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| Late President Atta Mills |
“As a people,
our greatest achievements have come when we have lived up to the ideals that
unite rather than divide us and have attached ourselves to a common sense
purpose.”
Ever the insightful leader, these very words from
late President Prof John Atta Mills is testament to the Ghanaian spirit at this
sombre time. As we mourn the sudden death of our President, these words play
resonance as political tensions are put aside and our humanity and compassion
as citizens unites us.
Full of academic prowess, Prof Atta Mills studied at the London School of Economics and earned a PhD in Law at
the School of Oriental and African Studies, after
completing his doctoral thesis in the field of taxation and economic
development. Rightfully referred to as
the ‘Prof’, he was selected for the Fulbright Scholar programme
at Stanford Law School in the United States in 1971. He later
returned to Ghana after receiving his PhD to work at his alma mater, the
University of Ghana for 25 years. His persistent hard work paid off as he was
selected in 1992 to be the Associate Professor of Law at the University of
Ghana.
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| Dentaa of GUBA and Asamoah Gyan |
Prof Mills has always had a profound interest in Politics and the wellbeing
of Ghana and became proactive as the NDC’s running candidate in the 2000
Presidential election. Following the loss of the elections to the opposition
party, Prof Mills contested in the 2004 Presidential elections. He lost
marginally to John Agyekum Kufuor of the opposing (NPP) Party. Undeterred Prof
Mills run again for the 2008 elections under the slogan "A Better Man for
a Better Ghana", he won the hearts of Ghanaians and was elected as the
third President of the Republic Of Ghana.
Prof Mills has always described himself as a social
democrat who leaned broadly on independence leader Kwame Nkrumah's idea of
social welfare. This principle led him to govern with integrity and tenacity. He
started an austerity programme and presided over the country's first commercial
oil production, with the promise that his government would spend the newfound
oil revenue responsibly.
Amongst his many accomplishments, a highlight in his reign was meeting
the President
of the United States, President Barack Obama, who chose Ghana for his first
visit to sub-Saharan Africa as in 2009. Prof
Mills managed the visit with grace, ease and humour and proved the eligibility
of Ghana to the world. He was praised in a statement by President Obama: "President
Mills tirelessly worked to improve the lives of the Ghanaian people. He helped
promote economic growth in Ghana in the midst of challenging global
circumstances and strengthened Ghana's strong tradition of democracy.” His revolutionary stance on Taxation in the
Ghanaian economy has been pivotal in Ghana’s development.
Prof Atta Mills had a lot of power and responsibility placed upon him
but amidst it all, he governed with such humility, which showed the world how
great a leader he was. Despite political pressures and tensions regarding his
style of leadership, Prof Atta Mills ruled with diplomacy and stood above it
all. Equally known for his peaceful
nature is his fantastic sense of humour. He was famously and amusingly recorded
saying that “On a lighter note, before I came here, I knew I would be heckled
because it is the routine, but I didn’t expect the heckling to be this
gargantuan.”
As the saying goes, ‘To whom much is given, much is expected’ and Prof
John Atta Mills was truly an embodiment of this. He set the bar of democracy
very high for his protégés to follow. He was a great President and a beacon of
hope for other African nations.
The Ghana UK Based Achievement (GUBA) Awards, on behalf of the people of
Ghana, would like to say how privileged and happy we are to have had the
pleasure to witness such great leadership and governance. We would like to
extend our condolences to the family and friends of our late President and also
to the people of Ghana. In this mournful time, we are similarly grateful and
proud to have had such a superlative leader and a humble citizen.
From the Ghana UK Based Achievements Awards, we say: Thank You late
President Prof John Evans Atta Mills for your services to Ghana.
May You Rest in Peace.
Written by Claudia Andrews.
Credit: NEWS-ONE
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