Former Ghanaian president, JJ Rawlings may have passed away, however, his tall list of achievement will forever be on the minds of Ghanaians.
Most Ghanaians, especially the youthful generation have little or no idea about these achievements and in this article, we would be seeing some of them.
Check them out below;
Achieved political and economic stability in a region rife with conflicts (for example Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Guinea Bissau and Sierra Leone).
Created 110 districts through non-partisan district level elections. Education, infrastructure developments and healthcare all devolved to the district level. Annual government subvention by law goes to the district — unthinkable in many other African countries.
He gave shelter to thousands of Ghanaians living in Nigeria who were expelled. Housed them at El -Wak Stadium in 1983 and then moved them to their family homes. Most other economies, including even advanced ones such as Germany, saw their economies suffer when they reunified with integrated citizens (for example German reunification)
He built first-ever memorials for Kwame Nkrumah and W.E.B. DuBois.
He followed an independent foreign policy
He ensured Ghana was under democratic rule in 1992, after a public referendum by a wide majority, approved a new constitution. Neither Nigeria, Iraq, Togo, nor Côte d’Ivoire was able to achieve this feat (in Nigeria two governments were overthrown during this period).
The value-added tax (VAT of 10%) was passed during his time to secure the government revenue base, which today funds most government public expenditures.
The Ghana Educational Trust Fund (GET Fund) was set-up during his time.
He was the first Ghanaian President to be received on a state visit of the US in a space of 20 years.
Expanded electricity to Northern parts of Ghana – hitherto ignored by ruling elites since 1957.
Both Bill Clinton and Queen Elizabeth II visited Ghana during Rawlings tenure to highlight the successes of the country.
The NDC’s agricultural policy and programme 1994-2000 resulted in the recognition of Ghana’s Food Production Index of 148% for 1995-1997 as “the third-highest achievement in the record after Jordan (157%) and China (156%) in the World Bank’s “1999-2000 Development Report.”
Contributed immensely towards dispute resolution and peacekeeping in several of the unstable countries in the West African sub-region and beyond.
The Expansion Project and the Renovation of the 37 Military Hospital was started in his regime.
In the urban road sector, reconstructed the entire Kumasi city roads, Sekondi-Takoradi city roads and Accra city roads. In Accra, these included the six-lane dual carriage road leading to the four-lane dual carriage road from the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange to the Independence Avenue.
The Kumasi-Sunyani asphalt road; the Kintampo-Tamale-Bolgatanga-Paga Faso asphalt road; and the double surfacing bitumen Bibiani-Awaso-Sefwi Wiawso road were all done during his time.
All the modern regional hospitals at Cape Coast, Ho and Sunyani were all constructed under his regime. In addition to the regional hospitals, other district hospitals were also constructed in the district capitals.
The University for Development Studies was also established under his regime and he used his Hunger Award Prize Money to buy books for the University’s Library.
He ensured the upgrade of the Winneba Advanced Teacher Training College into a full-fledged public University of Education, Winneba, thus adding two new public Universities to the three that had existed since independence.
He also introduced the policy of allowing the establishment of private tertiary institutions, including Universities, to supplement the public sector Universities. Implemented the policy of one region, one Polytechnic.
Every district had at least two senior secondary schools during his time.
During his time, many communities had potable water.
The housing estates at Adenta, Sakumono, Lashibi, and on the Spintex Road all in Accra and the SSNIT Estates all over the country were done in his era.
He ensured the historic transition of power from the NDC to the NPP.
The creation of District Assemblies’ Common Fund, the GetFund, the Road Fund, the EDIF and the Energy Fund
Ghana’s huge reputation in international peacekeeping, coupled with the ability of H. E Jerry John Rawlings to get the illustrious son of Ghana, Kofi Annan, elected as the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Culled from GhBase.com
Source: ghgossip.com
