President Mahama remembers late JJ Rawlings on sixth anniversary of his death

President John Dramani Mahama has paid tribute to Ghana’s former President Jerry John Rawlings, six years after his death.

In a brief message shared on his official Facebook page on Friday, November 13, 2026, President Mahama prayed for the continued peaceful rest of the late former President.

“May your soul continue to rest in perfect peace, President Rawlings!” he wrote.

Rawlings died on November 12, 2020, at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, aged 73, after a short illness. His death was followed by a period of national mourning and a state funeral attended by dignitaries, political leaders and members of the public.

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Born on June 22, 1947, in Accra, Rawlings was a former Ghana Air Force officer who became a central figure in the country's political history.

He first rose to national prominence in 1979 when he led an uprising by junior military officers and subsequently chaired the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC). He returned to power following the December 31, 1981, coup and led the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) military government.

Following Ghana's return to constitutional rule, Rawlings contested and won the 1992 presidential election on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), becoming the first President of the Fourth Republic. He was re-elected in 1996 and served until January 2001, completing two terms in office.

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His political career and legacy remain significant to Ghana's modern history, particularly the country's transition from military rule to constitutional democracy.

AS/MA

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