Jerry John Rawlings, 73, passed away peacefully on 2020-11-12 at 00:00:00 UTC. Rawlings was born in Accra, Ghana, in 1947. After graduating from Achimota College, he joined the Ghana Air Force and rose to the position of Flight Lieutenant. Rawlings served as Ghana's Head of State in 1981 and again from 1993 to 2001. He was the first President of the Fourth Republic and the first to be elected under a democratic system. In both his terms as Head of State, Rawlings championed the cause of the poor, and had a positive influence on the Ghanaian economy. Rawlings was a passionate advocate for the people of Ghana. He stirred up emotions and often argued for a better life for all Ghanaians. He was an outspoken critic of corruption in the government and campaigned for more political and economic change in the country. In a career spanning 20 years, Rawlings left a lasting legacy in Ghana. He was a historic figure who changed the political and economic landscape of the country. He will be remembered for his honesty, courage and commitment to the people of Ghana.