Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has joined the people of Ghana to mourn the demise of former president Jerry Rawlings.
73-year-old Rawlings who had been on admission at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for about a week reportedly died today (Nov 12) due to complications related to the deadly coronavirus.
Reacting to the new, Abubakar described Rawlings as an “African giant” who stood tall for the continent’s unity and resurrection.
His tweet read: “Jerry Rawlings was an African giant. His tenure as leader of Ghana remains emblematic with the restoration of that country. Even after office, he stood tall for African unity and renaissance.
“He represented a generation of leaders who gave their all for the rebirth of his country and Africa at large. I pray for a pleasant repose of his soul and console with the people of Ghana; his contemporaries and current leaders in Africa on the loss of a worthy patriot.”
Jerry Rawlings was an African giant. His tenure as leader of Ghana remains emblematic with the restoration of that country. Even after office, he stood tall for African unity and renaissance. pic.twitter.com/8nsU0OlCiU
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) November 12, 2020
Rawlings, who is one of the most respected African leaders, was a military leader in Ghana and later became a politician who ruled the country from 1981 to 2001.
The former President initially came to power in Ghana as a flight lieutenant of the Ghana Air Force following a coup d’état in 1979.
Prior to that, he led an unsuccessful coup attempt against the ruling military government on 15 May 1979, just five weeks before scheduled democratic elections were due to take place.
He was until his death, the African Union envoy to Somalia.
Rawlings as leader of Ghana launched a massive anti-corruption campaign that purged the nation of corrupt political elements.
