Former Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings poses 29 September 2001 with five-year-old Dickson Mungai (L) and 18-month-old Edel Wanjiru, both HIV positive at the Nyumbani Children’s home in Nairobi. Rawlings is in the country on a three-day visit to lead a campaign against AIDS as a UN Volunteers’ Eminent Person, Kenyan media reported. Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi declared HIV/AIDS a national disaster in November 1999, and recently the health ministry announced that it would import 300 million condoms. / AFP / SIMON MAINA (Photo credit: SIMON MAINA/AFP via Getty Images)
A pilot by profession, J.J led the military junta of June 4th 1979 and became head of state. After handing power over to a civilian government, he took back control of the country on 31 December 1981 as the chairman of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC).
In 1992, Rawlings resigned from the military, founded the National Democratic Congress. He retired in 2001 and was succeeded by John Agyekum Kufuor after a keenly contested election in 2000 with his vice-president John Atta Mills (opens in a new tab) as a presidential candidate.
President Rawlings died after contracting coronavirus at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital where he was in intensive care where he was responding to treatment.
President JJ Rawlings was 73. He left behind a wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings and 4 children along with several admirers and adopted children.
Scroll to the images of the life of “The Man of the people” a.k.a Junior Jesus as we mourn his death and celebrate his life.
Former Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings poses 29 September 2001 with five-year-old Dickson Mungai (L) and 18-month-old Edel Wanjiru, both HIV positive at the Nyumbani Children’s home in Nairobi. Rawlings is in the country on a three-day visit to lead a campaign against AIDS as a UN Volunteers’ EminGhanaian President Jerry Rawlings is cheered by supporters after he cast his vote in his country presidential and parliamentary elections in Accra 07 December 1992. (Photo credit: ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP via Getty Images)Convoi militaire de l’armée ghanéenne, 20 janvier 1982, Ghana. (Photo by Jérôme CHATIN/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)Portrait de Jerry Rawlings, futur président du Ghana, circa 1980. (Photo by Daniel SIMON/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)South African President Nelson Mandela (R) waves to spectators as he and President of Ghana Jerry Rawlings (L) inspects, 09 July the guard of honour on Rawlings arrival at the Union building in Pretoria. Rawlings arrived yesterday for a two day state visit to South Africa. / AFP / ODD ANDERSENWASHINGTON, : US President Bill Clinton (R) bids farewell to Jerry Rawlings (L), the president of Ghana, after meetings at the White House in Washington 09 March 1995. President Rawlings is on an official working visit to Washington. (COLOR KEY: Clinton’s tie has red.) AFP PHOTO (Photo credit: PAULCuban President Fidel Castro salutes honor troops 29 September 1998 during a welcome ceremony for Ghanan President Jerry Rawlings(L) at the State Council in downtown Havana. Rawlings is on a two-day official visit to Cuba. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO/ADALBERTO ROQUE / AFP / ADALBERTO ROQUEACCRA, GHANA – NOVEMBER 08 1999: The Queen With Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings, President Of Ghana, Attending A Durbar Of Chiefs Of Tribes During Her Visit To Accra, Ghana. (Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)TRIPOLI, LIBYA – AUGUST : President of Ghana Jerry John Rawlings and Muammar Al Gaddafi during the 18th Anniversary Of The Libyan Revolution in 1987 (Photo by Francois LOCHON /GAMMA/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images )TRIPOLI, LIBYA – AUGUST: President of Ghana Jerry John Rawlings gives a speech during the 18th Anniversary Of The Libyan Revolution in 1987 (Photo by Francois LOCHON /GAMMA/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images )Outgoing Ghanean President Jerry Rawlings (R) flanked by his chosen successor, incumbent Vice-President John Mills (L) addresses his supporters during an election rally held in Accra 05 December 2000, two days before Ghana ‘s general elections. / AFP / ISSOUF SANOGOFormer Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings and wife, Nana attend a ceremony marking Ghanaian first oil production in Takoradi on December 15, 2010. PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP via Getty ImagesGhana’s former President Jerry Rawlings (C), who is also the Africa Union High Representative for Somalia, speaks to the Black Stars, Ghana’s national football team following a training session on March 23, 2011 in the Kenyan capital Nairobi. AFP PHOTO/ TONY KARUMBAGHANA – AUGUST 14: Silver Jubilee of Ashantis king, Otumfo Opoku II In Kumasi, Ghana On August 14, 1995 – Jerry Rawlings- King Zulithini. (Photo by Marc DEVILLE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)BEVERLY HILLS, CA – OCTOBER 31: Superstar singer Michael Jackson (L) presents a gold sword to the President of the West African nation of Ghana, Jerry Rawlings (R), on behalf of Saudi Arabian Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Al-Saud during a dinner at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA, 01 November. TWASHINGTON, : US President Bill Clinton (2ND-R), First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton (2ND-L), Ghana’s President Jerry John Rawling (L) and his wife Nana Kondau Agyeman-Rawlings (R) pose at the North Portico of the White House 24 February in Washington, DC. Clinton hosted a state dinner for Rawlings duJJ Rawlings, Barrack Obama, J.E.A Mills, John Agyekum Kuffuor during Obama’s visit to Ghana in 2009J.J Rawlings and mother on her centenary birthday. Photo By Yaw PareJ.J Rawlings @ 70 flanked by his wife, Nana Konadu and daughters; Zanetor, Amina, Yaa Asantewaa and Ohemaa . Photo by Yaw Pare
