in beating Vice-President John Atta Mills in 2000.

Rawlings' Presidency

According to Wikipedia, in November 2000, “Rawlings was named the first International Year of Volunteers 2001 Eminent Person by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, attending various events and conferences to promote volunteerism. He established the constitution of 1988. In October 2010, Rawlings was named African Union envoy to Somalia.

He gave lectures at universities, including Oxford University. Rawlings continued his heavy support for NDC.[31] In July 2019 he went on a three-day working trip to Burkina Faso in the capacity of Chairman of the Thomas Sankara Memorial Committee.

In September 2019, he paid a tribute on behalf of the president and people of Ghana, when he led a delegation to the funeral of Robert Mugabe, the late former president of Zimbabwe”

Place of Rawlings' Death

He was reported dead on 12 November 2020 at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Mr Rawlings had been on admission at Korle-Bu for about a week for Undisclosed ailment however Peacefm Online states he died of COVID-19.