London, Jan. 25, 2021 (AltAfrica)-The Ghana Armed Forces held a special vigil at the Air Force Officers Mess in Accra as part of the final funeral rites of former President Jerry John Rawlings who passed away on Thursday, November 12, 2020, at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.

Rawlings vigil was preceded on Sunday by a Catholic Requiem Mass at the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Accra to signal the beginning of the final rites

The remain of Jerry Rawlings, one of Africa’s most popular president, will then be laid in state on Monday, January 25, and Tuesday, January 26 at the Accra International Conference Centre for heads of states, heads of security agencies, leaders of political parties, interest groups and members of the public to have an opportunity to pay their last respects.

READ ALSO: EX-GHANA PRESIDENT, JERRY RAWLINGS, DIES OF COVID-RELATED SICKNESS AT 73

The burial service will take place on Wednesday, January 27, at the Independence Square in Accra, from 9 am to 11 am after which he will be interred at the Military Cemetery in Accra, the government’s designated burial ground for all former Presidents.

Jerry John Rawlings was born in Accra on 22nd June 1947, to a Ghanaian mother from Dzelukope, near Keta, in the Volta Region, and a Scottish father.

He was a former Ghanaian military leader and, later, civilian President between 1981 to 2001.

Rawlings rose to power in Ghana as a flight lieutenant in the Ghana Air Force, following a coup détat in 1979.

After initially handing power over to a civilian government, he took control again in December 1981 as Head of State.

In 1992, Rawlings resigned from the military and became the first President of Ghana’s Fourth Republic.

He was re-elected in 1996 for four more years.

Rawlings left office in 2000 after exhausting Ghana’s constitutional term-limit of eight years for Presidents

Meanwhile, a development architect and a World Bank Advisor, Professor Kwame Addo has launched a book detailing the late former President Jerry John Rawlings‘ leadership from 1979 till date.

The book, titled ‘Changes: The Dawn Of A Revolution’, which provides an illustrative history of Jerry John Rawlings leadership, vividly depicted how Rawlings broke out of custody on June 4th, 1979, to lead a popular revolt, which redirected Ghana’s political and socio-economic destiny.

Professor Addo during the launch of the book at Sogakope, said the immense contributions of the late military man to the development of Ghana must not be forgotten, hence the need for the book to be owned by everybody.

He said the illustrated nature of the book makes it easy to read.

“The significance of this book lies in its graphic character to the extent that persons who cannot read and write can see and understand the events that unfolded during that period in Ghana’s history,” he said.

The book, does not only convey the part played in Ghana’s June 4th Revolution by J.J Rawlings, but further draws attention with background information which enhances his personality as a charismatic and heroic figure.

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