Former President Jerry Rawlings Addressing the UN General Assembly
Jerry John Rawlings (born Jeremiah Rawlings John June 22, 1947 in Accra) was twice the head of state of Ghana, a military dictator. He first appeared on the Ghanaian political scene on May 15, 1979 when an unsuccessful coup d'état he led resulted in his arrest, imprisonment, and a death sentence. But before he could be executed, his friends in the Ghana military led by Major Boakye Djan overthrew the then military government of General Fred Akuffo in a bloody coup on June 4, 1979. Major Boakye-Djan and his men also set Rawlings free from prison, and installed him as head of the new government - the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC). At the time of the coup, Ghana was already far into the process of returning to civilian rule and general elections were already scheduled. Hence, the AFRC was forced to hand over power to Dr. Hilla Limann who won the popular vote in the election to establish the Third Republic. Less than two years later, Dr. Limann's civilian and constitutional government was overthrown again by Jerry Rawlings on December 31, 1981. He then installed the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) regime. So in all Jerry Rawlings performed three coups d'etat in Ghana, two of which were successful.
In the early 1990s internal pressures led by a group identified with the Danquah-Busia tradition coupled with external pressures from Ghana's development partners forced the PNDC dictatorship to accept constitutional rule. Rawlings on many platforms professed his hatred for multiparty democracy saying that it was alien to the Ghanaian people. But as elections drew near, he switched from being a military dictator, retired from the military, then run and won in the 1992 elections which the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) claimed was a stolen verdict although international observers judged the elections largely free and fair.
After two terms in office, barred by the constitution from standing in any election, he anointed his vice-president John Atta-Mills as his choice to replace him as President. Ghanaians rejected his choice in the 2000 election by voting for the opposition NPP's candidate, John Kufuor.
Rawlings is married to Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings and has four children: three girls and a boy. He is the joint recipient of the 1993 World Hunger Award.

Background
In March, 1968, he was posted to Takoradi in the Western Region to continue his studies. He graduated in January 1969, and was commissioned a Pilot Officer, winning the coveted "Speed Bird Trophy" as the best cadet in flying and airmanship. He earned the rank of Flight Lieutenant in April 1978.
During his service with the Ghanaian Air Force, Rawlings perceived a deterioration of discipline and morale, reflecting the corruption of the Supreme Military Council (SMC) at that time. As promotion brought him into contact with the privileged classes and their social values, his view of the injustices in society hardened. He was thus regarded with some unease by the SMC. He read widely and discussed social and political ideas with a growing circle of like-minded friends and colleagues.
On May 28, 1979, Rawlings, together with six others who were arrested earlier, appeared before a General Court Martial in Accra, charged with leading a mutiny of junior officers and enlisted men of the Ghanaian Armed Forces on May 15, 1979. There was strong public reaction, especially after his statement had been read in court, explaining the social injustices that had prompted him to act. The ranks of the Armed Forces, in particular, expressed deep sympathy with his stated aims.

Military career
When he was scheduled for another court appearance on 4 June 1979, Rawlings was sprung from custody. In the early 1990s, the economy of Ghana was still not performing as well as it had in the early 1970s, and ethnic unrest was on the rise. On the other hand, the basic needs of the citizens were being met, many of them by domestic products, and the economy showed steady improvement with guidance from the International Monetary Fund. And Rawlings's reputation on foreign policy received a boost when he acted as a key figure in a mediated peace settlement between factions in nearby Liberia, a nation burdened by five years of civil war. [ http://www.jjrawlings.info JJ Rawlings Website]

Democratic President
[ http://www.jjrawlings.info JJ Rawlings Website]

Achieved political and economic stability in a region rife with conflicts (for example Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Togo, Guinea Bissau and Sierra Leone).
Created 110 districts through non-partisan district level elections. Education, infrastructure developments and healthcare all devolved to the district level. Annual government subvention by law goes to the district — unthinkable in many other African countries.
Absorbed hundreds of thousands of Ghanaians living in Nigeria who were expelled. Housed them at El -Wak stadium in 1983 and then moved them to their family homes. Most other economies, including even advanced ones such as Germany saw their economies suffer when they reunified with integrated citizens (for example German reunification).
Built first ever memorials to Kwame Nkrumah and W.E.B. DuBois.
Followed an independent foreign policy (unlike the pro-West policies of the PP and NPP or the pro-East policies of the CPP).
Returned Ghana to democratic rule in 1992, after a public referendum by a wide majority approved a new constitution. Neither Nigeria, Iraq, Togo, or Côte d'Ivoire were able to achieve this feat (in Nigeria two governments were overthrown during this period).
Passed the value added tax (VATR of 10%) to secure government revenue base, which today funds most government public expenditures.
Passed the Ghana Educational Trust Fund (GET Fund) that is today educating millions of Ghanaians.
First Ghanaian President in 20 years to be received on a state visit of the US.
Expanded electricity to Northern parts of Ghana - hitherto ignored by ruling elites since 1957.
Both Bill Clinton and Queen Elizabeth II visited Ghana during Rawlings tenure to highlight the successes of the country.
The NDC's agricultural policy and programme 1994-2000 resulted in the recognition of Ghana's Food Production Index of 148% for 1995-1997 as "the third highest achievement in the record after Jordan (157%) and China (156%) in the World Bank's "1999-2000 Development Report."
Contributed immensely towards dispute resolution and peace keeping in several of the unstable countries in the West African sub-region and beyond.
The first African military ruler, who gained political legitimacy through the ballot-box and handed over power at the end of his mandate. Achievements of the Rawlings regime
there majority of his ministers where from the akan tribe

Accusations of torture and murder of people that opposed his regime.
Jailed dissidents who plotted to overthrow regime.
Gonda Military barracks was used as a playground for the then-military to do as they please.
Largely favoured promotion of people from the Ewe tribe into government posts regardless of their abilities to govern, drawing accusations of nepotism.
The cedi has still not recovered from the lows it reached under his leadership.
That while the court martial and executions of former Presidents Kutu Acheampong and Akuffu Addo might be understandable, those of Rear Admiral Joy Amedume, Roger Felli, Boakye and Afrifa are believed by some to not be justified.
Oversaw so-called Public Tribunals, which were criticized for their "disregard of normal juridical procedures".
Was sometimes hostile to freedom of the press - though it was also during his regime that the press was privatized and many opposition papers and radio stations grew. Although editors and writers of mainstream papers-such as Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng of The Graphic-were forced to flee as a result of their opposing stance
Accused of complicity in murder of 3 judges - though independent Truth and Reconciliation Commission headed by Supreme Court Justice G.E.K. Aikins absolved Rawlings of any connections to the killings.
Maintained relations with Libya's Qadaffi, Burkina Faso's Thomas Sankara and Palestine's Yasser Arafat. Quotes
JJ Rawlings Website