Rawlings, (Flt-Lt) Jeremiah J.

 Jeremiah John Rawlings is the former 8th & 10th Head of State, and the 1st President of Ghana's Fourth Republic. He is also the only surviving former President of Ghana (until he is joined in January 2009 by John Agyekum Kufuor at the end of his term).

A typical portrait of Flight-Lieutenant Jeremiah John Rawlings, the former President of Ghana (circa 1990s)

No single figure has been more controversial or polarising on the Ghanaian political landscape in fifty years of independence than Rawlings, as either a military man or politician. With as many detractors as he has supporters, Rawlings is a gruff military officer, with a touch of the common man. Known for his flamboyant leadership, he is outspoken & opinionated, and after thirty years in the public arena, remains a very high-profile figure to the average Ghanaian to this day.

A youthful J.J. Rawlings, aged approximately 10 years old (circa 1950s)

Rawlings was born on the 22nd of June 1947 in the Adabraka district of Accra, to parents of Ghanaian/Scottish descent. His full name, Jeremiah John Rawlings, is often abbreviated to 'Jerry', or 'J.J'. He attended Achimota School in Accra, and upon completion of his education, joined the military, becoming a skilled pilot with the Ghanaian Air Force. In March, 1968, he was posted to Takoradi in the Western Region where he continue his studies.

 The reception for the wedding of Flight-Lieutenant Rawlings to Nana Konadu Agyeman (January 1977)

During this time, he rekindled his relationship with Nana Konadu Agyeman, a childhood sweetheart, who was the daughter of the first African manager of the United Africa Company (a division of UNILEVER). After a courtship of nearly a decade, they married on the 29th of January 1977.

 Flight-Lieutenant Rawlings is presented the Speed Bird Trophy in recognition of his airmanship

He was commissioned a Pilot Officer in the Ghana Air Force, winning the coveted Speed Bird Trophy as the best cadet in flying & airmanship. He earned the rank of Flight Lieutenant in April 1978.

Stories abound as to the exploits of Flight-Lieutenant Rawlings during his military career. One story exists where he was ordered to pilot a helicopter carrying Ghana's then-Head Of State, General I.K. Acheampong. During the flight, he is claimed to have intentionally performed a manouevre to unsettle the General, who was later alledged to have said that he "saw his life flash before his eyes". Another popular story is that he flew Acheampong's successor, Lt-General F.W.K. Akuffo under the supports of a bridge in a jet aircraft for similar effect. While it is difficult to establish the true events, or whether they happened at all, these stories do add to the Rawlings' legend.

Rawlings first entered the political scene on the 15th of May 1979, when he led a failed coup d'etat in Accra against Ghana's ruling military junta, the Supreme Military Council II, led by Lieutenant-General Frederick Akuffo.

Taken into custody, Flight-Lieutenant Rawlings was tried by court-martial at the headquarters of the Ghana Armed Forces, Burma Camp. The Akuffo government decided to make the proceedings public, rather than a court-martial held behind closed doors. This tactic backfired against the government, as Rawlings performed exceptionally well while giving evidence, rounding against the Akuffo régime, and winning the sympathies of Ghana's military, and of the common man.

During the proceedings, another coup d'etat by elements of the Ghana Army, led by Rawlings' childhood colleague, Major Boakye Djan, began on the 4th of June 1979. Rawlings was liberated from his trial, and went on to manage the coup d'etat personally, either rallying forces to his aid, or persuading other units to remain in their barracks and not come to the assistance of SMC II.

The 4th of June 1979 saw vicious fighting in Accra, particularly for Broadcast House, which changed hands several times. At one stage, the head of the Ghana Armed Forces, and SMC II member, Major-General Neville Odartey-Wellington, announced that the coup d'etat had failed, however, troops loyal to SMC II were once again dislodged from Broadcast House by troops loyal to Rawlings. Major-General Odartey-Wellington was later killed in  a firefight at the Nima Police Station, while trying to form a command post and direct his remaining troops.

Despite further skirmishes around Accra throughout the afternoon, by nightfall, the Chief Of Defence Staff, Lieutenant-General Joshua Hamidu announced on Radio Ghana that the coup d'etat had succeeded, and that troops still loyal to SMC II should lay down their arms to avoid further bloodshed. By force of arms, Rawlings had been installed as the 8th Head of State, pending general elections on the 18th of June 1979, and the transition to civilian rule in September.

 Flight-Lieutenant Rawlings presents himself to the media after the success of the AFRC coup d'etat (June 1979)

The new Rawlings junta, called the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, announced that the scheduled elections would continue, and continued with SMC II's pledge to return to civilian rule, albeit at a significantly earlier date than that pledged by the former régime. In addition, it announced "house-cleaning" measures, to bring military & civilian members of the former régimes to account.

However, Ghanaians were stunned to learn on the 16th of June that the AFRC court had executed the former Head Of State, General I.K. Acheampong by firing squad at the Teshie military range in Accra. Executed alongside Acheampong was Major-General E.K. Utuka, who was the Border Guard Commander, and a member of Acheampong's régime, SMC (1).

The shock of these two executions, the first public executions by firing squad since 1967, was palpable - most Ghanaians, used to the lenient treatment of former leaders accused of corruption, genuinely believed that at worse that anyone accused might be jailed or sent into exile.

This action did not stall the slated return to civilian rule, and general elections took place just two days later. The result's saw Dr Hilla Limann, candidate for the People's National Party (PNP), voted in as Ghana's President on return to constitutional rule in September 1979.

Despite this, the AFRC had not finished their proceedings into the former régimes, and on the 26th of June 1979, two former heads of state, Lt-General Frederick Akuffo, of the former régime (SMC II) deposed by the Rawlings coup, and Lt-General Akwasi A. Afrifa, of the former National Revolutionary Council (1967-1969), were sentenced by the AFRC's special court, and executed by firing squad, again at the Teshie Military Range.

Three former members of SMC II were also sentenced & executed that day - Major-General Robert E.A. Kotei (former Chief of Defence Staff), Rear Admiral Joy K. Amedume (former Commander of the Ghana Navy), and Air Vice-Marshal George Y. Boakye (former Commander of the Ghana Air Force). A sixth man, former Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, Colonel Roger Felli, was also executed.

During the brief period of AFRC rule, the régime unleashed what has become known as a period of excesses, where denouncements and harrowing stories of human rights abuses prevail. These included the imprisonment & torture of members of the military tribunal handling Rawlings' court-martial, mistreatment of anyone who was considered wealthy, and arrests & beatings of traders selling goods above government-regulated prices.

While a rigorous investigation into tax evasion netted much needed funds into the government's coffers, foreign-owned businesses (particularly those owned by members of the Lebanese community) were in some cases seized, and the owners expelled from the country.

Rawlings also distanced himself from the West, instead opting to cement ties with socialist régimes, particularly with Cuba and the Eastern Bloc.

Flight-Lieutenant Rawlings sits on his ceremonial throne during the ceremony handing power to the elected President of Ghana, Dr Hilla Limann (September 1978) 

The heavy-handed rule of the AFRC came to an end on the 24th of September 1979, when Ghana returned to constitutional rule. In an elaborate ceremony, Flight-Lieutenant Rawlings handed over the symbolic scroll of office to Dr Limann, and the AFRC was dissolved. Although Rawlings had returned Ghana back to constitutional rule, he made it clear that those who pursued "self-interest" should continue to be purged from positions of power & authority.

While the newly-installed Limann administration grapled with Ghana's immediate problems, Rawlings "returned to the barracks", as it was put. However, Rawlings had attracted enough attention during his brief reign to leave an indelible mark on the minds of the average Ghanaian.

As the Limann administration ran into problem, people speculated that another Rawlings-led coup was in the offing. In July 1981, Rawlings held a press conference where he asserted that the Limann administration must perform better, and hinted that he may intervene once again if Ghana's situation did not improve.

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