Jerry Rawlings facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jerry Rawlings
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Rawlings in 2019
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| President of Ghana (1st President of the 4th Republic) |
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| In office 7 January 1993 – 7 January 2001 |
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| Vice President |
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| Preceded by | Himself (as head of state) |
| Succeeded by | John Agyekum Kufuor |
| Head of State of Ghana Chairman of the Provisional National Defence Council |
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| In office 31 December 1981 – 7 January 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Hilla Limann |
| Head of State of Ghana Chairman of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council |
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| In office 4 June 1979 – 24 September 1979 |
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| Preceded by | General Fred Akuffo |
| Succeeded by | Hilla Limann |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jerry Rawlings John
22 June 1947 Accra, Gold Coast (now Ghana) |
| Died | 12 November 2020 (aged 73) Accra, Ghana |
| Resting place | Burma Camp |
| Political party | National Democratic Congress (after 1992) |
| Spouses |
Nana Konadu Agyeman
(m. 1977) |
| Children | 4, including Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings |
| Profession | Fighter pilot |
| Awards | UDS Honorary Award |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Ghana |
| Branch/service |  Ghana Air Force |
| Years of service | 1968–1992 |
| Rank | Flight lieutenant |
Jerry John Rawlings (born 22 June 1947 – died 12 November 2020) was a military officer and politician from Ghana. He led the country for a short time in 1979, and then again from 1981 to 2001. He first led a military government until 1992. After that, he became the democratically elected President of Ghana for two terms.
Rawlings became a leader in Ghana as a flight lieutenant in the Ghana Air Force. This happened after a military takeover in 1979. Before that, he tried to lead a coup on 15 May 1979, but it failed. He then handed power to a civilian government. However, he took control again on 31 December 1981 as the head of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC).
In 1992, Rawlings left the military and started the National Democratic Congress (NDC) political party. He then became the first President of Ghana's Fourth Republic. He was re-elected in 1996 for another four years. After serving two terms, which was the limit by the Ghanaian Constitution, Rawlings supported his vice-president, John Atta Mills, as the next presidential candidate in 2000. Rawlings also worked as an African Union envoy to Somalia. He passed away in November 2020 at age 73 and was given a state funeral.
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Early Life and Military Career
Jerry Rawlings John was born on 22 June 1947 in Accra, Ghana. His mother, Victoria Agbotui, was from the Anlo Ewe people. His father, James Ramsey John, was a British chemist.
Rawlings went to Achimota School and later a military academy in Teshie. He married Nana Konadu Agyeman, whom he met at Achimota College. They had three daughters: Zanetor, Yaa Asantewaa, and Amina. They also had one son, Kimathi.
Joining the Air Force
Rawlings finished high school in 1967. Soon after, he joined the Ghana Air Force. When he applied, the military changed his name from Jerry Rawlings John to Jerry John Rawlings. In March 1968, he went to Takoradi to continue his training.
He graduated in January 1969 as a pilot officer. He won the "Speed Bird Trophy" for being the best cadet in flying the Su-7 jet aircraft. He was very skilled in aerobatics. In April 1978, he became a flight lieutenant.
While serving in the Ghana Air Force, Rawlings noticed that discipline and morale were getting worse. He felt this was due to corruption in the Supreme Military Council (SMC) government. As he met more privileged people, he became more concerned about unfairness in society.
Taking Power in 1979
Rawlings was unhappy with the government of Ignatius Kutu Acheampong, which had taken power in 1972. Acheampong's government was accused of corruption and causing economic problems for Ghana.
Rawlings was part of a secret group of military officers called the Free Africa Movement. They wanted to unite Africa through military takeovers. On 15 May 1979, just five weeks before new elections, Rawlings and six other soldiers tried to overthrow General Fred Akuffo's government. They failed and were arrested.
Rawlings was sentenced to death, but his words about social unfairness gained him support from ordinary people. While waiting for his execution, a group of soldiers freed him on 4 June 1979. Rawlings then led a successful coup to remove the Akuffo government. He said the government was too corrupt and Ghana needed new leaders.
Soon after, Rawlings became the Chairman of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC). This council was made up mostly of junior officers. They ruled for 112 days. During this time, eight military officers, including three former Ghanaian heads of state, were executed. Rawlings also started a "house-cleaning exercise" that led to the deaths of many Ghanaians.
Elections were held shortly after the coup. On 24 September 1979, Rawlings peacefully handed over power to President Hilla Limann.
Return to Power in 1981
Two years later, on 31 December 1981, Rawlings removed President Hilla Limann from power in another coup d'état. He claimed that the civilian government was weak and Ghana's economy was getting worse.
Instead of Limann's party, Rawlings set up the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) as the new government. This was a military government.
Rawlings welcomed leaders from other countries who were also seen as "revolutionaries." He also ended Limann's boycott of Gaddafist Libya. This allowed the Black Stars (Ghana's national football team) to play in the 1982 African Cup of Nations. They won the trophy for the fourth time.
The PNDC government tried to fix Ghana's economy. They believed that some business people were causing problems through "bad trade practices." In December 1982, the PNDC announced a plan to control trade. They also put price controls on goods, especially food. This helped people in cities but made things harder for farmers. Rawlings' economic plans led to a crisis in 1983. This forced him to make changes and agree to new elections to stay in power.
Becoming President in 1992
Rawlings created the National Commission on Democracy (NCD) after the 1981 coup. This group gathered opinions from citizens to help Ghana move towards democracy. In March 1991, the NCD suggested having an elected president and a national assembly.
The PNDC used these ideas to write a new constitution. In May 1992, the ban on political parties was lifted after the new constitution was approved.
On 3 November 1992, elections were held. Rawlings' NDC party won 60% of the votes. This meant he had enough votes to win without a second round. His main opponent, Professor Adu Boahen, received 31% of the votes.
Rawlings had many advantages in the election. He had strong support groups across the country. He also controlled the national media, which helped him share his message. He started campaigning before political parties were officially allowed and used government resources. He traveled around the country, starting public projects and giving government workers a pay raise before the election.
Some opposition parties complained about the election results. They claimed there were problems like too many votes in some areas and issues with the voter list. However, international observers like the Commonwealth Observer Group said the election was "free and fair." Other groups like the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and the Carter Center noted minor issues but did not see widespread fraud.
After the election, opposition parties boycotted the next parliamentary elections. Rawlings' NDC party won most of the seats, creating a parliament that was largely one-sided. The PNDC then became the National Democratic Congress (NDC) political party.
Rawlings officially became president on 7 January 1993. On the same day, the new constitution came into effect, and Ghana became known as the Fourth Republic of Ghana.
Policies and Reforms
After facing economic difficulties, Rawlings adopted the Economic Recovery Program (ERP). This program was suggested by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in 1982. The ERP led to changes like reducing the value of Ghana's money, removing price controls, and selling off some government-owned businesses. These changes helped farmers more than city workers. International donors provided significant funding to support these programs.
Between 1992 and 1996, Rawlings allowed more freedom for the legal system and independent newspapers. Opposition parties could hold rallies and press conferences outside of parliament.
Re-election in 1996
The 1996 elections were much better organized than the 1992 elections. Voter registration was redone, and nearly 9.2 million people registered. Ghanaian non-governmental organizations created the Network of Domestic Election Observers (NEDEO). This group trained thousands of local people to watch the polls.
On election day, over 60,000 people watched almost all polling stations. They reported results directly to their party leaders. A committee called the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) was set up to discuss election plans and handle complaints. Presidential and parliamentary elections were held on the same day, and clear ballot boxes were used to ensure fairness. The election was peaceful, with a high voter turnout of 78%.
The two main candidates in 1996 were Rawlings' NDC and John Kufuor's Great Alliance. The Great Alliance criticized Rawlings' government for its economic policies. However, they didn't offer clear new plans of their own.
The Electoral Commission announced that Rawlings had won with 57% of the votes, while Kufuor received 40%. The results were similar to 1992, with Rawlings winning strongly in his home region and other areas. The NDC also won 134 seats in parliament, compared to the opposition's 66 seats.
After His Presidency
The 1992 constitution states that a president can only serve two terms. Rawlings did not try to change this rule to run for a third term in 2000. He retired in 2001. His main rival, John Agyekum Kufuor, succeeded him. This was a historic moment for Ghana, as it was the first time a sitting government peacefully handed over power to an elected opposition leader.
Kufuor won the presidency after defeating Rawlings' vice-president, John Atta Mills, in a second round of voting in 2000.
Post-Presidency Activities
In November 2000, Rawlings was named the first "Eminent Person" for the International Year of Volunteers by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. He attended events to promote volunteerism.
In October 2010, Rawlings became the African Union envoy to Somalia. He also gave lectures at universities, including Oxford University in England. Rawlings continued to strongly support his NDC party. In July 2019, he visited Burkina Faso as Chairman of the Thomas Sankara Memorial Committee. In September 2019, he paid tribute to Robert Mugabe, the late former president of Zimbabwe, on behalf of Ghana.
Death and Funeral
Rawlings passed away on 12 November 2020 at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra. He had been admitted for a short illness. Some reports suggested his death was due to complications from COVID-19. His death came almost two months after his mother, Victoria Agbotui, passed away.
President Nana Akufo-Addo declared a seven-day period of mourning for Rawlings, and flags were flown at half-mast. His family asked the Government of Ghana to bury him in Keta. A book of condolence was opened for people to sign in his memory. His funeral, originally planned for December 2020, was postponed at his family's request.
State Burial
From 24 to 27 January 2021, funeral ceremonies were held in Accra to honor Rawlings. A special mass was held at the Holy Spirit Cathedral on 24 January. His body was laid in state at the Accra International Conference Centre from 25 to 26 January. The Anlo Ewe people, his mother's ethnic group, also performed traditional rites.
On 27 January 2021, a state funeral was held at the Black Star Square. Many national and international leaders, chiefs, and diplomats attended. He was then buried with full military honors at the Military Cemetery at Burma Camp. This included a slow march, a helicopter flypast by the Ghana Air Force, and a 21-gun salute.
Awards and Honours
- July 1984: Received the Order of Jose Marti from Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
- October 2013: Awarded an Honorary degree (Doctorate of Letters) from the University for Development Studies in northern Ghana.
- This award recognized Rawlings's help in setting up the university. In 1993, he used his US$50,000 Hunger Project prize money to help start this state-owned university. It was the first of its kind in the three northern regions of Ghana.
- October 2013: Received the Global Champion for People's Freedom award from the Mkiva Humanitarian Foundation.
- August 2014: Awarded Doctor of Letters, Honoris Causa.
- August 2018: Received the Marcus Garvey Awards.
- December 2018: Was enstooled as the Togbuiga Nutifafa I of Anlo. This means he became a development chief in the Ghanaian chieftaincy system.
Legacy
President Nana Akufo-Addo suggested that the University for Development Studies be renamed after Jerry John Rawlings. This was because Rawlings used his Hunger Project prize money to help establish the university. His family accepted this suggestion.
See also
In Spanish: Jerry Rawlings para niños
