Some Interesting Facts About the Late Former President Jerry John Rawlings and His 4 Children You Must Know

The founder of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and first President of the Fourth Republic ruled the country from 1981 to 2001.

He was born on June 22, 1947, in Accra to Victoria Agbotui, an Ewe from Dzelukope, Keta in the Volta Region and James Ramsey John, a chemist from Castle Douglas in Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland.

Former president Rawlings was married to Nana Konadu Agyemang, with whom they have four children including three girls named Zanetor, Yaa Asantewaa, Amina and Kimathi Rawlings who is the only male child.

Even though, just after JJ Rawlings death, some people claimed that the former President Rawlings was their biological father, from different mothers. But, the four children from Nana Konadu are the only known children.

Below is a compilation and other details of all-four children of former president John Rawlings and Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings;

1. Dr. Zanetor Rawlings

Zanetor Rawlings is the first child of the Late JJ Rawlings and Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings. The name Zanetor is an Ewe name, and a command name. Zanetor in Ewe means ‘darkness must stop’. This name was given her at a difficult time, when Ghana was facing so much corruptions and economic hardship; and so JJ Rawlings gave the name as a command… ‘The economic hardship and corruption must stop’.

She is a Member of Parliament for Klottey-Korley Constituency of the Greater Accra Region.

2. Yaa Asantewaa Rawlings

Rawlings and Konadu’s second child was named Yaa Asantewaa. The name is an Ashanti name. Yaa Asantewaa was named after the well-known Queen Mother of Ejisu-Yaa Asantewaa; who led her people to war against the British colonial rulers after the king of Ashanti kingdom was exiled.

She had her early education at Achimota and later at Trinity College. She earned her first degree from the University of Dublin in Ireland and master’s at Boston University.

3. Amina Rawlings

Amina Rawlings is the third child of the Former President JJ Rawlings and Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings. Amina is an Arabic name. She was named after the queen of Zaria (modern-day Nigeria), the first woman in Zaria to become a ruler in a male-dominated society.

Amina is a lawyer and a member of the International Bar Association, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, AIPN, UK Energy Lawyers Group, LCLCBA, and Scottish Oil Club. Amina earned her LLM in Petroleum Law & Policy – CEPMLP from the University of Dundee. Amina Rawlings has been practicing law for about ten years now.

4. Kimathi Rawlings

Kimathi (Kimathi of Kikuyu extract of Kenya)-is the last child of Jerry John Rawlings and Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings. Kimathi Rawlings was named after Dedan Kimathi, a military inspiring leader who led his people in several uprisings…that led up to the independence struggle against the British colonial rulers.

He received his basic education at North Ridge Lyceum and Morning Star School. Kimathi earned his Bachelor of Science (Bsc) in International Business from Aston University in Birmingham, England.

Kimathi currently is currently living in London; and works as a Commercial and Portfolio Advisor at Eni, a Multinational Oil and Gas company.

By: Michael Djan

French Tutor and Digital Marketing Blogger/Content Writer and GhanaWeb Professional Reporter/ frencheducationgh.com