Some Ghanaians on social media precisely Twitter are torn in two parts as to whether former President of Ghana, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings was a hero with his coup d’etat or a villain.
Exactly 41 years ago on 15th May, Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings staged his first military coup as a young revolutionary, five weeks before scheduled elections to return the country to civilian rule.
Some think he committed atrocities and shouldn’t or doesn’t deserve to be hailed while others believe that it was after his coup where he changed our governance system into a democratic one.
Check out some of the reactions from Twitter:
In 1981, when Rawlings came to power, Ghana’s Shipping Line, the BlackStar Line, had 14 vessels. By the time he left power he had shut down the Black Star Line which Nkrumah built, he and Tsikata sold all of the 14 vessels, and rendered citizens who worked as seamen jobless.
— Rex (@RexOmarrr) May 18, 2020
Rawlings diɛɛ it's people who don't know the history of his atrocities who idolise him
— Dwight Schrute (@d_Bosom) May 18, 2020
Rawlings is the worst thing ever to happen to Ghana and Ghanaians.
— John Avixa (@AvixaJohn) May 18, 2020
Every single Rawlings slander is justified. We've slandered Mahama and Nana Addo for way less. https://t.co/5TRq4dkxIP
— Shafic Osman (@Uncle_Drew94) May 18, 2020
But I think Rawlings need gratitude more than condemnation.
— Kwabena Wan🔥 (@Original_KW) May 18, 2020
Let it be on record that Rawlings killed Entrepreneurship in Ghana. Poku transport, GNTC, Kwewus motors, Siaw's Tata Osa. Yet, he didn't account to Ghanaians after leaving. Same "Probity & Accountability" he used to justify his killings.
"We shot people for less" – Kweku Baako. pic.twitter.com/N9ZseuRdnW
— Rex (@RexOmarrr) May 18, 2020
I'd have BOLDLY said this was a lie Hon. Kennedy Agyapong was telling had I not personally been shown the scar on Hon. Boakye Agyarko's stomach and the story he told about it. It happened in the Rawlings era when Giwa staged an unsuccessful Coup D'état. People suffered. pic.twitter.com/DJuOmn8xS0
— Rex (@RexOmarrr) May 18, 2020
Rawlings killed people for having 2 bottles of wines in their homes, do you know how many houses that criminal has now? Not to talk of the wines. Crazy coon, a criminal.
— John Avixa (@AvixaJohn) May 18, 2020
Rawlings was and will be the only president who understood what is meant to be poor pic.twitter.com/6LEoCs4b74
— Scafty_Massany (@ScaftyMassany21) May 18, 2020
Ghanaian historians and media don’t talk much about how Rawlings tortured and murdered people, collapsed companies owned by Ghanaians, many businessmen fled to Abidjan in order to stay alive, corruption and human rights abuse. Ghana we dey, he still live facing no charges.
— 69 (@_freshB) May 18, 2020
Adey kai when my grandmother told me that Rawlings get some satellite bi if you talk bad thing about him he go hear am 😅😂😁 herrrr I laughed saaa 😁😂😅
— TROSKI FRONT SITTER🇬🇭🇳🇬 (@daddys_onlyson) May 18, 2020
People only talk about Rawlings bad sides to the good things he did lol
Everyone has their ups and downs
I remember my Dad told me if Rawlings is still the president, people will not engage in bribery and corruption.— Sb k. GYESi🇬🇭🥂 (@_gyesi) May 18, 2020