Hilla Limann

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Hilla Limann

Hilla Limann (December 12, 1934January 23, 1998) was the President of Ghana from September 24, 1979 to December 31, 1981.

Limann, whose original last name was Babini, was born in northern Ghanaian town of Gwollu In the Sisalla District of the Upper West Region to a poor family. He managed to gain an excellent education, and took up an academic career. Eventually he became a diplomat, and served in Switzerland. Following the bloody 1979 coup led by Jerry Rawlings, Limann, though almost unknown even in Ghana, was elected President on the People's National Party ticket. He was an economic moderate, and supported democratic values and Pan-Africanism. He was deposed in a coup by Rawlings in 1981.

Limann received 6.7% of the vote as the candidate of the People's National Convention in the 1992 presidential elections.

Dr. Limann was survived by his wife, Mrs. Fulera Limann, and seven children: Lariba Montia (née Limann), Baba Limann, Sibi Andan (née Limann), Lida Limann, Danni Limann, Zilla Limann and Salma Limann.

After the handover ceremony in 1979, Military intelligence personnel consistently reported destabilising activities of former members of the AFRC. Dr. Limman insisted that there were no legal justifications to hold them in custody under a democratic dispensation. This decision eventually cost him the presidency and the years of humilation and alienation he suffered at the hands of the Rawlings administration. He brought prominent technocrats such as Dr. Joe de Graft Johnson (VP), Dr. Amon Niikoi, Prof. Nabila and prominent academics such as Media:Prof Yakubu Saaka(Oberlin College) to government.

Preceded by
Jerry Rawlings
President of Ghana
1979–1981
Succeeded by
Jerry Rawlings


Heads of state of Ghana

Flag of Ghana Kwame Nkrumah | Joseph Arthur Ankrah | Akwasi Afrifa | Nii Amaa Ollennu | Edward Akufo-Addo | Ignatius Kutu Acheamphong | Fred Akuffo | Jerry Rawlings | Hilla Limann | Jerry Rawlings | John Kufuor