Book review: The Trial of J.J Rawlings, A Revolutionary Moment in Post Colonial Ghana

Prior and after he led the initial coup in June 1979, Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings was the first military leader who consistently worked for the interests of the masses and opposed corruption.

The coup followed widespread corruption accompanied by suffering by Ghanaians due to high inflation, steep food prices and hunger. Rawlings and his airforce junior officers responded to cries from the grassroots. The uprising culminated in the popular initial coup of June 4, 1979.

Jerry, a son of a Scot father and a Ghanaian mother, was passionate about flying aircrafts for which he won awards. He was loved by Ghanaians for his generosity which the author Kojo Yankah wrote about in the book, a reproduction of his work published in 1986, now back by popular demand.

This book is a record of the various stages of the Ghanaian revolution that Rawlings led.

It’s a narration of the life and times of this young air force officer who engineered a coup, remained briefly as leader or chairperson or ruling the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council to ensure the success of democratic elections and handed over the power to a civilian government after the elections in 1979 and then returned to the barracks.

The author relates the mutiny that saw Rawlings and others jailed on May 15, 1979 and his wife, Nana, forced briefly into hiding. He was sentenced to death by firing squad but was sprung from jail by air force junior officers before they led the uprising.

As the military led by Rawlings announced their takeover on radio, Ghana burst into a frenzy of celebrations to be free at last. They had enough of General Fred Akuffo and his Supreme Military Council regime.

Rawlings said the June 4 revolt by junior officers was motivated by the desire to bring justice to citizens of Ghana.

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“The action represented a revolt of the ordinary Ghanaians against social injustice, against economic hardship and corruption that had eaten deep into the fabric of our society,” Rawlings said.

The most interesting part of the post-coup period was the colourful elections won by Dr Hilla Limann’s People National Party in September 1979.

Limann, as president, initially befriended Rawlings and used him as an advisor to his government while he was still in the military. Things came to a head when Limann dismissed Rawlings and retired many senior officers and hired juniors to replace them.

Limann and his officials criticised Rawlings and undermined the efforts of his Armed Forces Revolutionary Council to democratise Ghana.

J.J Rawlings, handing over the reins of government to President Hilla Limann in 1979.. Picture:

It was clear that Limann removed Rawlings out of fear. Dismissing a people’s leader like Rawlings was Limann’s mistake because the governing party failed to deliver on its election promises to reduce inflation, unemployment and food prices.

But Rawlings was not in a hurry for power, but continued his fight for rights of the poor and for people to be given land to start farming even after he was forced into early retirement. He had the support of the masses while his adversaries in government were isolated.

He did not spew ideology in his speeches, but articulated the language of the people in all aspects and ensured people got education.

On December 31, 1981, Rawlings staged a coup and took over power liberating Ghanaians from oppression by an elite group of politicians that, in fact, he himself had helped to rise to power.

Info

The Trial of JJ Rawlings – A revolutionary moment in post colonial Ghana
Author: Kojo Yankah
Publisher: African Perspectives Publishing

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