Economist and Peace Ambassador George Haldane-Lutterodt has eulogised the late former President, Jerry John Rawlings, as a stalwart of Ghana’s leadership and says his death is a great loss to the country.

He described Rawlings as a colossus whose zeal to develop the country and unite the nation catapulted him to become a nation builder and catalyst for Ghana’s blossoming democracy we are all enjoying today.

A persuasive leader
“I knew Rawlings in the early 70s when I was at Ghana International School, secondary department, and he was in the airforce. Every Friday he would invite us to the airforce officers’ mess to watch the latest movies in those days, which was a real treat for us. We never imagined he was going to become Ghana’s longest serving Head of State,” he stated.

According to Ambassador Lutterodt, the late former President had issues people did not agree with, but he was a towering figure who united all for the common good.

“He did things some people did not agree with, but he was persuasive in his thoughts and thinking and always expressed his opinion freely,” Ambassador Lutterodt noted.

Youthful exuberance
Ambassador Lutterodt noted that the late Rawlings had a youthful exuberance, which endeared him to many youth.

He added that Rawlings was candid and truthful and aired his opinion irrespective of whose ox was gored.

Probity and accountability
Mr Lutterodt, who is also the former President of the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA), charged the youth to adhere to Rawlings’s probity and accountability mantra to save the nation.

He charged Ghanaians to practise the great things Rawlings, including his social works such as helping in communal labour, inspiring the youth to work hard and de-silting gutters.

He lauded the President for declaring seven days of mourning for the late former President and called on the nation to hold free and fair elections in his memory.