H. E. Flt. Lt. (Rtd.) J.J. Rawlings: A Living Legend

This is a short reminder of why most people in Ghana, and to some extent Africa and all freedom fighters in the world admire Mr. (Dr.) Jerry John Rawlings.

At age 31, already an officer, J.J. teamed up with junior ranks of the Armed Forces to correct injustices in both the ruling military elite and the whole country. This injustice and socio-economic breakdown in the country at the time had been brought on by the overthrow of the Osagyefo regime, the first republic. The second republic administration, led by Dr. Busia, was doomed to fail as Kutu Acheampong planned to overthrow it even before it started. So there had to be a saviour. The son of the President of the 2nd Republic, Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo-Addo, and in fact the whole of the political elite, were so angry and frustrated but too weak and coward to do anything. It was however the people of Ghana, the ordinary citizens, who were bearing the brunt of the economic mismanagement. The rise of JJ in 1979, and later in 1981, to restore order was god-sent. I say there was no braver Ghanaian at the time, and in fact now, who could have put their lives on the line the way JJ did. He wanted to put an end to the instability and what happened to the 2nd Republic. He realised that the 3rd Republic was going to suffer the same fate as the previous ones. He therefore stepped in and implied that if there be a braver man than him, let him even attempt a coup d’état. The 1981 coup was the last one; the coup to end all coups. To protect the 4th Republic, he criticises all governments, (NPP/NDC), openly. This is the man who used to criticise the NDC government he himself was head.

He holds the record for the youngest ever Ghanaian Head of State; The longest serving Head of State; The first ever President to complete a full term of office; The first ever President to successfully complete two consecutive terms of office; The first ever Ghanaian President to accept a Supreme Court judgement against him. ( Use of transparent ballot boxes case in 1996); The first Ghanaian President to win a Nobel Prize.

Like most great leaders of the world, he was young when he proved himself. Jesus was young too. Like Jesus and Obama, he has a questionable father, and has skin colour of both black and white. He has even got a brilliant wife like Obama.

His political detesters capitalise on his popularity. They will have very little to say without him. This is the man they have accused of corruption and murder. Yet he fearlessly, humbly and smoothly handed over power to them, and for 8 good years they have failed to convict him in court. Murder; what murder? Even God who supposedly used word of mouth to create the world, had to sacrifice (kill) his uncorrupted son to save the world. What do people expect of another man saving a whole nation? A few corrupt and already lost souls would not be enough by my standards of revolution. Had it not been this great man, his opponents would have only tasted power for less than 3 years since our independence. (The power handed over to them on a silver platter by Afrifa). They have a very funny way of showing their appreciation.

However being human, he is not faultless. His faults are not national disasters. In my personal opinion, he shouldn’t have approved of the current constitution where winning election has become the primary goal of the political parties, in place of meeting the socio-economic needs of the masses. Some say he had no choice. The West was banging on our door. After all this is a country where ties are still worn in the scorching sun.

So as you type your insults, remember whose bravery has brought the freedom we are enjoying now.

By Lt. Blamboya (pseudonym), Kumasi.