Renowned Kenyan journalist Jeff Koinange has shared a captivating story about his first encounter with the late former President of Ghanas Fourth Republic, Jerry John Rawlings, popularly known as JJ Rawlings.
In a viral video clip shared on social media, Jeff recounts the experience as detailed in his book ‘Through My African Eyes’.
He described meeting Rawlings on the streets of Accra during his second military government.
According to Jeff, while working for Reuters in Accra one Saturday in the late 1980s, he learned that Rawlings was leading a clean-up exercise in the city.
With the permission of military officers, he and his cameraman began filming the activity. To his surprise, they captured the military leader himself digging out dirt from a gutter.
We started filming, and when we got closer, Jerry Rawlings, sure enough, was in a ditch, in a gully, cleaning up sewage, plastics, everything. He was helping them clean up. And he wasnt doing it for show; you could see he was genuinely involved, Koinange narrated.
He recalled his amazement at seeing the former military ruler, hair matted with sewage, emerging from the ditch smelling of filth.
Jeff said he asked Rawlings why he was personally cleaning the gutters. The former president responded, Its all about cleaning up your country, and it starts with you.
Koinange then asked if he could interview Rawlings. The president agreed and invited him to the Osu Castle, the seat of government at the time, where an unforgettable surprise awaited.
Sure enough, we returned later and were cleared at the gate. As we entered the courtyard, there was a helicopter sitting right there. As we were filming and waiting, we noticed some commotion, everyone suddenly stood at attention. The president walked out and headed straight into the helicopter. Then he turned to us and said, Hey, come on, lets go for a ride.
Jeff and his cameraman, stunned but excited, boarded the aircraft. To their amazement, Rawlings himself was the pilot.
He was putting on his headphones, flicking switches, and said, You ready? We gave him a thumbs-up, and off we went. The helicopter lifted off from the Castle and headed out over the Atlantic Ocean, then into the interior.
They flew to the Akosombo Dam, a vital infrastructure complex that supplies electricity to much of Ghana. Rawlings proudly showed them the site before flying back to Accra.
Koinange said that upon their return, he asked Rawlings why he was ready to relinquish power and transition the country to democracy.
Rawlings answered, Its enough. We have to move on. Its a democracy now. These are different days from the ’70s and ’80s.
He also reportedly told Jeff that he regretted returning power to civilians after his first coup, but remained hopeful about Ghanas progress after the second.
Watch the video clip below: