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President Nana Akufo-Addo has recounted his relationship with the late former President Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, as one that metamorphosed from antagonistic into mutual frienship.
At the Black Star Square in Accra while reading his tribute to the late President, Nana Akufo Addo said from 1979 to 2008 when he [Nana Akufo-Addo] sought to be President, they have never being in agreement with each other. The relationship changed later and they began to see value in each other and respect each other’s views.
“It was no secret that the relation that existed between the two of us right from the heady days of 1979 through to my brief period in exile in his assumption of office as first President of the Republic, the historic ‘Kumi Preko’ demonstration, my tenure as Attorney-General and Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Kufour administration to being my elected 2008 NPP Presidential Candidate, was one of open animosity. We did not see eye to eye. However with time, things changed. We came to see value in each other and understood to our very last decree our respective perspective. One thing we have in common was our mutual commitment to public service. My visit to his Ridge residence in 2012 signified the easing of tensions betweem us leading to a friendship that lasted for the better part of some eight years. Indeed when the Ghanaian people in 2016 reposed for the first time their confidence in me for the election of that year, one of the first persons on whom I paid a curtesy call was His Excellency Jerry John Rawlings. From my entry into office right up to the day he was called by his Maker he remained a good friend and a repository of sound advice. I knew that in moments of difficulty in my presidency, I could count on his considerable wealth of experience and knowledge. On those occassions, he came through for me,” the president recounted.
President Nana Akufo-Addo, in consultation with his [Jerry John Rawlings] family, decided to name the University of Developmental Studies, Tamale after him despite his declination to assent to the proposal while he was alive. This he did to honor the First President of the 4th Republic now deceased.
“While he was with us, he respectfully declined an offer I made to him in 2017 to have the University of Developmental Studies, Tamale (UDS) which he personally helped establish named after him. His reason was that in adhering to the longstanding principle, he did mot want to have any national monument or facility named after him. Two days after his passing, at the 21st congregation of UDS, I expressed my stongest conviction inspite of his reservation that such an honor should be accorded him. I am glad that this has found favor with his family and the necessary formalities would be carried out to achieve this, that is the Jerry John Rawlings University of Development Studies, Tamale.” President Akufo-Addo said.
According to Nana Akufo-Addo, days associated with J.J. Rawlings’ political intervention in the Ghanaian history—15 May, 4 th June, 31st December and 7th January—are now considered significant days in the national calendar, especially 7th January 1993 when J.J. Rawlings became the first President of the 4th Repuplic.
He therefore commemorate 7th January as the constitution day on the national calendar.
Jerry John Rawlings died on Novermber 12, 2020 at the Korlebu Teaching Hospital.
He is the longest served President of the Republic with 19 years in government having been a military leader for 11 years and elected twice to serve as President for eight years—4 years each.
He handed over power to the Kuffour administration in 2001.
