Covid-19: Former Ghanaian President, Jimmy Jerry John Rawlings Loses His Life from Covid-19 Complications

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Jimmy Jerry John Rawlings who was a Ghanaian military and civilian president died on the 13th of November at age 73. Report journalists reveal that he had been hospitalized at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital since Sunday, November 8, 2020, and finally closed his eyes to death on Thursday, the 12th day of November.

After his brief battle with the virus, doctors reveal that the 73-year-ex-president had tested positive for the novel covid-19, and had died in the ICU following covid related complications.

Jimmy Rawlings joins the list of other outstanding world figures who had lost their lives to the Coronavirus, which started to ravage nations of the world since the inception of the year. Despite measures to combat and fight off the spread of the virus, it still appears to hang menacingly around us, lurking around corners of the world to date.

This unfortunate crisis happened a few weeks after he buried his late mother. Following the sudden burial of his mother a few weeks ago, Jerry afterward tested positive for the virus, and reports afterward confirmed his death, making the news more disturbing as one cannot help but wonder if he contracted the virus during his mother’s funeral. The news of his death was received with great grief from the people of Ghana, individuals, and nations of the world. Many eulogize his marvelous deeds to secure the people of Ghana in their lands. He was a leader who was respected and loved by his people.

Who is Jimmy Jerry Rawlings?

Jimmy Jerry Rawlings who is also known as ‘junior Jesus’ by some others was a man of wit, deep leadership insight, and formidable strength. He was born on the 22nd of June 1947 in Accra, to his Ghanaian mother and Scottish father who lived near keta in the Volta region.

He started his career as a recruit in the Ghanaian Air Force, from which he began to dabble into politics. Despite Being a gifted and bright young man, Jimmy’s first attempt at governance ended nearly badly. In May 1979, he participated in his first military Coup which was a large failure. He was thrown in jail and made to remain there for a while.

A jail term can break the body but nothing can reach the walls of a determined soul. In May 1979, Jimmy saw the promotion from a low-level flight attendant to the rank of a flight lieutenant.

With this promotion, his political career also progressed as he was beginning to garner attention to the Ghanaian people following his loud thoughts and crutches of the government.

After he was thrown in jail to face trial, he was quick to defend himself, even when he was presented before the court-martial after being sent to prison.

As time went by, Jimmy formed alliances with individuals and institutions of a single goal. Given this platform, he expounded on his dreams to end bad governance and brutally corrupt leadership in Ghana. Jimmy eventually overthrew Fred Akuffo who was in the seat of power.

Over thirty (30) years old, Jimmy took over the government and promised to return power to the civilians three months later, Jimmy Jerry Rawling being an honorable man kept to his words and handed power to Hilla Limann, who had won the elections in the state.

Disgusted by the amount of corruption that dominated Hila’s regime, and the unstable economic and political tension around Ghana, Jimmy criticized Hilla’s government and seized power again.

By overthrowing Hila, he established himself and became the Leader of the provincial National Defence Council.

He ruled for a long time before, until eventually, Ghana regained some amount of normalcy. In 1992, Ghana started its journey towards democratic rule, and

Jimmy was reelected in 1996 as the democratic president of Ghana.

Jerry John Rawlings was a military ruler who later served his tenure of two terms as the democratic elect of the Republic and gracefully bowed out of the political arena, after setting a remarkable leadership stride for his successors after him.

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He ruled and headed Ghana for 20 years in total, and took the political bow in 2001.

In reaction to his death, Akufo-Addo, Ghana’s president declared a nationwide seven days mourning in honor of the death of the nation’s hero in the person of the former president of the country.

Following this directive, all national flags will be flown at half-mast for the next seven days in all parts of the country beginning from Nov 13.

Indeed, it is with no doubt that we admit that a giant tree has fallen in Africa. Dear Jimmy Jerry Rawling, your legacy and sacrifice for the people of Ghana will forever be remembered by the coffers of history.