The late former president Jerry John Rawlings has over the years been described as the founder of the 4th Republic of Ghana.

He has been credited with leading the country's transition from a military regime to a democratic Governance.

However, in sharp contrast, the Executive Director of Afrobarometer, Prof Gyimah-Boadi described the long-serving statesman as a "reluctant democrat".  

Speaking at the Ghana Center for Democratic Development’s (CDD-Ghana) round table discussion, Wednesday, to honour the life of late former President, Gyimah-Boadi noted that for several years into Rawlings’ administration as the leader of the PNDC, was hesitant to hand over power. 

“The phrase reluctant democrat is a charitable way to talk about or to describe former President Rawlings with respect to Democracy.”

The affable former president who was hailed as Junior Jesus by some was said to be the founding father of Democracy.

Meanwhile, according to the Executive Director, it took pressure from pro-democracy activists like Kwesi Prat, Kwaku Baako, Lawyer Akoto Apau and other activists to persuade Rawlings into rendering Ghana into a civilian country.

 “The persistent internal and opposition of exile Ghanaians groups who were greatly emboldened by Prof Adu-Boahene’s 1998 lectures, we have to think of the work of internal opposition groups that have coaxed around the people’s movement for freedom and Justice which brought together the left and right of the Ghanaian establishment political group.

“We should also think of heroism and activism of individuals like Kwesi Prat, Kwaku Baako, Lawyer Akoto Apau as wile as individuals who have been part of the PNDC regime.”  

Prof Gyimah-Boadi further indicated that Kwesi Prat, Kwaku Baako, Lawyer Akoto Apau were imprisoned for advocating for democracy enjoyed by Ghanaians today.

The death of Jerry John Rawlings came as a surprise to many Ghanaians after his demise was confirmed at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra on November 12, aged 73.

A four-day funeral ceremony, which started on Sunday, January 24, with a requiem mass service at the Holy Spirit Cathedral at Adabraka was held in his honour.

He was finally laid to rest at the new military cemetery in Burma Camp, Accra on Wednesday, 27 January 2021 after a well-attended burial service at Independence Square.