Ghana’s ex-president Jerry Rawlings dies aged 73
ACCRA - Ghana's former President Jerry John Rawlings has died at the age of 73. He led two coups, first in 1979, before twice being elected president in multiparty polls.
A charismatic figure, he first seized power railing against corruption and was responsible for executing several former heads of state for their alleged graft and mismanagement.
He was also seen as a champion of the poor, but came to be criticised for alleged human rights abuses.
He died in hospital in the capital, Accra, after an illness.
A week of national mourning has been announced in Ghana for the country's longest-serving leader, who oversaw the transition to multiparty elections in what is now one of Africa's most stable democracies.
John Mahama, presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress, founded by Rawlings, has announced that he is suspending campaigning for next month's elections.
The son of a Scottish farmer and a Ghanaian mother, Rawlings entered the Ghana Air Force, graduating in 1969.
A decade later, as a senior officer in the air force, he overthrew a military government, handing over power to a civilian leader.
In 1981, he led a second coup and was the head of a military junta until introducing multi-party elections in 1992, when he was first elected president.
He stepped down in 2001 after serving two terms but continued to wield a strong influence in the country.
In later years, Rawlings campaigned for African nations to have their international debts written off.
Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo, who is from a rival political party, announced seven days of national mourning.
African Union Commission chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat said "Africa has lost a stalwart of Pan-Africanism and a charismatic continental statesman."
While Liberian President George Weah said "Ghana, Li
beria and Africa will miss a great leader."
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said "the entire African continent will sorely miss the sterling qualities of the great leader."