Ghana’s late former president, Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings, was well known for his commitment to humanitarian causes, and one of the notable ways he demonstrated this was through blood donation.
Throughout his life, the former president actively participated in blood donation drives, encouraging Ghanaians to do the same as a way of saving lives.
The former military leader, who later became a democratically elected president, believed in leading by example. He frequently rolled up his sleeves to donate blood, particularly during national blood donation campaigns.
His involvement significantly boosted awareness and participation in such initiatives, reinforcing the importance of voluntary blood donation in Ghana’s healthcare system.
Also, his contributions to blood donation were closely tied to his passion for social justice and community service.
JJ Rawlings often emphasized that donating blood was a civic duty, as it could help accident victims, surgical patients, and individuals with medical conditions requiring transfusions.
An old picture of the young military leader donating blood has surfaced online, highlighting his dedication to community service and public health. The image, captured in the 1980s by photographer and filmmaker Thierry Secretan.
Even after leaving office, Jerry John Rawlings continued to support blood donation campaigns, partnering with organisations such as the National Blood Service and the Ghana Red Cross Society.
The late Jerry John Rawlings served as Ghana’s president from 1981 to 2001. He initially came to power as a military leader after a coup in 1979 but later transitioned into a democratically elected president, serving two terms from 1993 to 2001.
See the image below shared by GoldCoast Ghana on Facebook:
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
