United States – Former Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings dies at 73

ACCRA, Ghana (AP) – Former Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings, who staged two coups and later led the West African nation’s transition to a stable democracy died, according to Ghanaian state radio and the president was 73

President Nana Akufo-Addo said Rollings died Thursday morning at Corle Po Teaching Hospital in the capital, Accra, where he was receiving treatment after a short illness.

“A great tree has fallen, and Ghana is poorer because of this loss,” he said in an official statement after sending his condolences to the family and announcing that the flags would be raised at half-mast for 7 days while the nation prepares for a state funeral

Rawlings was born in 1947 to a Scottish father and Ghanaian mother who died in September at the age of 101. Rawlings, who trained as an Air Force officer, took power in 1979 after leading his first coup, then transferred power to civilian rule soon after.

In December 1981, he carried out a second coup and was the military leader of Ghana until he presented multi-party elections in 1992 that brought the country back to democracy. He won the elections and was sworn in as president in 1993 and held two elected terms for four years, leaving office in 2001

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His old friend and later his major rival, Kojo Boaki Jian, who served as the spokesperson for the party that took power after the first coup, told The Associated Press that Rowling’s death was a loss to Ghana

Jian said, “It was a gift from God to the homeland and I can only ask God to keep his soul in peace”

Rawlings has escaped his wife Nana Konado Ajeman whom he met while at Ashimota School they have three daughters: Zanitor Rollings, Hey Asantiwa Rollings, Amina Rollings’ curator; And one son, Kimathi Rollings.

Jerry John Rawlings, Ghana, Democratic National Convention