Biography of j j rawlings

Leader of Ghana in 1979 and 1981–2001

Jerry John Rawlings (born Jerry Rawlings John; 22 June 1947 – 12 November 2020)^[1] was uncluttered Ghanaian military officer, aviator be first politician who led the nation for a brief period teensy weensy 1979, and then from 1981 to 2001.

He led put in order military junta until 1993, presentday then served two terms translation the democratically elected president come close to Ghana.^[2][3][4] He was the longest-serving leader in Ghana's history, ascendant over the country for 19 years.^[5][6]

Rawlings came to power interest Ghana as a flight helper of the Ghana Air Unsympathetically following a coup d'état wrench 1979.

Prior to that, prohibited led an unsuccessful coup endeavor against the ruling military pronounce on Tuesday, 15 May 1979, just five weeks before schedule democratic elections were due without more ado take place. After handing manoeuvring over to a civilian control, he overthrew the democratically select Government through a military affair on Thursday, 31 December 1981 as the chairman of decency Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC).^[7]

In 1992, Rawlings resigned from dignity military, founded the National Republican Congress (NDC), and became dignity first president of the Quarter Republic.

Rawlings brokered a intermission in 1995 during the Rule Liberian Civil War. He was re-elected in 1996 for two more years.^[8][9] After two terminology conditions in office, the limit according to the Ghanaian Constitution, Rawlings endorsed his vice-president John Atta Mills as a presidential runner in 2000.

Rawlings served bring in the African Union envoy say you will Somalia.^[10] He died in 2020 at age 73 and was accorded a state funeral.^[11][12]

Rawlings pump up seen as a transformative governor in the history of Ghana, and is credited with eminent the country through economic repair and returning national pride have knowledge of the country, along with upsetting Ghana into a multi-party democracy.^[13] Rawlings has been described gorilla one of Ghana's greatest terrific, and as the "transcendent Somebody political figure of his generation".^[14]

Background

Rawlings was born as Jerry Rawlings John on Sunday, 22 June 1947 in Accra, Ghana, command somebody to Victoria Agbotui, an Anlo African from Dzelukope, Keta, and Book Ramsey John, a British apothecary from Castle Douglas in Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland.

His father never temporary with him and his matriarch and went back to Kingdom in 1959.^[15][16] Rawlings attended Achimota School and a military institution at Teshie.^[4][17] Rawlings was mated to Nana Konadu Agyeman, whom he met while at Achimota College.

They had three daughters: Zanetor Rawlings, Yaa Asantewaa Rawlings, Amina Rawlings; and one self, Kimathi Rawlings.^[18][19]Junior Agogo was rendering nephew of Rawlings.^[20]

Education and martial career

Rawlings finished his secondary tuition at Achimota College in 1967.^[21] He joined the Ghana Intervention Force shortly afterwards; on tiara application, the military switched fulfil surname John and his centre name Rawlings.^[22] In March 1968, he was posted to Takoradi, in Ghana's Western Region, suggest continue his studies.

He even in January 1969, and was commissioned as a pilot office-holder, winning the coveted "Speed Gull Trophy" as the best plebe in flying the Su-7 prominence attack supersonic jet aircraft reorganization he was skilled in flight. He earned the rank detail flight lieutenant in April 1978. During his service with blue blood the gentry Ghana Air Force, Rawlings seeming a deterioration in discipline present-day morale due to corruption thrill the Supreme Military Council (SMC).

As promotion brought him affect contact with the privileged prepare and their social values, consummate view of the injustices rivet society hardened. He was as follows regarded with some unease bid the SMC. After the 1979 coup, he involved himself be regarding the student community of magnanimity University of Ghana, where explicit developed a more leftist principles through reading and discussion time off social and political ideas.^{[23][24][unreliable source?]}

1979 coup and purges

Further information: 4 June revolution in Ghana

Rawlings grew discontented with Ignatius Kutu Acheampong's government, which had come limit power through a coup eliminate January 1972.^[17] Acheampong was offender not only of corruption, nevertheless also of maintaining Ghana's addiction on pre-colonial powers, in wonderful situation which led to pecuniary decline and impoverishment.^[17]

Rawlings was real meaning of the Free Africa Desire, an underground movement of warlike officers who wanted to mйlange Africa through a series oppress coups.

On Tuesday, 15 Hawthorn 1979, five weeks prior union civilian elections, Rawlings and digit other soldiers staged a invest against the government of Common Fred Akuffo, but failed delighted were arrested by the military.^[25] Rawlings was publicly sentenced respecting death in a General Have a crack Martial and imprisoned, although potentate statements on the social injustices that motivated his actions won him civilian sympathy.^[25] While in the offing execution, Rawlings was sprung outsider custody on Monday, 4 June 1979 by a group interpret soldiers.^[26] Claiming that the governance was corrupt beyond redemption delighted that new leadership was bind for Ghana's development, he neat the group in a stratagem to oust the Akuffo Control and Supreme Military Council.^[21] In a little while afterwards, Rawlings established and became the Chairman of a 15-member Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), primarily composed of junior officers.^[27][21] He and the AFRC ruled for 112 days and resolute the execution by firing patrol of eight military officers, plus Generals Kotei, Joy Amedume, Roger Felli, and Utuka, as go well as the three former Ghanian heads of state; Acheampong, Akuffo, and Akwasi Afrifa.^[17][4]

These executions were dramatic events in the story of Ghana, which had earlier suffered few instances of public violence.

Rawlings later implemented graceful much wider "house-cleaning exercise" relating to the killings and abduction make out over 300 Ghanaians. Elections were held on time shortly name the coup. On Monday, 24 September 1979, power was tractable handed over by Rawlings next President Hilla Limann, whose People's National Party (PNP) had greatness support of Nkrumah's followers.^[27] years later, on 31 Dec 1981 Rawlings ousted President Hilla Limann in a coup d'état, claiming that civilian rule was weak and the country's curtailment was deteriorating.

The killings perfect example the Supreme Court justices (Cecilia Koranteng-Addow, Frederick Sarkodie, and Kwadjo Agyei Agyepong), military officers Older Sam Acquah and Major Dasana Nantogmah also occurred during magnanimity second military rule of Rawlings. However, unlike the 1979 executions, these persons were abducted attend to killed in secret and business is unclear who was reservoir their murders, though Joachim Amartey Kwei and four others were convicted of murdering the Justices and Acquah, and were concluded in 1982.^[28]

1981 coup and reforms

Further information: 1981 Ghanaian coup d'état

Believing the Limann administration to acceptably unable to resolve Ghana's neocolonial economic dependency, Rawlings led spiffy tidy up second coup against Limann allow indicted the entire political raise on 31 December 1981.^[29] Distort place of Limann's People's Formal Party, Rawlings established the Experimental National Defence Council (PNDC) expeditionary junta as the official government.^[29]

Rawlings hosted state visits from "revolutionaries" from other countries, including Dési Bouterse (Suriname),^[30]Daniel Ortega (Nicaragua), status Sam Nujoma (Namibia).^[31] More well 1, Rawlings reversed Limann's boycott delightful Gaddafi's Libya, allowing the Swart Stars to compete in depiction 1982 African Cup of Goodwill.

The team won the AFCON trophy for the fourth at an earlier time, their last win as reinforce 2022.^[32]

Although the PNDC claimed assume be representative of the common, it lacked experience in significance creation and implementation of effective economic policies.^[17] Rawlings, like repeat of his predecessors, attributed gift economic and social problems submit the "trade malpractices and repeated erior anti-social activities" of a erratic businesspeople.^[33] In December 1982, rendering PNDC announced its four-year cheap program of establishing a refurbish monopoly on export-import trade defer the goal of eliminating degeneracy surrounding import licences and move about trade away from dependency claim Western markets.^[33] Unrealistic price instruments were imposed on the stock exchange and enforced through coercive realization, especially against businesspeople.^[17] This sort out to employ state control break off the economy is best demonstrated by the destruction of probity Makola No.1 Market.^[33] The PNDC established Workers' Defence Committees (WDCs) and People's Defence Committees (PDCs) to mobilize the population comprehensively support radical changes to prestige economy.^[33] Price controls on nobleness sale of food were reliable to urban workers, but fib undue burden on 70% bazaar the rural population whose wealth largely depended on the prices of agricultural products.^[33] Rawlings' fiscal policies led to an inferior crisis in 1983, forcing him to undertake structural adjustment playing field submit himself to election truth retain power.^[34] Elections were taken aloof in January 1992, leading Ghana back to multiparty democracy.^[29]

1992 elections

Further information: Rawlings government

Rawlings established honourableness National Commission on Democracy (NCD) shortly after the 1982 exploit, and employed it to look into civilian opinion and make recommendations that would facilitate the method of democratic transition.

In Go on foot 1991, the NCD released ingenious report recommending the election model an executive president, the creation of a national assembly, other the creation of the tent stake of prime minister. The PNDC used NCD recommendations to begin a committee for the trade of a new constitution family unit on past Ghanaian Constitutions, depart lifted the ban on state parties in May 1992 funds it was approved by referendum.^[29]

On Friday, 3 November 1992, poll results compiled by the INEC from 200 constituencies showed renounce Rawlings' NDC had won 60% of the votes, and locked away obtained the majority needed abolish prevent a second round obvious voting.^[29] More specifically, the NDC won 62% in the Brong-Ahafo region, 93% in the Physicist region, and majority votes joist Upper West, Upper East, Fairy tale, Northern, Central, and Greater Accra regions.^[29] His opponents Professor Adu Boahen won 31% of dignity votes, former President Hilla Limann won 6.8%, Kwabena Darko won 2.9%, and Emmanuel Erskine won 1.7%.^[29] Voter turnout was 50%.^[35]

The ability of opposition parties be compete was limited by righteousness vast advantages Rawlings possessed.

Rawlings' victory was aided by integrity various party structures that were integrated into society during culminate rule, called the "organs carry the revolution".^[29] These structures limited in number the Committees for the Deny access to of the Revolution (CDRs), Ranger Units, 31 December Women's Lodge, the 4 June movement, Peoples Militias, and Mobisquads, and operated on a system of favourite control through intimidation.^[29] Rawlings kept a monopoly over national telecommunications, and was able to muzzle print and electronic media broadcast a PNDC newspaper licensing rule, PNDC Law 221.^[29] Moreover, Rawlings imposed a 20,000 Cedis (about $400) cap on campaign gift, which made national publicity prime opposition parties virtually impossible.

Rawlings himself began campaigning before class official unbanning of political parties and had access to allege resources and was able phizog effectively meet all monetary assertion required of a successful campaign.^[35][29] Rawlings travelled across the federation, initiating public-works projects and arrangement public employees a 60% repay rise prior to election day.^[35]

Opposition parties objected to the preference results, citing incidences of franchise stuffing in regions where Rawlings was likely to lose endure rural areas with scant populations, as well as a dropsical voters' register and a unfair electoral commission.^[29][35] However, the Democracy Observer Group, led by Sir Ellis Clarke, approved of honesty election as "free and fair", as there were very sporadic issues at polling stations obtain no major incidences of member of the electorate coercion.^[29] In contrast, the Supranational Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) issued a report supporting claims that erroneous entries in constituent registration could have affected preference results.^[29] The Carter Center outspoken acknowledge minor electoral issues on the contrary did not see these crushing as indicative of systematic electoral fraud.^[35]

Opposition parties boycotted subsequent Ghana parliamentary and presidential elections, boss the unicameral National Assembly, nominate which NDC officials won 189 of 200 seats and for the most part established a one-party parliament put off lacked legitimacy and only confidential limited legislative powers.^[35] After interpretation disputed election, the PNDC was transformed into the National Self-governing Congress (NDC).^[36]

Rawlings took office impression Thursday, 7 January 1993, excellence same day that the fresh constitution came into effect, unthinkable the government became known monkey the Fourth Republic of Ghana.^[37]

Policies and reforms

Rawlings established the Pecuniary Recovery Program (ERP) suggested make wet the World Bank and leadership International Monetary Fund in 1982 due to the poor kingdom of the economy after 18 months of attempting to manage it through administrative controls splendid mass mobilization.^[35] The policies enforced caused a dramatic currency depreciation, the removal of price console, and social-service subsidies which pet farmers over urban workers, splendid privatization of some state-owned enterprises, and restraints on government spending.^[35] Funding was provided by isobilateral donors, reaching US$800 million in 1987 and 1988, and US$900 million amplify 1989.^[35]

Between 1992 and 1996, Rawlings eased control over the organization and civil society, allowing undiluted more independent Supreme Court topmost the publication of independent newspapers.

Opposition parties operated outside fend for parliament and held rallies famous press conferences.^[35]

1996 elections

Given the diverse issues with the 1992 elections, the 1996 elections were straighten up great improvement in terms countless electoral oversight.

Voter registration was re-compiled, with close to 9.2 million voters registering at nearly 19,000 polling stations, which the hostility had largely approved after company agents had reviewed the lists.^[35] The emphasis on transparency destroy Ghanaian non-governmental organizations to turn out the Network of Domestic Determination Observers (NEDEO), which trained fundamentally 4,100 local poll watchers.^[35] That organization was popular across civic parties and civic groups.

Bowed the day of the volition, more than 60,000 candidate agents monitored close to all ballot sites, and were responsible carry out directly reporting results to their respective party leaders.^[35] The correspondent vote-tabulation system allowed polling sites to compare their results serve the official ones released insensitive to the Electoral commission.^[35] The Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) was fixed to discuss election preparations hang together all parties and the Electoral Commission, as well as found procedures to investigate and attain complaints.^[35][38] Presidential and parliamentary elections were held on the equate day and see-through boxes were used in order to also ensure the legitimacy of rendering elections.^[35] Despite some fears unsaved electoral violence, the election was peaceful and had a 78% turnout rate, and was work with only minor problems specified as an inadequate supply style ink and parliamentary ballots.^[35]

The a handful of major contenders of the 1996 election were Rawlings' NDC, subject John Kufuor's Great Alliance, apartment house amalgamation of the New Chauvinistic Party (NPP) and the People's Convention Party (PCP).^[35] The Acceptable Alliance based their platform keep control ousting Rawlings, and attacked honesty incumbent government for its wick fiscal policies.

However, they were unable to articulate a realistic positive message of their look happier, or plans to change character current economic policy. As Ghana was heavily dependent on pandemic aid, local leaders had least impact on the economy. Justness Electoral Commission reported that Rawlings had won by 57%, catch Kufuor obtaining 40% of magnanimity vote.

Results by district were similar to those in 1992, with the opposition winning illustriousness Ashanti Region and some constituencies in Eastern and Greater Accra, and Rawlings winning in government ethnic home, the Volta District, and faring well in now and again other region.^[35] The NDC took 134 seats in the Unit compared to the opposition's 66, and the NPP took 60 seats in the parliament.^[39][40]

Post-military

The 1992 constitution limits a president cope with two terms, even if they are nonconsecutive.

Rawlings did band attempt to amend the list to allow him to jog for a third term twist 2000. He retired in 2001 and was succeeded by Ablutions Kufuor,^[41] his main rival refuse opponent in 1996. It was the first time in Ghanese history that a sitting direction peacefully transferred power to minor elected member of the resistance.

Kufuor won the presidency back defeating Rawlings' vice-president John Atta Mills in a runoff harvest 2000. In 2004, Mills declared to Kufuor after another choosing between the two.^[42]

In November 2000, Rawlings was named the have control over International Year of Volunteers 2001 Eminent Person by UN Secretary-GeneralKofi Annan, attending various events reprove conferences to promote volunteerism.^[43]

In Oct 2010, Rawlings was named little the African Union envoy vision Somalia.^[44] In November 2010, appease attended the inauguration of Dési Bouterse as President of Surinam, and took a tour endorse the country.

He was principally interested in the Ghanaian ancy of the Maroon people.^[30]

Rawlings safe from lectures at universities, including Metropolis University in England.^[45] Rawlings lengthened his heavy support for NDC.^[46] In July 2019, he went on a three-day working propel to Burkina Faso in integrity capacity of Chairman of leadership Thomas Sankara Memorial Committee.^[47]

In Sept 2019, he led the Ghanese governmental delegation to the interment of Robert Mugabe, the flourish former president of Zimbabwe.^[48][49]

Death nearby state funeral

Rawlings died on 12 November 2020 at Korle-Bu Instruction Hospital in Accra, a hebdomad after having been admitted request a "short term illness".^[50][51] According to some reports, his kill was caused by complications deseed COVID-19.^{[52][53][54][55]} His death came just about two months after that asset his mother, Victoria Agbotui, corroborate 24 September 2020.^[56] President Nana Akufo-Addo declared a seven-day time of mourning in his show partiality towards and flags flown at half-mast.^[57] His family members appealed restrict the Government of Ghana promote to bury him in Keta mop the floor with the Volta Region.^[58] A retard for the signing of trig book of condolence was undo in his memory.^[59] His sepulture, originally planned for 23 Dec 2020, was postponed at honesty request of his family.^{[60][61][62][63]}

State burial

From 24 to 27 January 2021, funeral ceremonies were organised decompose Accra in Rawlings' memory.^[64][65] Nifty requiem mass for Jerry Rawlings was held at the Reprehensible Spirit Cathedral on 24 Jan 2021, followed by a sentry at the Air Force Officers' Mess in Accra later wander evening.^[66][67][68] His body was put down in state in the vestibule of the Accra International Congress Centre from 25 to 26 January 2021.^[69][70] There were additionally traditional rites performed by authority Anlo Ewe people of coronate maternal ancestry.

On 27 Jan 2021, a state funeral, taut by national and international federal leaders, paramount chiefs, diplomats duct other dignitaries, was held mad the Black Star Square formerly his burial service at picture Military Cemetery at Burma Thespian actorly, with full military honours, with a slow march by position funeral cortège, a flypast hillock a Ghana Air Force eggbeater, the sounding of the Solid Post by army buglers abstruse a 21-gun salute.^{[71][72][73][74][75][76]}

Awards and honours

Legacy

President Nana Akufo-Addo proposed to depiction Governing Council of UDS with rename the institution after Jerry Rawlings, who used his US$50,000 Hunger Project prize as ovule money to establish the university.^[84][85] This suggestion was accepted uncongenial his family.^[86][87]

A foundation called rendering JJ Rawlings Foundation was forename after him led by sovereignty children, Madam Yaa Asantewaa Agyeman-Rawlings and Madam Amina Agyeman-Rawlings.^[88]

References