Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has stated that history would give former President Jerry John Rawlings a "balanced place in the annals of our nation".

In a statement, he said, his wife and he were deeply saddened by the passing of Mr Rawlings which came as a surprise to his entire family.

“President Rawlings was the longest-serving Head of State since our nation’s independence in 1957, and even though it wasn’t always, he and I agreed on many matters of state, I felt that he was trying to do the best he knew and could under his peculiar circumstances,” Mr Kufuor stated.

The statement recalled that when the time came for him to step down as President on January 7, 2001, he obliged.

It said Mr Rawlings tried to contain whatever reservations he had about him (Kufuor) and the government that succeeded him within the bounds of the 1992 Constitution.

“In this regard, whatever doubts his commitment to democratic rule became attenuated and earned him a legacy of contributing to the sustenance of democratic governance of our country till his demise,” it said.

Former President Kufuor expressed condolences to Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, the children and the larger family.

Read the entire statement below;

Office of H.E. John Agyekum Kufuor Former President of the Republic of Ghana

13th November 2020

Press Release!!

Statement by Former President John Kufuor on the death of Former President Jerry John Rawlings

My wife, Theresa, and I are deeply saddened by the passing of former President Jerry John Rawlings, whose untimely death reported yesterday came as a thunderbolt to us and our children.

President Rawlings was the longest-serving Head of State since our nation's independence in 1957, and even though it wasn't always he and I agreed on many matters of state - I felt that he was trying to do the best he knew and could, under his peculiar circumstances.

When the time came for him to step down as president on 7th January, 2001, he obliged and obviously tried to contain whatever reservations he had about me and my government that succeeded him and his government, within the bounds of the national Constitution of 1992.

In this regard, whatever doubts persisted about his commitment to democratic rule became attenuated and earned him a legacy of contributing to the sustenance of democratic governance of our country till his demise.

History would give him a balanced place in the annals of our nation.

We are left now to mourn him and also express our heartfelt condolences to his widow, Mrs. Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings, their children, and the larger family.

May he rest in peace in the mercies of the Lord God.

Da yie, President Rawlings.