Jerry John Rawlings former Ghanaian military leader and subsequent a politician who ruled the country from 1981 to 2001 and also for a brief period in 1979 died of coronavirus-related complications at the age of 73, according to multiple reports from Ghanaian media.
This development comes less than a month after he buried his mother.
Rawlings, who seized power twice in military coups but went on to bring democratic rule to the West African country, was one of the most respected African leaders. He initially came to power in Ghana as a flight lieutenant of the Ghana Air Force following a coup d’état in 1979. Before that, he led an unsuccessful coup attempt against the ruling military government on 15 May 1979, just five weeks before scheduled democratic elections were due to take place. He was until his death, the African Union envoy to Somalia.
Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana in a statement announcing the death of the former leader of Ghana, while also sympathizing with the Rawlings family declared 7 days of national mourning beginning Friday 13 November to end 20 November.
“A great tree has fallen, and Ghana is poorer for this loss.” He wrote.
Rawlings as leader of Ghana launched a massive anti-corruption campaign that purged the nation of corrupt political elements.