Ghana’s – John Jerry Rawlings (Leader of TWO Successful Coups)
Court marshalled, charged, and found guilty of leading a coup and awaiting execution, Jerry Rawlings defied the odds and rose to become one of the most influential leaders of Ghana.
John Jerry Rawlings was born June 22, 1947, in Accra, Ghana.
From the tender age of six, he nursed his dream to become a pilot and it was a dream that he achieved against his mother’s wishes.
In 1969, he graduated from flight school at the top of his class, receiving the esteemed Speed Bird trophy.
It was this tenacious spirit and stubborn determination that characterized Jerry: a character that he would need to successfully lead two military coups and emerge as the president of Ghana.
“A coup will not succeed if the atmosphere (the climate) is not calling for it.”
J. J. Rawlings
The atmosphere was indeed charged, and in a time of economic monopoly and general civil unrest, Jerry Rawlings became the voice of the people. He embodied the lay people’s dissatisfaction with the failure, corruption, and inconsistency of the nation’s governing body.
After a failed attempt at a coup on the government of General Fred Akuffo, Rawlings was arrested with six other accomplices on the 28th of May, 1979.
His trial was public (to quell further uprisings), yet it was on this grand stage that Jerry distinguished himself as a worthy leader and won the support of the populace.
“I don’t understand these terms and all that is going on, neither do my boys. I am just here, and I am taking responsibility for everything that’s happened…leave my men alone!”
J. J. Rawlings (at the trial)
The ship was going down, and as the captain, Rawlings unflinchingly stood prepared to go down for what he believed.
Fortunately, as fate would have it, it was not his time. In that same year, June 4th, officers supporting Rawlings conducted a successful prison break, liberating him.
And it was his jailbreak that ignited a revolution in the country.
At this point, you would think that Rawlings would take control of the country, but his next action was to form the AFRC (Armed Forces Revolutionary Council). He established this council with fellow soldiers to deal with the corruption of the government.
In September 1979, Rawlings and the AFRC handed over the reins of the country to Hilla Limann.
But this was not to last because, after just two years of Limann’s administration, Rawlings led another coup on the 31st of December 1981.
In defence of this action, Jerry Rawlings stated that the economic ruin facing the country was the reason for the coup.
Consequently, it was at this point that Rawlings took up the mantle of leading the country. It is noted that mass inclusion marked his term in office. It was a period that saw the empowerment of the mass, and the nation’s pride restored.
LEGACY
J. J. Rawlings is remembered as a revolutionary leader who led from the front and was not hesitant to face the fire.
From all that is widely known of Jerry Rawlings, we can note the following leadership qualities:
- Stick tenaciously to your dreams and vision no matter the opposition
- Distinguish yourself by striving for excellence in everything you do
- When the chips are down, take full responsibility for your actions
- Don’t cling to power, or you will lose the people’s respect and affection
POSTSCRIPT
I wrote this article days ago (on the 13th of November to be precise), but I’ve sat on it for a while.
Studying the life of Jerry Rawlings, you would realize that there is more to his story than meets the eye.
In the end, I chose to publish this article to preserve the memory of J. J. Rawlings who, in the eyes of many Ghanaians, is still a great leader.
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