Former President Jerry Rawlings Addressing the UN General Assembly

Flight Lieutenant (Retired) Jerry John Rawlings (born June 22, 1947 in Accra) was twice the president of Ghana. His first presidential term was acquired through a military coup, while his second was as head of the elected government. Prior to independence Ghana was the British Gold Coast colony. ... June 4 is the 155th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (156th in leap years), with 210 days remaining. ... For the song by The Smashing Pumpkins, see 1979 (song). ... September 24 is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the song by The Smashing Pumpkins, see 1979 (song). ... December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 7 is the seventh day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Prof. ... Lt. ... Hilla Limann (December 12, 1934–January 23, 1998) was the President of Ghana from September 24, 1979 to December 31, 1981. ... Hilla Limann (December 12, 1934–January 23, 1998) was the President of Ghana from September 24, 1979 to December 31, 1981. ... John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor (born December 8, 1938) is the current president of Ghana, since January 7, 2001. ... June 22 is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 192 days remaining. ... Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... Keta (russian кета) is a salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) of the Pacific, has a wide geographic range (Alaska, Canada, Washington, Oregon, California, Kamchatka, Kuril Islands, Sakhalin, Khabarovsk Krai, Primorsky Krai, Korea, Japan, et cetera). ... The National Democratic Congress is a political party in Ghana, founded by former president Jerry John Rawlings. ... Image File history File links Former Ghanaian president Jerry Rawlings. ... Image File history File links Former Ghanaian president Jerry Rawlings. ... A Flight Lieutenants sleeve/shoulder insignia Flight Lieutenant (abbreviated as Flt Lt and pronounced as flight lef-tenant, see Lieutenant) is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. ... June 22 is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 192 days remaining. ... Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... Accra, population 1,970,400 (2005), is the capital of Ghana. ...

Rawlings is married to Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings and has four children: three girls and a boy. He is the joint recipient of the 1993 World Hunger Award. He holds an Honorary Doctor of Law Degree from Medgar Evers College, City University of New York and Lincoln University Doctorate Degree for Diplomacy and Development.

Background

Rawlings was born in 1947, to a Ghanaian mother from Dzelukope, near Keta, in the Volta Region, and a Scottish father. He was educated at Achimota School, but did not obtain his General Certificate of Education 'O' Level due to disciplinary problems. He enlisted as a Flight Cadet in the Ghana Air Force in August 1967, and was subsequently selected for officer cadet training at the Ghana Military Academy and Training School, Teshie, in Accra. Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... Keta (russian кета) is a salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) of the Pacific, has a wide geographic range (Alaska, Canada, Washington, Oregon, California, Kamchatka, Kuril Islands, Sakhalin, Khabarovsk Krai, Primorsky Krai, Korea, Japan, et cetera). ... The Adome bridge crosses the Volta river south of the Akosombo Dam Volta is a river in central and western Africa that drains into the Gulf of Guinea. ... Motto: (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots2 Government  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - UK Prime Minister Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I 843  Area    - Total 78,772 km... The Ghana Air Force (GAF) is the air force of the African nation of Ghana. ...

Military career

In March, 1968, he was posted to Takoradi in the Western Region to continue his studies. He graduated in January 1969, and was commissioned a Pilot Officer, winning the coveted "Speed Bird Trophy" as the best cadet in flying and airmanship. He earned the rank of Flight Lieutenant (Flt. Lt.) in April 1978. Sekondi-Takoradi, population 93,822 (1984), is the capital of the Western Region of Ghana. ... A Pilot Officers sleeve/shoulder insignia Pilot Officer (Plt Off in the RAF; PLTOFF in the RAAF and RNZAF, P/O in the former RCAF) is the lowest substantive commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries, ranking only above Acting...

During his service with the Ghanaian Air Force, Rawlings perceived a deterioration of discipline and morale, reflecting the corruption of the Supreme Military Council (SMC) at that time. As promotion brought him into contact with the privileged classes and their social values, his view of the injustices in society hardened. He was thus regarded with some unease by the SMC. He read widely and discussed social and political ideas with a growing circle of like-minded friends and colleagues.

On 28 May 1979, Rawlings, together with six others, were arrested and appeared before a General Court Martial in Accra, charged with leading a mutiny of junior officers and enlisted men of the Ghanaian Armed Forces on 15 May 1979. There was strong public reaction, especially after his statement had been read in court, explaining the social injustices that had prompted him to act^{[citation needed]}. The ranks of the Armed Forces, in particular, expressed deep sympathy with his stated aims. A court-martial (plural courts-martial) is a military court that determines punishments for members of the military subject to military law. ... Mutiny is the act of conspiring to disobey an order that a group of similarly-situated individuals (typically members of the military; or the crew of any ship, even if they are civilians) is legally obliged to obey. ...

Military coup

When he was scheduled for another court appearance on 4 June 1979, Rawlings was sprung from custody. With the support of both the military and civilians, he led a bloody coup that ousted the Supreme Military Council from office and brought the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) to power. A coup détat, or simply a coup, is the sudden overthrow of a government, usually done by a small group that just replaces the top power figures. ...

As one of his first acts in power, Rawlings ordered the execution of all former military dictators. Ignatius Kutu Acheamphong, Akwasi Afrifa, and Fred Akuffo were executed. Five other generals—Joy Amedume, Boakye, Roger Felli, Kotei, and Utuka—were also put to death. Rawlings is also rumoured to have been involved in the killings of Supreme Court Justices Kwadjo Agyei Agyepong, Frederick Sarkodie, and Cecilia Koranteng Addo, as well as a military officer, Major Sam Acquah. However, a national Truth and Reconciliation Commission, chaired by Supreme Court Justice G.E.K. Aikins, absolved Rawlings of any involvement. Ignatius Kutu Acheamphong Colonel Ignatius Kutu Acheampong (September 23, 1931 - June 16, 1979) was a Ghanaian political and military leader. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Lt. ... Major is a military rank the use of which varies according to country. ...

The AFRC, under the chairmanship of Rawlings, carried out a much wider "house-cleaning exercise" aimed at purging the armed forces and society at large of corruption and graft as well as restoring a sense of moral responsibility and accountability in public life. Meanwhile, following a programme already set in motion before the 4th of June uprising, the ruling junta organized free general elections. On 24 September 1979, the AFRC handed over power to a civilian government led by the People's National Party (PNP), under President Hilla Limann. General Augusto Pinochet (sitting) as head of the newly established military junta in Chile, September 1973. ... Hilla Limann (December 12, 1934–January 23, 1998) was the President of Ghana from September 24, 1979 to December 31, 1981. ...

Limann's administration was cut short on 31 December 1981, when Rawlings deposed him in another coup. A Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), composed of both civilian and military members, was established with Rawlings as Chairman. In his second tenure in power, Rawlings' policies became more centrist, and he began to advocate free-market reforms. However, despite the country's economic success, the Ghanaian government was criticized both at home and abroad for committing numerous abuses of human rights. A free market is a market where the price of each item or service is arranged by the mutual consent of sellers and buyers (see supply and demand); the opposite is a controlled market, where supply and price are set by a government. ... Human rights are rights which some hold to be inalienable and belonging to all humans. ...

Democratic president

Rawlings retired from the Ghanaian Armed Forces on September 14, 1992. He became a member and flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). He and the NDC were elected in 1992 and 1996. These victories were decried as fraud-laden by Rawlings' opponents, in the book Stolen Verdict published by the opposition, which chronicles instances of vote rigging and acts of intimidation and fear. Per constitutional mandate, Rawlings' term of office ended in 2000; he retired in 2001 and was succeeded by John Kufuor, his main opponent in the 1996 elections. Kufuor succeeded in defeating Rawlings' vice-president John Atta-Mills in the 2000 vote, and would do so again in 2004. September 14 is the 257th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (258th in leap years). ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... The National Democratic Congress is a political party in Ghana, founded by former president Jerry John Rawlings. ... John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor (born December 8, 1938) is the current president of Ghana, since January 7, 2001. ... —Prof. ...

Although Rawlings did not complete any tertiary education (he completed Achimota Secondary School) and had only an Air Force graduate diploma, he appointed several technocrats such as Dr. Kwesi Botchwey, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah and Dr. Obed Yao Asamoah to important government positions. This article is about a movement that supports the use of technology to enhance society. ... Dr. Kwesi Botchwey, an academic, is a Professor of Practice in Development Economics at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University. ... Ekwow Spio-Garbrah (born 1953) is a citizen of Ghana and currently the CEO of The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) based in London. ...

Achievements and criticism of the Rawlings regime

• Achieved political and economic stability in a region rife with conflicts, including wars in Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Togo, Guinea Bissau and Sierra Leone.^{[citation needed]}
• Created 110 districts through non-partisan district level elections. Decisions on education, infrastructure, and healthcare all were decentralized and policy-making powers were delegated to the districts.^{[citation needed]}
• Oversaw so-called Public Tribunals, which were criticized for their "disregard of normal juridical procedures".^[1]

Motto: (Portuguese for Unity, Struggle, Progress) Anthem: Capital Bissau 1 Largest city Official language(s) Portuguese Government President Prime Minister Republic João Bernardo Vieira Aristides Gomes Independence from Portugal  - Declared September 24, 1973  - Recognised September 10, 1974 Area  - Total    - Water (%)   36,120 km² (133rd) 13,946 sq mi  22. ...

Quotes

• "I don't know any law and I don't understand economics, but I know it when my stomach is empty."
• "I don't fear God, I love him."

Notes

1. ^ HRW: "Ghana: Revolutionary Injustice. Abuse of the Legal System Under the PNDC Government", 1992. [1] (pdf)

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External links

• BBC report on Rawlings legacy
• countrydata.com report from 1994

Presidents/Military Chairmans of Ghana
Kwame Nkrumah • Joseph Arthur Ankrah* • Akwasi Afrifa* • Nii Amaa Ollennu† • Edward Akufo-Addo • Ignatius Kutu Acheamphong* • Fred Akuffo* • Jerry Rawlings* • Hilla Limann • Jerry Rawlings • John Kufuor *military     †interim