Dr Zanetor Agyemang-Rawlings (L) and her late father, former President Jerry John Rawlings (R)
The Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle, Dr Zanetor Agyemang-Rawlings, has shared a childhood experience involving her late father, former President Jerry John Rawlings, during his days as a military test pilot.
Speaking on the Talk No Dey Cook Rice podcast on September 28, 2025, Dr Agyemang-Rawlings revealed that her father once risked her life while conducting a test flight on a new military aircraft.
According to her, Rawlings, known for his fearless nature, wanted to personally verify claims by aircraft manufacturers that the aircraft could still fly and land safely even if one engine failed.
“So, he came to pick me up one day… he was a test pilot. Actually, he could fly just about anything. And we had these new aircraft in the Air Force. Per the specifications, per the manual, this was an aircraft that, with one engine failure, you should have been able to continue flying and successfully land.
“And he wanted to make sure it was true what the aircraft manufacturers were claiming because he took personally the welfare of the officers and men, not just in the Air Force but in the Armed Forces in general. He took it very personally,” she said.
Dr Agyemang-Rawlings noted that her father cared deeply about the welfare of officers and men of the Ghana Armed Forces, hence his decision to personally test the aircraft instead of leaving it solely to others.
How my dad faked a heart attack while teaching me how to fly a plane at age 13 – Zanetor Rawlings
Reflecting on the incident, she admitted that her father’s actions shaped her early understanding of truth, risk and responsibility, even though his approach might appear extreme by today’s standards.
“So, he came to pick me up from the house one day to go flying with him. When he got there, a friend of my mom’s was in the house, and my siblings were there. My mom’s friend asked, So, why won’t you take the others?
“Why are you only taking her? And I remember this conversation so vividly because he said he was going to try something with the aircraft, and in case something happened, at least you shouldn’t take all the children.
“You know, I’m being very euphemistic about how he said it, but in short, he just had this view. So, I guess for some of us, we kind of got used to that idea of not sugarcoating the truth too much. Maybe then there was a day he made you fly.”
AM/SEA
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