John Dramani Mahama and his wife, Lordina Mahama, have sent a goodwill message to Jerry John Rawlings who celebrates his 70th birthday today, Thursday, 22 June 2017.

“Wishing President Rawlings a happy 70th Anniversary ---John & Lordina Mahama,” Mr Mahama tweeted.

Wishing President Rawlings a happy 70th Birthday. ---John & Lordina Mahama. pic.twitter.com/qxfsLZbiKs

— John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) June 22, 2017

Mr Rawlings, who was Ghana’s constitutionally elected president from 1992 to 2000, celebrates the day with a lunch in honour of living Ghanaian World War II veterans and some senior citizens.

Mr Rawlings’ daughter, Zanetor, also in a birthday message, said her father’s “selflessness and love for others” always astound her and sometimes “I wish I could keep you all for myself, I take pride in the fact that the good Lord placed a special calling on your life – to touch the lives of multitudes across nations”.

Mr Rawlings initially came to power as a flight lieutenant of the Ghana Air Force following a coup d'état in 1979. After he had initially handed power over to the civilian government of the late Hilla Limann, he took back control of the country on 31 December, 1981 as the chairman of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC).

In 1992, Mr Rawlings resigned from the Armed Forces, founded the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and became the first president of the Fourth Republic.

He was re-elected in 1996 for an additional four years.

He is married to Nana Konadu Agyeman and has three daughters – Zanetor, Yaa Asantewaa, Amina – and a son, Kimathi.