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BY: Augustina Tawiah
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Ghanaians last Wednesday, January 27, bid farewell to their longest serving leader, former President Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings.
The well-organised and attended final funeral rites for former President Rawlings who had been so deep in Ghana’s political history marked the end of a charismatic leader who identified himself with the grassroots, including market women, fishermen and informal workers.
He often joined them to engage in ordinary work such as cleaning gutters.
Former President Rawlings ruled Ghana from 1979 to 2000, first as a military leader and in his last eight years in office as a democratically elected President.
Major Kojo Boakye-Djan (Rtd), a key architect of the June 4 uprising of 1979, has described former President Jerry John Rawlings as a radical liberal.
Major Kojo Boakye-Djan (Rtd), a key architect of the June 4 uprising of
1979, has described former President Jerry John Rawlings as a radical liberal.
He said although Ghana s former leader may have appeared tough and strong headed to many, he had a listening ear, and could be persuaded so far as he considered an argument convincing enough.
The retired Major recalled that former President Rawlings was not hard wired towards any
particular political ideology, but was basically a person who believed in doing what it took to solve a problem.
Rawlings was a radical liberal – (Rtd) Major Kojo Boakye-Djan LISTEN
FEB 2, 2021
Major Kojo Boakye-Djan (Rtd), a key architect of the June 4 uprising of 1979, has described ex-President Jerry John Rawlings as a radical liberal.
He said although Ghana s former leader may have appeared tough and strong headed to many, he had a listening ear, and could be persuaded so far as he considered an argument convincing enough.
The retired Major recalled that former President Rawlings was not hard wired towards any particular political ideology, but was basically a person who believed in doing what it took to solve a problem.
Major Boakye-Djan, spokesperson for the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) of 1979, which had former President Rawlings as its chairman, told the Ghana News Agency in an exclusive interview, that the Former President was highly drawn to wisdom and intelligence, and would listen if one struck him as worth listening to.
Former Special Aide to Former President John Agyekum Kufuor, Frank Agyekum
A Former Special Aide to Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has revealed that the late Flt. Lft. Jerry John Rawlings and Mr John Agyekum Kufuor got on well before Mr. Rawlings’ demise.
The two Former Heads of States did not see eye-to-eye as the two exchanged words frequently.
In 2002, Former President Rawlings called for “positive defiance” against the then government, a phrase which did not go down well with the then President Kufuor.
Rawlings also constantly described Kufuor and John Mahama as corrupt officials.
Meanwhile, Former President Kufuor who succeeded Rawlings after his 19- year reign in 2000, ward off these attacks any time they were thrown at him.
Large numbers of Ghanaians are filing past the coffin of the former president, Jerry Rawlings, ahead of his funeral on Wednesday.
The open casket is surrounded by flowers, candles and a glass screen at Accra s international conference centre.
Mourners are wearing face masks and are socially distanced, in line with coronavirus restrictions. Mr Rawlings, who was 73, died in November from an undisclosed illness.
A local TV station has been broadcasting the event. Former President Rawlings felt betrayed - Richard Fordjour.
Friend of former President Rawlings, Richard Fordjour says the response and reactions Kwamena Ahwoi s book Working with Rawlings got really hit him hard as it was a big blow. #RawlingsGoesHome#JoyNewspic.twitter.com/NL8Bix0DA0