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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday paid a glowing tribute to the late former President, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, whom he described as a “charismatic, energetic and fearless leader”.
The President said the young Air Force officer burst onto the political scene like a meteor that did not disintegrate but remained potent till the end of its life.
“On the contrary, it remained potent until the very end of its life, leaving strong footprints in the sands of time,” he said about the man he affectionately called ‘Comandante’, a Spanish and Italian expression for Commandant.
President Akufo-Addo’s tribute was delivered at the final funeral rites of former President Rawlings at the Black Star Square to climax three days of national mourning of the first President of the Fourth Republic and longest-serving Head of State.