His Excellency, Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings (Retired). was born on 22^nd June 1947 in Accra, Ghana to a Ghanaian mother, Madam Victoria Agbotui and a Scottish father, James Ramsey John.  He was a pupil at the St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary School in Adabraka, Accra from where he continued to Achimota College to complete his secondary education in 1967. He joined the Ghana Air Force as an officer cadet and passed out in 1969 when he was awarded the prestigious Speed Bird Trophy for the best flying cadet.

In May 1979 he was imprisoned and court-martialled for leading an attempted coup but was broken free on 4^th June of that year to head the uprising of junior officers and men which removed the Supreme Military Council II regime. As Chairman of the new Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) he oversaw a turbulent time in Ghana’s history which included the execution of 8 senior military officers, including three former heads of state.  Scheduled elections were run as planned and on 24^th September 1979 he handed over to a civilian government of the Third Republic of Ghana under the presidency of Dr Hilla Limann.

On 31^st December 1981, he again led the overthrow of the government to form the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC).  He ruled Ghana as  PNDC chairman for 11 years (1981 to 1992) and successfully oversaw the re-implementation of constitutional rule under the Fourth Republic.  Now a retired officer, JJ as he was popularly called contested multiparty elections as the founder and flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).  He won the 1992 and 1996 elections and served two terms as President of Ghana.  He handed over power to John Agyekum Kufuor of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in January 2001.  President Rawlings left office with numerous achievements in governance systems, infrastructure development and foreign policy to his name.

After stepping down as President of Ghana, Mr Rawlings remained a force in local politics and was passionate about humanitarian affairs, both in Ghana and internationally.   He successfully evolved into an elder statesman and was until his death, one of three surviving past presidents.

He leaves behind a widow, Her Excellency Mrs Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings and four grown-up children – Dr Ezenator (Zanetor) Agyeman-Rawlings MP, Yaa Asantewaa, Amina and Kimathi Rawlings.

He died at 10:10 AM on Thursday 12^th November 2020, after a short illness.  He had been admitted to the renowned National Cardiothoracic Centre at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra.