EX-PRESIDENT FLT. LT. JERRY JOHN RAWLINGS WAS MADE FOR GHANA (A tribute)

 

Rest In Perfect Peace Papa Jay. Ghana has definitely lost a great gem and this nation's history is incomplete without you. Ghana was woven in your soul. The reason I say great men are always born not made. There aren't so many J J Rawlings here on this earth. If you think not so try to be like him or get trained to be like J J. Leaders are born with the personality of a leader and indeed J J Rawlings was born with his own transformational and charismatic leadership style. 

J J represents an era of Ghana's transition from an unstable country and economy muddled with corruption and imbalance to a stable, peaceful and equitable economy. God knows best why he had to live us but you cannot say so soon because in my heart of heart I believe he has served his time and purpose on this earth. What more could Papa Jay do for Ghana and humanity than what he has already done? He has left a very big foot print in the world. 

Archeological findings are able to excavate the remains, artifacts, treasures and foot prints of ancient men and creatures, by this we know that Papa Jay has left an indelible mark on this earth that other generations will come to find out about him. If he was a boxer he will definitely qualify to be in the hall of fame. I know Azumah Nelson will miss him as he made Azumah who he is. Rawlings loved sports, boxing and football I can say were his favourite. 

Papa Jay has fought for Ghana's democracy and supervised both transitions of various governments. He has led an exampelary, inspirational and a motivational life for all to follow. He has proven that men were not created to exit but to make an impact on the lives of others. From a humble begining and a mixed race (Ghana and Scotland) J J Rawlings rose through the ranks and became our dear president and died 12th November 2020 a giant statesman in Ghana's political landscape. Both the young and the old can identify with this man.

 He was very passionate, bold and courageous. He was a disciplinarian and every words that came out of his mouth carried power and authority. The myths that gods visits men in the form of men can be embodied in Papa Jay. It wasn't too long when Ghana witnessed the death and burial of his mother only for us to two weeks later witness his own sudden demise like this at Korle-bu teaching hospital. Infact our hearts are broken. 

As a child I looked up to this great leader and always admired him when he talked. I also remember growing up at OSU Nyaneba Estate myself and friends will go playing and catching crabs behind the big gutter at the castle close to the sea. When one group member wanted to scare the group, he would shout Jay Jay is coming and we will all be on our heels running helterskelter. I once saw him at very close range when he and his entire family came to Dr. Nkrumah's mother's house at Nyaneba. Our house was very close to Nkrumah's mother's house and I remember seeing this tall, energetic, fair and giant statesman step out of his car shaking hands with both the young and old. One drunkard in the area knew him very well and started calling out his old nickname as he moved towards this man to joke and share pleasantries with him.

 Jay Jay had a super loveable personality and was down to earth as he could relate with anyone. This is the president that cleaned gutters at Alajo. He was a man people loved so much and this loss to Ghana is indeed irreplaceable. He stood for the young and stood for the old. He did not tolerate nonsense and spoke his mind all the time. Papa Jay was careful with his words and his words carried wisdom. You can hardly catch Papa Jay in his words.

Politically he was appealing to the masses and the international community. Within his tenure we had great personalities like Bill Clinton and Queen Elizabeth visit our dear land. J J was a larger than large person and was full of humour. His passion often drove him to want to speak some of our local dialects like Twi and Ga which always got people laughing because of how funny he spoke them. Rawlings knew how to relate to the commoner and the high flyer. 

Rawlings was a man of many sides and under his tenure Ghana experienced great peace and the peace of Ghana cannot be made without the stability he brought to the corridors of government. He was a giant and a powerful man. The name J J will send chills to your spine within the revolution era. He was so selfless and dedicated that in his first couple he handed rulership to Dr. Hillah Liman but when the said Doctor could not manage affairs well he came back to power and ushered Ghana into the millennium. 

Rawlings brought Ghana to the year 2000 and gave power to NPP and watched our democracy grow 20 more years as he ruled for 20 years. I personally believe that God sent Rawlings to come and supervise Ghana to ensure it gets to the level he wants it to be and with the right president. Rawlings has seen the democracy and idles of Akufo-Addo to match his vision so there was no need for him to continue to be here. 

Rawlings has served his purpose and has handed Ghana over well to a good leader Akufo-Addo and that is why God has invited him in this time. Rawlings could not sleep under any government but had peace with Akufo-Addo's government and that is why he is gone. These are my personal opinions and observations about the man and I pray nobody begrudges me on that. I try to remain objective as much as possible in my writings. You can attest to the fact that Rawlings has never praised any government in Ghana even his own party NDC than the Akufo-Addo's government. 

He was an objective man and not per say blinded by his own party colours and gave objective judgement to issues and criticized very well his own party faithfuls. At a point he and his family felt sidelined by the NDC as his own wife formed another party called NDP. You could see that publicly that they were supporting NPP in all some of their policies as J J gave his voice on issues. 

I can say he was  was not supporting Akufo-Addo against his party per say but because Akufo-Addo himself is a good leader for Ghana. All said and done the man is now gone and all the bickerings remains in the past but we can definitely not override or forget what Rawlings has done for Ghana.

Wherever he may be in the universe, may the good Lord keep him and may his spirit help Ghana to where it is suppose to be. Demirifa Due Chairman Rawlings, may your soul rest in perfect peace.