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(Jerry Rawlings, Twitter)
Former Ghanaian leader Jerry Rawlings, who took power twice in military coups but brought democratic rule to the West African country, died on Thursday at the age of 73, a presidential source said.
Rawlings overthrew then-ruling General Frederick Akuffo in 1979 when he was a lieutenant in the army. Soon after, he handed over power to the civilian government, but then led another coup two years later, exposing corruption and weak government leadership.
From 1981 to 1993, Rawlings ruled as president of a joint military-civilian government. In 1992 he was elected president under a new constitution, assumed that position the following year and served two terms before handing over power to John Kufour, who succeeded him in 2001.
The presidential source said Rawlings had died Thursday morning, but did not provide further details.
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