The world was greeted by the sad news of the passing of the former President, H.E Jerry John Rawlings of blessed memories on the faithful Friday, 12th November 2020.
Former President Jerry John Rawlings (1947-2020) is the first President of the fourth Republic and the longest serving Head of State in the history of Ghana from 1981-2001, from a military regime of Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) to a democratic government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Also, for a brief period of 112 days in 1979 as a 37 years old military officer of the Ghana Air Force following a Coup d’etat by a military juncta known as the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC). Chairman Rawlings as he was affectionately called was a celebrated flight lieutenant with remarkable leadership qualities as a selfless and courageous revolutionarist. Our condolences go to the family and the people of Ghana, indeed a big tree has fallen and we must all take heart for the loss.
The Board of Dagbong Excellence Foundation puts this tribute out in recognition of the distinctive achievements of His Excellency Jerry John Rawlings and his governments to the fundamental development and transformation of Dagbong, the Northern Regions and for that matter Ghana. We can obviously point at his individual decision to extend electricity and connect the Northern parts of the country to the national grid, the establishment of the first university in the Northern Ghana as
University for Development Studies at Nyankpala in Dagbong. The establishment Islamic Education Unit under the Ghana Education Service to robe in the Arabic schools into the main stream circularised education in Ghana. Introduction of mobile telecommunications, the expansion and asphalting of the roads of the then Regional Capitals with Tamale as an example, construction of the Sabari bridge across river Oti in the Eastern Dagbong and not forgetting the Peace he maintained in Dagbong during his era.
He is considered an illustrious father of the land by the Board of the foundation and must be given the deserved exaltation for a life well lived. We are together in solidarising with the family at this trying times and hope to partake fully in the performance of the funeral in Accra from 24th to 27th January 2021. Allah SWT says in the Holy Quran that whenever you you are confronted by a calamity such as death, you remember it is from Allah we come and to Allah we shall return.
The Dagbong Excellence Foundation is a charity organisation that is geared at promoting human and social development and fundamentally into the recognition of outstanding individuals and institutions of Dagbong association or origin.
Fare thee well JJ.
ABDULAI, Abu Baba
Executive Director / Co Founder.
