John Jerry Rawlings
1947-2020

Reflections on his passing.

JJ Rawlings; a genuine African legend.

A young flight officer on death row, somehow manages to escape and topples the government.

Proceeds on a brutal and ruthless purge that saw mass public executions...

...of high ranking officials of state including 3 ex heads of state & 8 Generals. Stayed in power for only about 4 months. Held scheduled elections & handed over to an elected president. After 2 years of what he saw as uninspiring leadership he topples that government.

He then proceeds to lead Ghana on a hard, long road towards economic and social recovery.

After about 9 years in power, he resigns from the army to stand and win election as president. Served as two term president.

Would’ve preferred his VP to succeed him but he lost to the opposition candidate who he hands over to.

He became a true statesman.

True stuff of legend!

In all, he led Ghana for about twenty years as both military and civilian head of state.

He brought Ghana back from the political brink and economic dumps.

Back from total state failure and economic ruin to true state recovery & viability.

He truly merits the description as father of modern Ghanaian democracy & economy.

I suspect this is the sort of transformational leadership that Nigerians yearn for, that led us to keep looking backwards to those who caused most of our national problems, as possible saviours.

Enduring lesson: do not hope for the same outcomes as your neighbour’s because you don’t have the same family dynamics.

Rest well JJ.