FLT Rtd Jerry John Rawlings was born on June 1947 in Accra-Ghana. His mother was late Victoria Agbotui, an Ewe from Dzelukope, Keta and the father who was a Scottish chemist, Mr James Ramsey John.
Not much is known about his primary education but legend has it that he gained his O’ level education at Achimota School where he graduated in 1966.
After that, he was enlisted as a Flight Cadet in the Ghana Air Force in August 1967, and with hard work and discipline, he was later selected for officer cadet training at the Ghana Military Academy and Training School, Teshie, in Accra.
After his training in 1967, he was posted to Takoradi in the Western Region to continue his course and eventually passed out in January 1969, as a commissioned Pilot Officer.
A genius in the air, he won the coveted “Speed Bird Trophy” as the best cadet in flying and airmanship and further progressed to receive the rank of Flight-Lieutenant in April 1978.
It was during his service with the Ghana Air Force, that he witnessed the deterioration of discipline and morale, reflecting the corruption of the regime of the Supreme Military Council (SMC) at that time.
On 15 May 1979, five weeks prior to civilian elections, Rawlings and six other soldiers staged a coup against the government of General Fred Akuffo, but failed and were arrested by the Ghanaian Military.
Source: Gossips24.com
