Ghana’s former President, Jerry John Rawlings has died at age 73.
Rawlings passed on in the early hours of Thursday, November 12, 2020 at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra.
The 73-year-old is said to have contracted COVID-19 and had been on admission at the Intensive Care Unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital since Saturday.
Rawlings, a former military leader is Ghana’s longest-serving Head of State. He first came to power through a coup detat in 1979 and then 1981.
He led a military junta from 1981 until 1992 when he was democratically elected as President of the Republic of Ghana. He was re-elected in 1998 and left power in 2001.
The late president was born in Accra on June 22, 1947 to Madam Victoria Agbotui, a native of Dzelukope in the Volta Region and James Ramsey John, a Scotish chemist.
He attended Achimota School before enrolling in the Ghana Armed Forces to qualify as a Pilot Officer in 1969.
Mr Rawlings was married to Nana Konadu Agyemang, the flagbearer of National Democratic Party (NDC).
The couple had four children together including three daughters named Zanetor, Yaa Asantewaa, Amina, and Kimathi Rawlings their only son.
Rawlings is the founder of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He had several nicknames and was affectionately called ‘Papa Jay’, ‘Dr Boom’, ‘Junior Jesus’, ‘Chemical Interrogator’ and ‘Special Envoy to Antoa Nyama‘.
In 2009, the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II conferred the traditional title ‘Agyewodin’ on Mr Rawlings for promoting democracy in the country.
The late ex-president was last seen in public on October 19, 2020 during the final funeral rites of his mother, Victoria Agbotui.
SOURCE: Kasatintin.com
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