Former Ghanaian leader Jerry John Rawlings was buried with full military honours on Wednesday after a state funeral attended by representatives of world leaders. Rawlings, who died in November aged 73, held power for two decades in Ghana, first as a military ruler and later as elected president. Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo described Rawlings as a “charismatic and fearless leader.”Papa J, as Rawlings was known, was buried at a military cemetery in Accra after a three-hour ceremony of tributes, prayers, cultural displays and songs. Rawlings got his first taste of power in 1979 when he banded together with other junior officers frustrated over widespread corruption to take control. He quickly handed the reins to an elected president, but was soon back at the top following another coup on December 31, 1981.

Source: Punch January 27, 2021 14:15 UTC