Ghana mourns loss of former president, 73

Gha na’ s former president Jerry Rawlings, who staged two coups and later led the West African country’s transition to a stable democracy, has died, according to the state’s Radio Ghana and the president.

President Nana AkufoAddo said that Mr Rawlings, who was 73, died on Thursday at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in the capital, Accra, where he had been receiving treatment after a short illness.

“A great tree has fallen, and Ghana is poorer for this loss,” he said in an official statement after sending condolences to the family and announcing that flags would fly at halfmast for seven days as the nation prepares for a state funeral.

Mr Rawlings was born in 1947 to a Scottish father and a Ghanaian mother who died in September at the age of 101.

Mr Rawlings, who trained as an air force officer, came to power in 1979 after leading his first coup, and then transferring power to civilian rule soon after.

In December 1981, he staged a second coup and was Ghana’s military leader until he introduced multiparty elections in 1992 that returned the country to democracy.

He won the elections and was sworn in as president in 1993 and served two elected four- year terms, leaving office in 2001.

His long-time friend and later his rival, Major Kojo Boakye Gyan who served as spokesman for the party that took over after the first coup, said Mr Rawling’s death was a loss for Ghana.

“He was God’s gift to the country and I can only ask that God keeps his soul in peace,” said Maj Gyan.

Mr Rawlings is survived by his wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman, his three daughters and one son.

Jerry Rawlings was born to a Scottish father and a Ghanaian mother in 1947.