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Ghana's Former President Jerry Rawlings Dies at 73

Stacey Knott

   ACCRA, GHANA - Shock and sadness swept over Ghana on Thursday,
   following news that former President Jerry John Rawlings died at age
   73.

   Seen by some as divisive and by others as a hero, Rawlings seized power
   twice in military coups but went on to bring democratic rule to the
   West African country.

   He founded a major ruling party in Ghana, the National Democratic
   Congress (NDC), and became the first president of the 4th Republic,
   serving two terms as the democratically elected leader from January of
   1993 to January of 2001.

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