By Mark Boye
I arrived home from work late around 4:20am (EST), and quickly prepared a hot tea and jumped into bed.
I woke up around 10am and reached out to my phone and the first news that greeted me was the sudden demise of our former President, His Excellency Jerry John Rawlings.
It was my former colleague, Adu Isaac, who’s Facebook post caught my attention.
Shocked, and confused, I quickly searched for more news of the sad news, and lo and behold, social media set ablaze, as people pour in more tributes on his death, including Rawlings own family. The announcement of President Akuffo Addo’s Facebook page, further confirmed the news.
My close encounter with the late charismatic president, began, when I was a reporter with the then Enquirer newspaper, one of my constant beats, was Rawlings.
You know why? The man was simply a news maker, coupled with his unique sense of humour, any reporter wont hesitate to have an interview with him or cover him at a program. And he never disappoints.
I remember on one occasion, I went to his residence located at Ridge in Accra with my former colleague, Larry Dogbey, to cover a press conference and it turned out to be our leading story the following day with wide reviews by the radio stations across the country.
My friends then at the National Security secretariat, located at the castle annex, popularly called Blue Gate, would invite me and say, “the old man want you to cover his program”, especially his annual 31st December revolution speeches and at the end of every programme, they would make sure we, the media, are well catered for.
In the heat of the 2008 election campaign, I covered Rawlings on some of his campaign trails and I dare say his crucial role to the return of the NDC to power in 2009, was commendable.
In 2010, when part of his Ridge house was burnt to ashes, I was send by my editor, to cover it. In the midst of his agony, he welcomed us nicely to observe events for ourselves and took pictures with us and some of the sympathisers present, with his noticeable trademark smiles.
Rawlings passing is sad especially after burying his mother few weeks ago.
His contributions to the peace and democratic process in Ghana and Africa in general cannot be underestimated.
Rest in Power, Papa Jay!!!
Picture caption: In a pose with Rawlings at his residence in Ridge when part of his house was razed down by fire in February, 2010,
Courtesy Information Services Department (ISD)
Boye is Ghanaian U.S.-based journalist
