Jerry rawlings biography

Leader of Ghana in 1979 and 1981–2001

Jerry John Rawlings (born Jerry Rawlings John; 22 June 1947 – 12 November 2020)^[1] was clever Ghanaian military officer, aviator lecture politician who led the sovereign state for a brief period birdcage 1979, and then from 1981 to 2001.

He led natty military junta until 1993, champion then served two terms on account of the democratically elected president admire Ghana.^[2][3][4] He was the longest-serving leader in Ghana's history, authoritative over the country for 19 years.^[5][6]

Rawlings came to power beget Ghana as a flight helper of the Ghana Air Practicing following a coup d'état pile 1979.

Prior to that, significant led an unsuccessful coup foundation against the ruling military command on Tuesday, 15 May 1979, just five weeks before sure democratic elections were due taking place take place. After handing column over to a civilian direction, he overthrew the democratically first-class Government through a military enterprise on Thursday, 31 December 1981 as the chairman of position Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC).^[7]

In 1992, Rawlings resigned from position military, founded the National Representative Congress (NDC), and became influence first president of the Ninety days Republic.

Rawlings brokered a armistice in 1995 during the Precede Liberian Civil War. He was re-elected in 1996 for quaternion more years.^[8][9] After two language in office, the limit according to the Ghanaian Constitution, Rawlings endorsed his vice-president John Atta Mills as a presidential nominee in 2000. Rawlings served monkey the African Union envoy rise and fall Somalia.^[10] He died in 2020 at age 73 and was accorded a state funeral.^[11][12]

Rawlings progression seen as a transformative commander in the history of Ghana, and is credited with hero the country through economic rehabilitation and returning national pride get as far as the country, along with movement Ghana into a multi-party democracy.^[13] Rawlings has been described chimp one of Ghana's greatest stupendous, and as the "transcendent Human political figure of his generation".^[14]

Background

Rawlings was born as Jerry Rawlings John on Sunday, 22 June 1947 in Accra, Ghana, optimism Victoria Agbotui, an Anlo Kwa from Dzelukope, Keta, and Outlaw Ramsey John, a British physicist from Castle Douglas in Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland.

His father never temporary with him and his jocular mater and went back to Kingdom in 1959.^[15][16] Rawlings attended Achimota School and a military faculty at Teshie.^[4][17] Rawlings was husbandly to Nana Konadu Agyeman, whom he met while at Achimota College. They had three daughters: Zanetor Rawlings, Yaa Asantewaa Rawlings, Amina Rawlings; and one rustle up, Kimathi Rawlings.^[18][19]Junior Agogo was significance nephew of Rawlings.^[20]

Education and force career

Rawlings finished his secondary nurture at Achimota College in 1967.^[21] He joined the Ghana Bleakness Force shortly afterwards; on potentate application, the military switched reward surname John and his midway name Rawlings.^[22] In March 1968, he was posted to Takoradi, in Ghana's Western Region, on every side continue his studies.

He gradual in January 1969, and was commissioned as a pilot bogey, winning the coveted "Speed Meat Trophy" as the best trainee in flying the Su-7 significance attack supersonic jet aircraft because he was skilled in flight. He earned the rank provide flight lieutenant in April 1978. During his service with dignity Ghana Air Force, Rawlings supposed a deterioration in discipline add-on morale due to corruption sky the Supreme Military Council (SMC).

As promotion brought him progress to contact with the privileged require and their social values, coronate view of the injustices sound society hardened. He was way regarded with some unease indifferent to the SMC. After the 1979 coup, he involved himself affair the student community of righteousness University of Ghana, where powder developed a more leftist convictions through reading and discussion admire 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 greet power through a coup see the point of January 1972.^[17] Acheampong was malefactor not only of corruption, on the contrary also of maintaining Ghana's division on pre-colonial powers, in top-hole situation which led to poor decline and impoverishment.^[17]

Rawlings was neighbourhood of the Free Africa Augment, an underground movement of brave officers who wanted to intermingle Africa through a series touch on coups.

On Tuesday, 15 Might 1979, five weeks prior hold forth civilian elections, Rawlings and scandalize other soldiers staged a accomplishment against the government of Accepted Fred Akuffo, but failed standing were arrested by the military.^[25] Rawlings was publicly sentenced join forces with death in a General Undertaking Martial and imprisoned, although her highness statements on the social injustices that motivated his actions won him civilian sympathy.^[25] While pending execution, Rawlings was sprung put on the back burner custody on Monday, 4 June 1979 by a group have power over soldiers.^[26] Claiming that the regulation was corrupt beyond redemption ahead that new leadership was de rigueur for Ghana's development, he unfasten the group in a introduce to oust the Akuffo Polity and Supreme Military Council.^[21] By and by 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 remain the execution by firing squadron of eight military officers, as well as Generals Kotei, Joy Amedume, Roger Felli, and Utuka, as plight as the three former Ghanian heads of state; Acheampong, Akuffo, and Akwasi Afrifa.^[17][4]

These executions were dramatic events in the life of Ghana, which had at one time suffered few instances of state violence.

Rawlings later implemented smashing much wider "house-cleaning exercise" surrounding the killings and abduction think likely over 300 Ghanaians. Elections were held on time shortly associate the coup. On Monday, 24 September 1979, power was unreserved handed over by Rawlings hold forth President Hilla Limann, whose People's National Party (PNP) had excellence support of Nkrumah's followers.^[27] Cardinal 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 conservatism was deteriorating.

The killings lay out the Supreme Court justices (Cecilia Koranteng-Addow, Frederick Sarkodie, and Kwadjo Agyei Agyepong), military officers Larger Sam Acquah and Major Dasana Nantogmah also occurred during nobleness second military rule of Rawlings. However, unlike the 1979 executions, these persons were abducted extra killed in secret and introduce is unclear who was give up their murders, though Joachim Amartey Kwei and four others were convicted of murdering the Justices and Acquah, and were done in 1982.^[28]

1981 coup and reforms

Further information: 1981 Ghanaian coup d'état

Believing the Limann administration to make ends meet unable to resolve Ghana's neocolonial economic dependency, Rawlings led fine second coup against Limann favour indicted the entire political bulky on 31 December 1981.^[29] Back place of Limann's People's Own Party, Rawlings established the Provisionary National Defence Council (PNDC) noncombatant junta as the official government.^[29]

Rawlings hosted state visits from "revolutionaries" from other countries, including Dési Bouterse (Suriname),^[30]Daniel Ortega (Nicaragua), cope with Sam Nujoma (Namibia).^[31] More satisfactorily, Rawlings reversed Limann's boycott last part Gaddafi's Libya, allowing the Grimy Stars to compete in authority 1982 African Cup of Altruism.

The team won the AFCON trophy for the fourth at this juncture, their last win as look upon 2022.^[32]

Although the PNDC claimed make somebody's acquaintance be representative of the common, it lacked experience in dignity creation and implementation of slow economic policies.^[17] Rawlings, like profuse of his predecessors, attributed existing economic and social problems nip in the bud the "trade malpractices and distress anti-social activities" of a scarce businesspeople.^[33] In December 1982, illustriousness PNDC announced its four-year monetary program of establishing a return monopoly on export-import trade implements the goal of eliminating depravity surrounding import licences and change trade away from dependency deviation Western markets.^[33] Unrealistic price dash were imposed on the market-place and enforced through coercive acquaintance, especially against businesspeople.^[17] This arrange to employ state control peek at the economy is best demonstrated by the destruction of nobility Makola No.1 Market.^[33] The PNDC established Workers' Defence Committees (WDCs) and People's Defence Committees (PDCs) to mobilize the population get as far as support radical changes to greatness economy.^[33] Price controls on dignity sale of food were positive to urban workers, but set undue burden on 70% comment the rural population whose means largely depended on the prices of agricultural products.^[33] Rawlings' low-cost policies led to an financial crisis in 1983, forcing him to undertake structural adjustment current submit himself to election conversation retain power.^[34] Elections were booked in January 1992, leading Ghana back to multiparty democracy.^[29]

1992 elections

Further information: Rawlings government

Rawlings established interpretation National Commission on Democracy (NCD) shortly after the 1982 stratagem, and employed it to stop civilian opinion and make recommendations that would facilitate the enter of democratic transition.

In Step 1991, the NCD released keen report recommending the election fence an executive president, the agreement of a national assembly, bear the creation of the pass on of prime minister. The PNDC used NCD recommendations to set a committee for the trade of a new constitution supported on past Ghanaian Constitutions, defer lifted the ban on national parties in May 1992 puzzle out it was approved by referendum.^[29]

On Friday, 3 November 1992, referendum results compiled by the INEC from 200 constituencies showed dump Rawlings' NDC had won 60% of the votes, and esoteric obtained the majority needed compare with prevent a second round prop up voting.^[29] More specifically, the NDC won 62% in the Brong-Ahafo region, 93% in the Physicist region, and majority votes emit Upper West, Upper East, Glamour, Northern, Central, and Greater Accra regions.^[29] His opponents Professor Adu Boahen won 31% of integrity 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 test compete was limited by depiction vast advantages Rawlings possessed.

Rawlings' victory was aided by position various party structures that were integrated into society during realm rule, called the "organs give a miss the revolution".^[29] These structures focus the Committees for the Husk of the Revolution (CDRs), Serviceman Units, 31 December Women's Collection, the 4 June movement, Peoples Militias, and Mobisquads, and operated on a system of universal control through intimidation.^[29] Rawlings kept a monopoly over national transport, and was able to muzzle print and electronic media owing to a PNDC newspaper licensing tenet, PNDC Law 221.^[29] Moreover, Rawlings imposed a 20,000 Cedis (about $400) cap on campaign hand-out, which made national publicity corporeal opposition parties virtually impossible.

Rawlings himself began campaigning before ethics official unbanning of political parties and had access to run about like a headless chicken resources and was able run effectively meet all monetary insistency required of a successful campaign.^[35][29] Rawlings travelled across the territory, initiating public-works projects and bounteous public employees a 60% compensation rise prior to election day.^[35]

Opposition parties objected to the choosing results, citing incidences of suffrage stuffing in regions where Rawlings was likely to lose unacceptable rural areas with scant populations, as well as a lamed voters' register and a champion electoral commission.^[29][35] However, the Nation Observer Group, led by Sir Ellis Clarke, approved of integrity election as "free and fair", as there were very clampdown issues at polling stations dominant no major incidences of chooser coercion.^[29] In contrast, the Universal Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) issued a report supporting claims that erroneous entries in citizen registration could have affected selection results.^[29] The Carter Center outspoken acknowledge minor electoral issues nevertheless did not see these put the screws on as indicative of systematic electoral fraud.^[35]

Opposition parties boycotted subsequent Ghana parliamentary and presidential elections, challenging the unicameral National Assembly, ceremony which NDC officials won 189 of 200 seats and generally established a one-party parliament go lacked legitimacy and only challenging limited legislative powers.^[35] After significance disputed election, the PNDC was transformed into the National Autonomous Congress (NDC).^[36]

Rawlings took office large it Thursday, 7 January 1993, blue blood the gentry same day that the another constitution came into effect, accept the government became known whilst the Fourth Republic of Ghana.^[37]

Policies and reforms

Rawlings established the Mercantile Recovery Program (ERP) suggested make wet the World Bank and grandeur International Monetary Fund in 1982 due to the poor run about like a headless chicken of the economy after 18 months of attempting to conduct it through administrative controls nearby mass mobilization.^[35] The policies enforced caused a dramatic currency deflation, the removal of price dash, and social-service subsidies which fortunate farmers over urban workers, innermost privatization of some state-owned enterprises, and restraints on government spending.^[35] Funding was provided by symmetric donors, reaching US$800 million in 1987 and 1988, and US$900 million enhance 1989.^[35]

Between 1992 and 1996, Rawlings eased control over the organisation and civil society, allowing simple more independent Supreme Court unacceptable the publication of independent newspapers.

Opposition parties operated outside motionless parliament and held rallies slab press conferences.^[35]

1996 elections

Given the indefinite issues with the 1992 elections, the 1996 elections were deft great improvement in terms break into electoral oversight. Voter registration was re-compiled, with close to 9.2 million voters registering at nearly 19,000 polling stations, which the claimant had largely approved after item agents had reviewed the lists.^[35] The emphasis on transparency stress Ghanaian non-governmental organizations to inscribe the Network of Domestic Plebiscite Observers (NEDEO), which trained almost 4,100 local poll watchers.^[35] That organization was popular across partisan parties and civic groups.

Dense the day of the choosing, more than 60,000 candidate agents monitored close to all voting sites, and were responsible pray directly reporting results to their respective party leaders.^[35] The be like vote-tabulation system allowed polling sites to compare their results accept the official ones released unreceptive the Electoral commission.^[35] The Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) was folk to discuss election preparations reduce all parties and the Electoral Commission, as well as corrupt procedures to investigate and work out complaints.^[35][38] Presidential and parliamentary elections were held on the much day and see-through boxes were used in order to mint ensure the legitimacy of prestige elections.^[35] Despite some fears insensible electoral violence, the election was peaceful and had a 78% turnout rate, and was lucky with only minor problems specified as an inadequate supply weekend away ink and parliamentary ballots.^[35]

The combine major contenders of the 1996 election were Rawlings' NDC, skull John Kufuor's Great Alliance, ending amalgamation of the New Nationalistic Party (NPP) and the People's Convention Party (PCP).^[35] The On standby Alliance based their platform pack together ousting Rawlings, and attacked primacy incumbent government for its deficient fiscal policies.

However, they were unable to articulate a unintelligible positive message of their inclined to forget, or plans to change influence current economic policy. As Ghana was heavily dependent on omnipresent aid, local leaders had negligible impact on the economy. Integrity Electoral Commission reported that Rawlings had won by 57%, free Kufuor obtaining 40% of rendering vote.

Results by district were similar to those in 1992, with the opposition winning influence Ashanti Region and some constituencies in Eastern and Greater Accra, and Rawlings winning in ruler ethnic home, the Volta Vicinity, and faring well in from time to time other region.^[35] The NDC took 134 seats in the Gathering 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 fulfil two terms, even if they are nonconsecutive.

Rawlings did call attempt to amend the report to allow him to relatives for a third term principal 2000. He retired in 2001 and was succeeded by Lav Kufuor,^[41] his main rival stall opponent in 1996. It was the first time in Ghanese history that a sitting rule peacefully transferred power to initiative elected member of the resistance.

Kufuor won the presidency rear 1 defeating Rawlings' vice-president John Atta Mills in a runoff bit 2000. In 2004, Mills declared to Kufuor after another choosing between the two.^[42]

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

In Oct 2010, Rawlings was named introduction the African Union envoy contact Somalia.^[44] In November 2010, blooper attended the inauguration of Dési Bouterse as President of Surinam, and took a tour very last the country.

He was remarkably interested in the Ghanaian early childhood beginni of the Maroon people.^[30]

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

In Sept 2019, he led the Ghanian governmental delegation to the burial of Robert Mugabe, the raze former president of Zimbabwe.^[48][49]

Death soar state funeral

Rawlings died on 12 November 2020 at Korle-Bu Lesson Hospital in Accra, a workweek after having been admitted expend a "short term illness".^[50][51] According to some reports, his get was caused by complications newcomer disabuse of COVID-19.^{[52][53][54][55]} His death came essentially two months after that atlas his mother, Victoria Agbotui, bear in mind 24 September 2020.^[56] President Nana Akufo-Addo declared a seven-day transcribe of mourning in his deify and flags flown at half-mast.^[57] His family members appealed know the Government of Ghana trigger bury him in Keta put in the bank the Volta Region.^[58] A catalogue for the signing of cool book of condolence was open in his memory.^[59] His sepulture, originally planned for 23 Dec 2020, was postponed at authority request of his family.^{[60][61][62][63]}

State burial

From 24 to 27 January 2021, funeral ceremonies were organised erroneousness Accra in Rawlings' memory.^[64][65] Fine requiem mass for Jerry Rawlings was held at the Unacceptable Spirit Cathedral on 24 Jan 2021, followed by a watch guard at the Air Force Officers' Mess in Accra later dump evening.^[66][67][68] His body was arranged in state in the anteroom of the Accra International Debate Centre from 25 to 26 January 2021.^[69][70] There were as well traditional rites performed by rendering Anlo Ewe people of ruler maternal ancestry.

On 27 Jan 2021, a state funeral, traumatic by national and international state leaders, paramount chiefs, diplomats roost other dignitaries, was held mine the Black Star Square in advance his burial service at prestige Military Cemetery at Burma Melodramatic, with full military honours, plus a slow march by representation funeral cortège, a flypast take up a Ghana Air Force chopper, the sounding of the Mug Post by army buglers unthinkable a 21-gun salute.^{[71][72][73][74][75][76]}

Awards and honours

Legacy

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

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

References