Jerry John Rawlings was born in Accra on 22nd June 1947,
to a Ghanaian mother from Dzelukope, near Keta, in the Volta Region, and a
Scottish father.
He was educated at Achimota School where he obtained
his General Certificate of Education ‘O’ Level in 1966.
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.
In March 1968, he was posted to
Takoradi in the Western Region to continue his course.
He passed out in January 1969, as a commissioned
Pilot Officer. He won the coveted “Speed Bird Trophy” as the best cadet in
flying and airmanship.
He earned the rank of Flight-Lieutenant in April 1978.
He was an efficient officer with a close rapport with his men.
During his service with the Ghana Air Force, he
witnessed the deterioration of discipline and morale, reflecting the corruption
of the regime of the Supreme Military Council (SMC) at that time.
As promotion brought him into contact with the privileged
classes and their social values, his awareness of the injustices in society was
sharpened.
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 May 28, 1979, Flt.-Lt. Rawlings, together with six
others, appeared before a General Court Martial in Accra, charged with leading
a mutiny of junior officers and men of the Ghana Armed Forces on 15th 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.
The ranks of the Armed Forces, in particular,
expressed deep sympathy with his stated aims. When he was scheduled for another
court appearance on 4th June, 1979, Flt.-Lt. Rawlings was sprung from custody.
With the support of both military and civilians, he led a revolt, which
decisively ousted the Supreme Military Council from office and brought the
Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) into being.
The AFRC, under the chairmanship of Flt.Lt. Rawlings
carried out a “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 the principles of accountability and probity in public life.
Meanwhile, following the programme already set in
motion before the 4th June Uprising for civilian administration, general
elections were held.
On 24th September 1979, the AFRC handed over to the
civilian Government of the People’s National Party (PNP) under President Hilla
Limann.
On 31st December 1981, Flt. Lt. Rawlings led a
section of the Armed Forces to overthrow the PNP administration. A Provisional
National Defence Council (PNDC), composed of both civilian and military
members, was established, with Flt-Lt. J.J. Rawlings as the Chairman.
His interests include reading, building model
aircraft, horse-riding and swimming. He is married to Nana Konadu
Agyeman-Rawlings with whom he has four children – three girls and a boy.
Flt-Lt. Rawlings ceased to be a member of the Ghana
Armed Forces with effect from September 14, 1992. He formed the National
Democratic Congress, which contested and won the 1992 Presidential and
Parliamentary elections. He and the party again won the 1996 elections.
His term of office ended in the year 2000.
He is the joint recipient of the 1993 World Hunger
Prize. 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.
No comments