Koku Anyidoho, previously the Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, has in recent years shown support for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and has been vocal in his criticism of the NDC and its flagbearer, John Mahama.

In an interview on Onua TV, Kofi Sam Atta Mills expressed disappointment, stating that Anyidoho’s recent alignment with the NPP damages his credibility and demonstrates a lack of principles.

“Back when Koku Anyidoho served as Communications Director, he stood against those who attacked Prof. Mills for pursuing a loan for the Atuabo Gas project. Those same critics wore black to Parliament, showed him a red card, and accused him of selling out the country. Yet now, Koku counts them as friends.”

He continued, “It shows a lack of principles. We don’t even recognize who he is anymore, and his credibility has been shattered. When you supported Prof. Mills, they criticized a $3 billion loan. But today, after seeing how much this government has borrowed, you’re siding with them, claiming they’re better than the Atta Mills-Mahama administration. Where does that leave you? When you act this way, your credibility is lost. That’s why I chose to stay out of this—I don’t see the point in participating in such contradictions.”

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The latest to add his voice is former President flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Dramani Mahama.

He has lashed at Dr. Opoku-Prempeh for a recent description of the late President John Atta-Mills in a viral video, calling it disrespectful and unfortunate.

Mahama added that this incident confirms the perception that NAPO as he is popularly called is arrogant.

John Mahama made these remarks while addressing a rally of chiefs and people in the Akatsi North constituency in the Volta Region.

He said the NPP running mate must be more careful in his descriptions of former Presidents.

“His recent comments about Former President Mills are a direct insult to the deceased and a violation of Ghana’s culture and traditions.” he said.

According to Mahama, Opoku-Prempeh’s recent commentVabout the late President Mills is a direct insult to the deceased and a violation of Ghana’s culture and traditions.

He noted that, NAPO has failed to learn from the backlash he received after making derogatory remarks about Kwame Nkrumahcand urged him to behave more like a royal.

Mr. Mahama advised the NPP running mate to be more measured in his comments.

Source: Kwame Anum

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According to him, his conduct at the memorial service for late former President John Evans Atta Mills at Asomdwee Park on Wednesday, July 24 was uncalled-for.

“What happened was uncalled-for, unwarranted and unexpected, but I will put it all at the doorstep of the government which is allowing this ‘buffoon’ of a guy called Anyidoho…the way he’s behaving, he’s playing a ‘buffoonery’” he fumed.

Mr. Vanderpuye however blamed government for allowing Mr. Anyidoho to use such an important platform to vent his anger on NDC flagbearer,

“Anyidoho’s arrogance and lack of humility are unbecoming of someone who worked under President Mills. His actions were purely motivated by his hatred for President Mahama, and he aimed to disrupt the program knowing that President Mahama and the NDC executives would be present” he added in an interview on Citi FM.

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Mr. Mahama, who served as Vice President under Atta Mills, praised him as a nation-builder who always put unity and the national interest above personal or political gain.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, July 24, commemorating the 12th anniversary of President Mills’ passing, Mahama celebrated him as an embodiment of truth and honesty.

He noted that President Mills was the first to reduce his own salary as a sincere act of solidarity with the economic hardships many Ghanaians faced when they took office in 2009, following the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

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The solemn occasion was graced by the presence of the National Democratic Congress flag bearer, John Mahama, running mate Naana Jane Opoku Agyeman, and several members of Parliament. Other notable attendees included the National Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the J.E.A. Mills Memorial Heritage, Alex Segbefia,Nana Oye Bampoe Addo.

The former Minister for Information, Kofi Totobi Quakyi, General Secretary of the NDC, Fiifi Fiavi Kwettey, former Director of Elections of the NDC, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, former National Chairman of the party Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, the MP for Korle Klottey, Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, and the son of former President Mills, Samuel Kofi Atta Mills among other NDC party stalwarts.

In all six wreaths were laid. The Speaker’s Aide Kofi Attoh,laid the first wreath on behalf of Parliament and MPs.

The others were laid by the MP for Krowor, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey on behalf is of the Widow, Mrs Ernestina Naadu Mills; Mr Mahama assisted by Prof Naana Jane ; the Atta Mills family; Mr Nketia on behalf of the NDC party and some members of the JEAMMH to commemorate the event.

Mr Mahama used the occasion to extol the virtues of the late Mills “He lived a life of unquestionable , integrity and absolute humility in the service to the nation he loved Ghana”.

He explained that, the late Mills stood for selflessness, humility, tolerance to divergent views, a peace maker, unifier par excellence and Godliness.

“My boss Professor Mills was a selfless leader , he prioritised the needs of the nation over his personal and any political gain unlike the situation we see in Ghana today. He was the first to cut his own salary as a sincere gesture to show solidarity with the economic hardships faced by many Ghanaians at the time when he took over from the NPP administration”

Adomonline’s Joseph Odotei was present at the ceremony

This was after Mr. Anyidoho is said to have renovated the former President’s grave without the family’s consent.

Speaking at the 12th-anniversary memorial service, Madam Quarshie chided Mr Anyidoho for tampering with Prof Atta Mills’ grave without the family’s consent.

“I want to make it clear to everyone that Koku Anyidoho has stepped on the wrong foot by tampering with our brother’s grave without our knowledge. That is unacceptable and now we are going to deal with him because it is a taboo in our family to do that,” she said on Wednesday.

The late President’s sister emphasised the importance of consulting the family before making any decisions related to the late President’s resting place.

“Whatever that you want to do you have to consult the family, and we have to give you our approval but because you have the money you go and do anything that you want,” she said.

Koku Anyidoho clashes with NDC, relatives of Atta-Mills at Asomdwee Park [Audio]

She made the statement after the chaos that rocked the Asomdwee Park on Monday, July 24, when Mr Anyidoho overran his scheduled time, thus, delaying the second memorial service by Atta Mills’ relatives and members of NDC.

Already, the family had accused Mr Anyidoho of bussing some individuals to pose as family members of the late President during his wreath-laying service.

Touching on the matter, Madam Quarshie described them as “fake family members” and insisted that the actual relatives of Prof Mills do not know them.

“People with Koku Anyidoho, pretending to be the real relatives of Atta Mills. That is never true. We don’t know them anywhere. He has schooled them by telling them that the rest of us are paternal brothers and sisters and they are the real family,” she stated.

Madam Quarshie recounted a particularly disturbing incident involving an elderly woman falsely claiming to be Prof Atta Mills’ mother.

“It was so disgusting to find an 80-year-old woman, pouring libation and hitting her thigh saying that she gave birth to Atta Mills. I was wondering if she gave birth as a baby.”

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Speaking at the 12th anniversary of Prof. Mills’ death at the Conference Centre of the University of Ghana, Legon, Pratt recounted a moment in 2008 when he asked Prof. Mills if he was healthy enough to contest the presidential election.

Prof. Mills acknowledged his health issues but expressed hope for recovery after a medical checkup in South Africa.

“Professor Mills admitted that he had been unwell but insisted the doctors in South Africa had said that he would be alright. I left Prof. feeling somehow assured that he was worthy for the fight ahead of him and the National Democratic Congress on December 7, 2008,” Pratt said on July 19.

Pratt also recalled a conversation with the late President during a visit to the Freedom Center, where Prof. Mills attended an event despite serious vision problems.

After the event, Pratt asked him a difficult question.

“Prof. Can you make it?” Pratt asked.

“Make what?” Prof. Mills replied.

Pratt clarified, and Prof. Mills responded with unwavering commitment: “I will use the last ounce of energy in me to serve the people. I can’t give up now. The country is in a very dire situation, and I am ready to make sacrifices to be part of the rescue team.”

Prof. Mills assumed office as the President of Ghana in 2009 after winning the December 2008 elections.

He passed away on July 24, 2012, a few months before the election while still in office, seeking re-election.

His Vice-President, John Mahama, was later sworn in as President and subsequently won the 2012 elections for the NDC.

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This, he explained, is because Mr. Mahama rarely mentions Atta Mills’ name during his campaign.

“Atta Mills’ ghost will never let Mahama become President again. You see, that is why he never mentions his name during his campaign,” Odike said in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, Wednesday.

Watch video below

Former President Mahama, flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), faces his main opponent, Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, in the  December elections.

Both presidential candidates from the Northern region will be competing for electoral supremacy in the five northern regions and the Zongo communities which have traditionally supported the NDC since the inception of the Fourth Republic in 1992.

However, the support for the NDC has decreased since the emergence of Dr. Bawumia in the political arena.

Interestingly, both candidates come from regions that were carved out of the Northern Region. Dr. Bawumia is from the North East, while Mahama hails from the Savannah Region.

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He claimed no national or regional monuments were named after late Professor Mills in the erstwhile Mahama administration.

Mr. Anyidoho expected the former President to even hnour his predecessor with a national monument while completing the remaining six months of Mills’ term in 2012.

In an X post dated June 18, 2024, Anyidoho highlighted that while Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, then Mayor of Accra and now Member of Parliament for Ablekuma South named a road in Accra after Mills, Mahama did not take similar initiatives.

“As we continue to speak to facts, do you know that apart from Oko Vanderpuye using his position as Mayor of Accra to name the High Street after President Atta-Mills, JM on his own did NOT name anything after his late boss?” Anyidoho questioned.

Anyidoho has also accused Mr. Mahama of neglecting Asomdwee Park, where Mills was buried.

The park was recently refurbished through a collaboration between Anyidoho’s Atta Mills Institute and the Coastal Development Authority (CoDA).

In August 2012, a month after Mills’ death, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, led by Vanderpuije, resolved to rename the Accra High Street to “Evans Atta Mills Street” and the new Millennium City School at the Salvation Army Cluster of Schools to “President Evans Atta Mills Educational Center of Excellence.”

Mr. Vanderpuije announced that these changes would be effective before Mills’ burial on August 10, 2012.

As we continue to speak to facts, do you know that apart from Oko Vanderpuye using his position as Mayor of Accra, to name the High Street after President Atta-Mills, JM on his own did NOT name anything after his late boss?

— Samuel Koku Anyidoho?? (@KokuAnyidoho) June 18, 2024

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According to Council, they do not want to be roped into the issue which has since become topical following requests to President Akufo-Addo to make the autopsy report public.

The chiefs noted that, they would have preferred the issue to be discussed out of the purview of the media rather than the ongoing banter and display of division within the late statesman’s family.

“But it does appear that some narratives and aspersions do robe us in, and often cast some innuendoes that directly and negatively affect us as Nananom and people of Ekumfi. 

“In view of this, we the Nananom of Ekumfi believe that if the extended or any member of the family has issues with the report, they could jaw-jaw with the immediate family to have their disagreement settled once and for all, instead of the recurring media banter.

“Nananom wish to state that the raging back and forth wrangling is not just appalling but also disgraceful and disgusting; projecting the family as a disintegrated one,” Nananom stated.

In a press statement addressing the controversy, the chiefs clarified that they have not elected nor delegated anybody nor group of persons to make the said request to the President.

“We therefore want to state emphatically that any attempt to link the Chiefs of Ekumfi to any such action is malicious, untrue and mischievous, and must be treated with the contempt it deserve,” they emphasised.

Nananom sounded a word of caution to anybody who would use the office of the Paramount Chief, Odeefo Akyin VIII to engage in the ongoing banter to desist or face their wrath.

“Ekumfi Nananom led by the Paramount Chief Odeefo Akyin VIII also wish to send a strong signal to anyone or group of persons purported to come from Ekumfi or elsewhere, and who allow themselves to be used to perpetuate such disgraceful and malicious act, may have to prepare to face the wrath of Nananom.

“The late Professor Atta Mills must be allowed to rest in peace!”

He believes that the events surrounding President Mills’ death have raised questions that need to be answered.

Mr Boateng who also served in the erstwhile Kufuor government emphasised that a full investigation is necessary to provide closure and bring peace to those affected by his death.

His remarks come after some of the former President’s family members requested access to his autopsy report.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, January 24, Mr Boateng stated that there are inconsistencies in the information available about President Mills’ death, and called for a full investigation to ascertain the cause of his death.

“I will support a coroners inquest for the records to be set straight and for us to have as a guide as to how we handle such incidents if it ever occurs. So everybody must calm down. We are a government. The family has raised it and the president said it’s in order,” he said.

Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has backed calls for the late John Atta Mills’ autopsy report to be captured in official public records.

The question about the report confirming the cause of death of the former President came up during a visit by the Odomaa Clan of Ekumfi and Koku Anyidoho at the Jubilee House.

Kyedomhene of Ekumfi Asaman, Nana Enyimfua III urged the presidency to facilitate the release of the autopsy report, emphasising that 11 years have passed, and the family is yet to know the cause of death.

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The decision, he explained is because the people voted against the the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) parliamentary candidate, Francis Kingsley Ato Cudjoe in the 2020 general elections.

The President Akufo-Addo noted that, he appointed the MP as Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture in his government to bring development to the area.

But once Mr. Ato Cudjoe was lost in the 2020 parliamentary elections, the people of Ekumfi also lost their developmental projects.

“I made Ato Cudjoe a Minister and a deputy Minister so he could do something there for you. But unfortunately he lost his seat in the next election and it’s all part of the reasons I also ignored you for a while, I must be honest with the truth” the President said.

The President’s admission came after the Kyedomhemaa of Ekumfi Traditional Area, Nana Enyimfua III, requested he increased development to enhance the living standards of their people.

However, after pleas from the family of late former President, Atta Mills, the President has changed his mind.

“But I’ve heard you and the year has just started so by the time the year ends, I’ll see what I can do,” President Akufo-Addo assured.

Watch video below

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Johnnie Beresford Hughes (@johnnie_hughes)

Prof Atta-Mills died on July 24, 2012.

The autopsy report of the former President became a subject of controversy in 2022 following calls for the cause of death to be made public.

Settling the brouhaha, brother of the deceased, Samuel Atta Mills maintained that, as a family they knew what killed their relative and no one can compel them to make it public.

But the Kyidomhemaa of Ekumfi Asaman, Nana Enyimfua III has said otherwise, stressing that, the current and future generation must know what killed their son.

This was on Friday, when she led a delegation to visit President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House.

Founder of the Atta Mills Institute, Samuel Koku Anyidoho was also present.

President Akufo-Addo in response, acknowledged the legitimacy of the family’s demand and assured them of disclosure.

They also reminded the President of his commitment to ensure substantial development in Ekumfi where the late Atta Mills hailed from.

The family expressed gratitude for the facelift given to the Asomdwoe Park where he was buried.

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Speaking at the 11th JEA Mills Commemorative Lecture at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, he noted that the late president was neither corrupt nor arrogant like other leaders.

Prof Lumumba stated on Thursday that former President Atta Mills’ time in power is proof that leadership is not about longevity in office but quality leadership.

“To commemorate the life and times of President Atta Mills, a number of questions must come to mind. History recalls, and will continue to do so, until it is otherwise proven, that he was the shortest serving President of Ghana.

“But his footprints in the sands of time tell us that it’s not how long you serve that matters but how well you serve. So the first message that we are sending out today to Africans is that longevity in office in and of itself is not what makes one great but the quality of service.”

He called out leaders who refuse to leave power, stating that “their refusal to leave the stage has made Africa the poorer.”

Prof Lumumba called on other leaders to be more like the former president, adding that one of Atta Mills’ greatest claims to fame was humility.

“We are reminding them that Atta Mills was the personification of humility and if Africa is to be great we must have men and women who are humble because humility is the mother’s milk of servant leadership,” he stated.

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A wreath-laying ceremony was held at Asomdwee Park, near the Osu Castle in Accra.

The ceremony, which was in collaboration with the Atta Mills Memorial Heritage, brought together several stalwarts of the NDC including Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, flagbearer and former President John Mahama.

NDC Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Secretary; Fifi Kwetey, former NDC executives, past and sitting parliamentarians, diplomats as well as families and friends were in attendance to mourn the late President.

Mr Mahama in an emotional speech in honour of his former boss recounted a lot changed on the day of his date.

“The weather turned cold, almost like today and it was as if nature itself was conscious of the passing of a great Political icon.

“We still bear the deep scared of pain all these years and are unlikely ever to forget how we felt on that faithful 24th July 2012. Indeed everybody can remember where exactly they were and what they were doing. When this unpleasant news was broke,” he eulogised.

He described Prof. Mills as a human leader, who strove to ensure better socio-economic conditions for all the citizens of Ghana and evidence of his good works can be found everywhere in our country.

“Yes he was a true leader and he was a friend to many. Professor Mills was the epitome of selflessness, always seeking the welfare of others even at the expense of his own well-being and confirm.

“Prof Mills was deeply compassionate and pathetic person who works tirelessly to lead this country to a better place than he came to meet it. Throughout his life, he sort to impact the life of its citizens including the youth of this country,” he added.

Affectionately called ‘Asomdweehene’, Mr Mahama touted the late Atta Mills lived and depicted the title conferred on him.

“He was a champion of social Justice, his dedication to public office was wavering and his commitment to lifting Ghana to the next level is unmatched.

“He had a single-minded in the pursuit of those ideas and values he stood for and tireless resolute if he genuinely felt this thing was right to do,” he stated.

He continued, “Professor Mills was a peace Maker, unifier and power excellence. Many called him Asomdweehene, because he was fiercely dedicated to peace.”

Adomonline.com’s Joseph Odotei was present at the ceremony and captured these scenes:

To commemorate the day, the Odomna family from his maternal side at Ekumfi, led by the head, Nana Kobina Biney, visited his grave at the Asomdwee Park in Accra.

It was a solemn event characterised by hymns, a minute’s silence observance, the laying of wreaths, and both Christian and Muslim prayers for the soul of the late statesman.

This comes on the back of a ceremony held on July 24 to mark a decade of his passing at the same venue.

However, this new ceremony, according to the family, is because they remember a deceased on the date of his burial, not death.

In attendance with the family was the queenmother of Ekumfi Asaman/Otuam, Nana Ennymfua III.

Founder of the Atta Mills Institute and former aide to the late statesman, Samuel Koku Anyidoho was also present.

Mr Anyidoho took to his Twitter page to share a video which captured some activities that took place as part of the visit.

Watch the video below:

Ekumfi Family at Asomdwee Park today pic.twitter.com/ldNOjWJNRF

— Samuel Koku Anyidoho?? (@KokuAnyidoho) August 10, 2022

The family, who came from Ekumfi Assaman, Apam, Ekumfi Ayisam, Baafikrom, Bibiani and Tarkwa, said the refurbishment had made the park “beautiful and befitting”.

The family members included the Queenmother of the Odomna Family of Ekumfi Assam, Nana Enyinfua III; Nana Akyerem Acquah, Nana Akom Ogyanda and Nana Assan.

“We appreciate your work and we say ‘ayekoo’,” the Head of the Odomna Family, Nana Kobina Biney, said on behalf of the family during a ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of the former President at the park yesterday.

Traditional rites

The family, from the maternal side of the late President, was at the park to perform customary rites for their departed kinsman.

The rites are performed on the 10th anniversary of a departed member of the family.

The solemn event was characterised by hymns, a minute’s silence observance, laying of a wreath, and both Christian and Muslim prayers for the soul of Prof. Mills.

The family was joined by the Founder of the Atta Mills Institute, Koku Anyidoho, who was the spokesperson of the then President.

Prof. Mills, who was born on July 21, 1944, passed away on July 24, 2012, and was buried at Asomdwee Park.

To mark the 10th anniversary of his passing, the government held a memorial and thanksgiving service which was also used to inaugurate and consecrate the refurbished Asomdwe Park on July 24, 2022.

Appreciation to Anyidoh

Leading the family to perform the rites, Nana Kobina Biney also acknowledged the “yeoman’s work done by Koku Anyidoho and his organisation, the Atta Mills Institute.

“The Odomna Family is also here this morning to assure our son that dead or alive, we still love him,” he stated.

He, however, said the family had planned to invite Mr Anyidoho to Ekumfi Otuam to thrash out some outstanding matters related to the refurbishment of the late President’s tomb without their involvement.

“We have heard his apology already in the media, and he has accepted his wrongdoing. But Mr Anyidoho should have informed the family about the refurbishment of the Asomdwee Park for us to delegate a representative,” he said.

You’re now a son

Nana Enyinfua said prior to his death, President Atta Mills introduced Mr Anyidoho to the family at Ekumfi Otuam, leading to hIM being accepted as a member of the family.

“I want to reiterate that Mr Anyidoho should not turn his back on the Odomna Family, much the same way we will not turn our backs on him since he is now a son of our family,” she said.

Accompanied by stalwarts and supporters from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Mahama joined the family of the late President at Asomdwee Park to mark the occasion.

Speaking at the ceremony, he eulogised the late President Mills as an honourable and dignified statesman whose shoes can never be filled.

“Professor was an honourable and dignified statesman whose love for his country and his people, was without questions. He was a phenomenon best felt than described. His entry into the pressure cooker and high octane environments, that is, Ghanaian politics was the most opportune development for this country.

“To many of us, he was a breath of fresh air that enabled us to make a clean break from the monotonous acrimonious past, laden with deep-seated divisions. His was a brand of politics and governance, which emphasised the graceful wielding of political power,” he said on Sunday.

Prof Mills died on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, after serving for nearly four years as President of Ghana.

He is the first President in the history of Ghana to die while in office.

His demise submerged Ghanaians in a spontaneous deluge of tears for weeks because he offered compassionate and self-sacrificing service to Ghana.

He loved and played several sports in addition to his academic accomplishments, taught many of Ghana’s great legal luminaries, transitioned from a tax scholar of international repute into a lead tax administrator for the Internal Revenue Service, became Vice President and President of the Republic of Ghana.

Above all, through the changing seasons of life, he died having lived to his name as “A Man of Peace – The Asomdwehene.”

President John Evans Atta Mills is that man we celebrate every July since he passed away on July 24, 2012. That terrible Tuesday, I was a very young man in a meeting (chaired by the Late Captain Kojo Tsikata (Rtd.)) with very experienced men who had gathered in the Late P.V. Obeng’s office at the National Development Planning Commission.

We met regularly every Tuesday afternoon to plan President Atta Mills’ re-election. Election 2012 was only four clear months away. When his aide-de-camp called me to deliver the dreadful news, and I conveyed it to my senior colleagues, the room momentarily froze.

Still, with Captain Tsikata’s guidance, we successfully organised a smooth transition later that night.

I remember President Atta Mills for several reasons.

Without breaching my Hippocratic Oath, I remember how protective and secretive he was about his health condition. One day, when I entered his office at the Osu Christianborg Castle with him from a meeting, Prof. asked, “Omane, I need to go to the US for medicals; what do you think?” I hesitated a bit.

I surmised that his concern was more about the mincemeat his political opponents would make out of his stay away from Ghana. And they did. But my answer was one and only one – from a professional perspective first and the politics second. “Prof., you must go; we will take care of their mischief.”

I also remember his restless and altruistic quest for socio-economic development to secure “A Better Ghana” for all Ghanaians, not just a few privileged citizens.

In doing so, he not only added to the gains of his predecessors but also duly recognised their efforts, in particular, towards making Ghana’s oil dream possible.

In his first State of the Nation Address, this Peaceful African Democrat, President Atta Mills, stated graciously, Madam Speaker, Kwame Nkrumah laid the foundation for oil and gas exploitation in Ghana. Jerry John Rawlings created the institutional framework for its exploitation. The oil and gas was struck in commercial quantities in the period of John Agyekum Kufuor. Actual commercial exploitation is beginning in the period of John Evans Atta Mills. In between, others have played their part…

I, further, remember how he achieved unprecedented growth of the Ghanaian economy (above 14% GDP) in 2011. Most importantly, this astronomical growth was not only driven by oil revenue.

According to the Ghana Statistical Service, non-oil GDP in 2011 (at constant 2006 prices) was 8.2%. That is to say, the non-oil sector’s relative contribution was over and above the impact oil made to the unmatched GDP Atta Mills’ NDC administration recorded.

Obviously, he was placing Ghana on a path to avoid the Dutch disease in order that crude oil would not harm Ghana’s economy.

In the health sector, I remember Atta Mills for critically considering emergency health care and distributing 160 new and additional ambulances nationwide to augment health care services. Additionally, he initiated numerous health, education, communication and transport policies and infrastructure projects.

The domain of this Great African Democrat’s accomplishments is vast. At the international level President Barack Obama of the USA duly recognised him for significantly improving Ghana’s democracy; and together with Mo Ibrahim, and three others, the Journal of International Affairs at Columbia University classified Atta Mills as one of the “Five Faces of African Innovation and Entrepreneurship.”

In Ghana, many Ghanaians loved him and christened him ‘Asomdwehene’ (King of peace). In 2014, President Mahama – whom in Atta Mills’ own words was a man, “In whom he was well pleased” – led his Cabinet to name Ghana’s second Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel after John Atta Mills for ensuring actual production of First Oil in commercial quantities.

After the 2012 elections, we issued commemorative postal stamps to honour Atta Mills on World Post Day. His brother, Dr Cadman Mills joined me at the headquarters of Ghana Post near the John Evans Atta Mills High Street (also named after him) in remembrance of Atta Mills as “…a humble man who loved  his country…”

In like manner, the Judicial Council revered his high regard for independence of the judiciary and named Ghana’s most modern Court Complex after him, and so did the University of Ghana name the Law Faculty building after Professors Atta Mills and Akua Kuenyehia, a former Dean.

President John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills, a Great Peaceful African Democrat, continue to rest well in the Lord.

**********

Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah

Former Minister for Communications and Health Policy Planning and Financing Analyst.

 The ritual was performed on Sunday, July 24, 2022, in commemoration of the late former President Atta Mills, 10 years after his death.

Mr Anyidoho, an aide to the late Statesman, took to his Twitter page to share photos from the ceremony.

It captured leaves, a bottle of gin and a feather-like artefact on a bust-monument erected in Prof. Mills’ honour.

They have always wanted to perform rituals at Asomdwee Park. They have never honoured his memory. So, they boycotted the Ceremony by the State, and went to perform this stinking, ritual. Look at how they have desecrated the Bust of President Atta-Mills. pic.twitter.com/lnFxJLvQ7q

— Samuel Koku Anyidoho?? (@KokuAnyidoho) July 24, 2022

He described the ritual as stinking, claiming it was carried out because his former boss’ brother, Samuel Mills talked about it.

He went on to pray for forgiveness for the persons who carried out the ritual, stating that Mr Mills was a Christian and did not believe in it.

Sammy Atta-Mills talked about, rituals, so, they went to Asomdwee Park to perform rituals. President Atta-Mills was a Christian and did not believe in rituals. God forgive them

— Samuel Koku Anyidoho?? (@KokuAnyidoho) July 24, 2022

Mr Anyidoho and Mr Mills have been in the news for the past week following allegations that the former desecrated the former President’s tomb.

Mr Mills alleged that the government had allowed the Atta Mills Institute to tamper with his late brother’s grave which was against their custom.

But President Nana Akufo-Addo, speaking at the commissioning of the rehabilitated Asomdwee Park on Sunday, described the claims as false and unfortunate.

The statue, which captures the face and bust is nothing short of excellence, as it clearly depicts the late statesman.

It was unveiled by President Nana Akufo-Addo and assisted by the founder of the Atta Mills Institute, Samuel Koku Anyidoho.

This was on Sunday, July 24, 2022, to commemorate a decade of Prof. Mills’ demise.

The late President died on July 24, 2012, at the 37 Military Hospital.

The President said such claims are unfortunate and should be ignored.

He stressed that the legacy of the former president will not be forgotten.

“There have been unfortunate accusations levelled by some persons against Government about the supposed desecration of the tomb of the late President in the process of rehabilitating the Park.”

“Nothing could be farther from the truth, and it is good to note that these false, malicious statements have been firmly dispelled and debunked by the Coastal Development Authority, through the agency of its CEO, Mr. Jerry Ahmed Schaib, in a public statement under his hand,” he added.

President Akufo-Addo made the call when he commissioned the Rehabilitated Asomdwee Park and the 10th Anniversary of the death of President Atta Mills on Sunday, July 24.

Brother of former President, has alleged that the government has allowed the Atta Mills Institute to tamper with the grave of the late statesman.

According to brother of the former President, Samuel Atta Mills, the current arrangement goes against customs.

“It is not proper to allow the NGO to make changes to the grave without recourse to the family,” he said.

“Apparently a group calling itself Atta Mills Institute that the family does not recognize and Coastal Development Authority have gone to break this grave of President Evans Atta Mills…why would you go and touch somebody’s grave without informing the family?… Who has the body now? That is the question I want to ask Ghanaians,” he lamented.

The furious brother of the former President thus called on government to immediately stop the conduct of Koku Anyidoho because he is desecrating the resting place of the former President.

“This is an insult to the family, this is an insult to we the Akans, this is an insult to the nation. The government allows an NGO and Coastal Development Authority to run Asomdwe Park. Why don’t we send another NGO to go and run Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum…the government has to provide the body of President John Evans Atta Mills, we want to find out where the body is…who in this government is authorising this nonsense?” he questioned.

However, the Coastal Development Authority denied the allegations. 

Brother of late President John Evans Atta Mills and Member of Parliament (MP) for Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem, Samuel Atta Mills, has disclosed that the late President, prior to his death, slept in a room with a leaking ceiling roof at the Castle.

In an interview with Raymond Acquah on Upfront, Wednesday, the MP said the late President had only two houses, one of which was situated at the Castle which contained the leaking roof.

“One house he had never slept in and the other one was where he lived. When he lived at the Castle, his bedroom leaked. Whenever it rained, we had to put about eight buckets in his bedroom. All the fixtures were rusted because it is so close to the ocean and maintenance over there was so difficult,” he said.

According to him, there were many suggestions to the President to move out from the Castle to his other residence at Spintex.

He explained that the late President, however, refused and said “No. I will stay here.”

“He did not want to inconvenient Ghanaians on the Spintex road coming to work every morning and you know how busy Spintex road was and is now. Can you believe every morning the President with the sirens and everything pushing cars everyday just to come to work and then he will do that in the evening when everybody was gone?” he noted.

He added that “he did not want to even inconvenient the people living in his neighbourhood…he would rather stay at this leaky roof place so that he could save some money and not inconvenient anybody and whatever savings that he could get, he could use it to refurbish schools or whatever.”

This Sunday will mark the 10^th Anniversary of the death of former President Mills.

A memorial thanksgiving service will be held after which President Nana Akufo-Addo will commission the Asomdwee Park.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Atta Mills Institute is distraught following claims by the late President John Mills’ family that he is desecrating his memory.

Koku Anyidoho said the family is paying him back for preserving the final resting place of his late boss.

The former Director of Communications at the presidency in the erstwhile Atta Mills administration made the comment amidst tears on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Wednesday.

Given the respect he has for the Atta Mills family, he said he is handicapped revealing certain information in the media.

“I respect the Atta Mills family so much I shall not disclose any exclusivity clauses. I shall never hit him hard,” he bemoaned.

Mr Anyidoho said he is ready to die in his quest to protect the legacy of late President Mills.

“I will be at the Teshie shooting range, those who want to kill me should come and kill me because I am happy that President Mills is sleeping in dignity,” he stated.

His only joy, Mr Anyidoho added is ensuring the Akufo-Addo government renovates the Asomdwee Park.

“I’m happy President Akufo-Addo has renovated Asomdwee Park. Those who could not do it and are upset that it has been done, that is their problem. History will hold me in high esteem.”

Brother of the late President, Samuel Atta Mills, described it as a “fake” Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO).

He made the comment in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Wednesday following a misunderstanding between the family and Mr Anyidoho ahead of the 10^th anniversary of Atta Mills’ death.

The Atta Mills Institute together with the Coastal Development Authority (CODA) has renovated Asomdwee Park where the late President was buried.

But the family maintained that, Mr Anyidoho did not seek the consent of the family to touch the tomb of their kinsman.

This conduct of the founder of the Atta Mills Institute, according to Samuel Atta Mills, who is also the Member of Parliament for Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem (KEEA), is an insult to the family.

He said the family does not recognise the Atta Mills Institute because Mr Anyidoho is not part of the family.

“Since when did Koku become Atta Mills to register the name? It’s a family name and he does not own the right,” he fumed.

Mr Mills said they will stamp their authority as a family to ensure the body of late President Atta Mills is treated with respect.

Brother of late President John Atta Mills has challenged founder of the Atta Mills Institute, Koku Anyidoho, to publish his late daughter’s autopsy report before he produces his brother’s own.

Samuel Atta Mills maintained that, as a family they know what killed the late President and no one can compel them to make it public.

Mr Mills, who is also the Member of Parliament for Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem (KEEA), made the comment after a similar challenge was thrown to him by Mr Anyidoho.

He challenged him to produce late Mr Mills’ autopsy report if he claimed he was present when the late President died.

“Tell him to produce the autopsy report of the death of his brother…Where is the autopsy report of the death of your brother? Sammy Atta Mills has questions to answer,” he said.

In reply on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Wednesday, Mr Mills said Mr Anyidoho has no locus to demand that.

He stated emphatically that, as a family they received the autopsy report at the 37 Military Hospital and used it to get the burial permit from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly before the late President was buried.

“As a family we have the autopsy report; we know what killed our brother, case closed,” the MP for KEEA fumed.

What he must concern himself with, he said, is for him to also publish the autopsy report of his late daughter in the media.

Mr Mills said they won’t allow Mr Anyidoho, who worked with his late brother for only six years, desecrate his grave.

Mr Anyidoho and the Atta Mills Institute were accused on Tuesday by MP for KEEA, Samuel Atta Mills, for desecrating the tomb and grave of the late President in the name of renovation.

Speaking on Newsnite, Tuesday, he said “John Dramani Mahama refused to build Asomdwe Park, he deliberately refused. President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa is building Asomdwe park, is that what is hurting Sammy Atta Mills?

“Tell him to produce the autopsy report of the death of his brother…Where is the autopsy report of the death of your brother? Sammy Atta Mills has questions to answer,” he said.

Mr Anyidoho alleged that Mr Mills has not visited the graveside of his brother in the last 10 years “to care about the remains of his brother.”

He explained that the renovation at the Asomdwe Park is to “glorify God and Ghana to move away from the level of ignominy that Asomdwe Park sat in. Sammy Atta Mills should be ashamed of himself.”

He contended that the remains of the late President have not been removed.

This Sunday will mark the 10^th Anniversary of the death of former President John Evans Atta Mills.

According to Mr Anyidoho, a memorial thanksgiving service will be held, after which President Akufo-Addo will commission the Asomdwe Park.

Meanwhile, the brother of former President, John Evans Atta Mills, is furious that the government has allowed the Atta Mills Institute to tamper with the grave of the former President.

The non-governmental organisation run by Mr Anyidoho, an aide to the late Prof. Atta Mills, says they are rehabilitating the ‘Asomdwe Park’ where the mortal remains of the ‘Asomdwehene’ were buried.

According to brother of the former President, Mr Mills, the current arrangement goes against customs.

“This is an insult to the family, this is an insult to we the Akans, this is an insult to the nation. The government allows an NGO and Coastal Development Authority to run Asomdwe Park. Why don’t we send another NGO to go and run Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum…the government has to provide the body of President John Evans Atta Mills, we want to find out where the body is…who in this government is authorising this nonsense?” he questioned.

While some will be remembered for their heroism and stewardship, the memories of others will be recalled with misgivings.

In chronicling Ghana’s political history, one of such heroes many are likely to tout is Ghana’s 10th President, the late Professor John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills.

Born on the 21st day of July, 1944, Professor Mills became the President of Ghana after two previous defeats in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections.

Unshaken by the loses, the erudite tax professor braced himself for the 2008 contest, where he finally prevailed against then candidate Akufo-Addo, who is now Ghana’s incumbent President.

The 2008 election was a particularly intriguing contest.

This was because, unlike previous elections, the winner of the polls was decided after a famous ‘last minute’ run-off elections in the Tain Constituency.

The political climate at the time was charged, and both candidates and their supporters were compelled to sit on tenterhooks.

Yet after the long ride, Ghana’s Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan, called the elections in favour of Professor Mills, the then candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

His victory threw the country into widespread jubilations. This was because, a lot of citizens were unhappy with the then political establishment, led by President John Agyekum Kufuor.

Many Ghanaians felt that even though Kufuor had done his best, the quality of lives had not improved; hence the ousting of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Accordingly, Professor Mills pulled a total of 4,521,032 votes, representing 50.2% of the total valid votes cast.

Candidate Akufo-Addo who vied on the ticket of the incumbent party, amassed a total of 4,480,446 votes; translating into 49.8% of the votes.

Mills subsequently took office on 7th January, 2009, at a massively attended swearing-in ceremony at the Independence Square, in Accra.

After that eventful ceremony, ‘Uncle Atta’, as he was affectionately called rolled his sleeves and jumped into the trenches to fix Ghana’s economy.

Indeed, with the introduction of some landmark policies, Ghana’s inflation was bettered.

Mills also implemented the Single Spine Salary Structure – a wage policy, which shored up the earnings of many Ghanaians, especially workers in the public sector.

As an educationist, Professor Mills also turned his attention to improving the quality of teaching and learning in the country.

In this regard, the regime abolished the shift system in public schools and embarked on an aggressive removal of schools under trees.

This highlight of his successes was not without the usual criticisms and sentiments from a section of the populace.

The opposition NPP accused him of being a weak leader, who could not crack the whip on errant appointees.

They further alleged that Mills had converted the Castle at Osu (which was the seat of the Presidency), into a prayer centre.

But in his regular calm and composed disposition, Mills responded to his critics with exceptional decorum and civility.

Even when jabs where thrown at him, he employed wits and humour to deflect their impact.

This earned him the nickname ‘Asomdwehene’; to wit, ‘peaceful ruler’. But this accolade did not inject peace into the hearts of Ghanaians.

This was because, three years after his installation as President, he troubled the hearts of many Ghanaians with the news of his demise.

It was a fateful Tuesday afternoon. The central business district was clumsy and busy as usual.

The citizens were going about their daily routine when the press broke the news of Mills’ death. Indeed it was a bolt from the blue.

Even though his ill-health had been widely reported, the President affirmed his fitness, when he spoke at the Kotoka International Airport, upon return from a health check up in South Africa. This happened few weeks to his death.

The country was thrown into mourning. Some nerves were unsettled. Emotions were stirred and adrenalin levels escalated.

Mills had died at the 37 Military Hospital, Tuesday July 24, 2012. It was a national shocker.

Ten years after his death, JoyNews shines the light on the man who was hailed for his meekness, calmness and virtue-inspired leadership.

In a yet-to-air documentary by JoyNews‘ Paa Kwesi Schandorf on the JoyNews channel, the memory of Ghana’s 10th President will be awakened.

The documentary, titled, ‘Ghana’s Greats: The story of Professor John Evans Atta Mills’, will air on Sunday, 24th July, 2022; with a repeat on Monday 25th July, 2022.

Here’s a teaser of for you below! Anticipate!

According to Prof. Kwesi Aning, he could vociferously criticise the former President and still sleep soundly after such critiques.

Speaking at the John Evans Atta Mills Memorial Lecture for Central and Western Regions, he indicated that general security was about being tolerant of different forms and ideas of the diversity of opinions, and the former President was an embodiment of such descriptions.

He started: “And here, I want to celebrate and salute former President John Mahama. I criticised him, and he knows it. I never spared him. But I also slept soundly.

“I criticised the former president so much that every time he came to the Kofi Annan Peacekeeping Training Centre, he said, ‘Let me see if Kwesi is there so that I can recognise him, so he doesn’t criticise me’. So, thank you very much.”

Prof. Aning emphasised that a lot needs to be done for the state to achieve proper security.

He argued that the statutory security institutions in the country must be responsive to the public and be transparent.

He asserted that the nation’s security forces have fallen short of protecting its citizens, adding that they now instil greater fear among them. He cited the Ejura, Nkoransa, and most recent national protests as examples.

“True security is for the farmer to wake up at 4 am and go to the farm without fear. Proper security is about our mothers leaving at about 2:30 am, travelling 300 kilometres to go and shop, knowing they will get to that market and return home.

“True security is about ensuring that you can walk up to a police officer and say I am lost, and he will not say, ‘how much would you want to pay?’ he quizzed.

The director of Academic Affairs of the KAIPTC said proper security is about ensuring that people are not stopped and harassed on the highways and money is demanded from them, even when there is no basis for such intimidation.

He reiterated that proper security is when one has a complaint, and when the complaint is done, the complainant feels that something has been done about it.

Speaking of the late President’s virtues, he hinted that what he had learned from Professor Mills concerned the complex relationship between the law and providing dialogic, consensual, engaging, and discourse-friendly security.

He was convinced that the challenge of security guidelines is about restoring the fundamental values of those security institutions and ensuring their sustenance through autonomous watchdog institutions.

“As democracy is distinct from autocracy, governance should be society-centred, including the private sector and, more critically, civil society.”

These are necessary to maintain societal, economic, and human development.

He said that governance, which is the exercise of political, economic, and administrative authority, must manage diversity and be tolerant of diversity, criticism, and alternative viewpoints.

Professor Aning continued by arguing that transparent, participatory governance is essential for the public to engage with, question, and hold elected officials accountable.

Professor Mills stood out in all of these.

The collaboration between the government, security agencies, the private sector, and civil society is therefore important to ensure and fight for, he continued.

In a society like the one we have in Ghana, governance should be centred on the needs of the people, ensuring that civil societies encourage participation from various groups in all aspects of our activities.

Prof. Aning urged the J.E.A. Mills Memorial Heritage board to begin compiling every piece of information about Professor Mills.

He explained that to make these writings accessible, a presidential connection must be established.

“It is essential and crucial that these writings serve as the foundation for knowledge creation and dissemination, as doing so will be the best way to protect his legacy from encroachment.

“Secondly, the fight to appropriate Professor Mills’ legacy has already started, and their persistent deliberate efforts as misrepresenting and misinterpreting his words,” he said.

Former Director of Communications under the erstwhile Professor Atta Mills‘ administration, Koku Anyidoho, has revealed his ex-boss is happy even in death.

According to him, since his boss died on July 24, 2012, he always appears to him in his sleep and in the latest, the late statesman appeared very excited about something.

“In the revelation just as Joseph dreamt and his brothers did not believe it, that was the same thing. He was very happy and thanked me for being loyal and not turning my back against him even in his death,” he revealed in an interview on Accra-based Okay FM.

This, to him, points to nothing but the Mills’ heritage and legacy that has been kept alive, particularly with the construction of the Asomdwee Park.

The former National Democratic Congress Deputy General Secretary had some time ago said the late Mills told him the only thing to make him rest in peace is for a monument to be built for him at Asomdwee Park.

Following the work that has been done on the park, Mr Anyidoho, who is also the founder of the Atta Mills Institute, revealed the late president appreciated him for it in the dream.

He added that the park, which is near completion, is expected to be commissioned on July 24, 2022, as part of activities to commemorate a decade after his death.

Listen to the audio above:

General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has said calls for probe into late former President Mills’ death is a total waste of resources of Parliament.

According to him, there is nothing mysterious about the death of the former President for a bi-partisan investigations.

Four New Patriotic Party (NPP) members of Parliament, led by Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, have filed a Private Member’s motion calling for a bi-partisan investigation into the death of the late President’s death.

The group wants Parliament to constitute a committee “to unravel the unending mystery surrounding the death of late President Mills which sad event occurred on July 24, 2012.”

This has generated a lot of controversial comments with members of both NDC and NPP splitting heads.

While the NDC argues that it is a ploy by government to divert attention, the NPP maintained that, the probe will bring closure to the circumstances surrounding the death of the former President.

Reacting to this on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Friday, Mr Nketia said the MPs are just being disingenuous.

He explained that, the cause of death of the late Mills is public record, thus, the probe is an exercise in futility.

The NDC scribe, popularly known as General Mosquito, stated unequivocally that, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin will ignore it.

This, he said, is because the motion does not meet the criteria for the motion of a bi-partisan committee in Parliament.

“What is the mystery they are trying to unravel? Matters like this may not go beyond the Speaker’s office. We don’t use lies and speculation to conduct business in Parliament,” he stressed.

The NDC General Secretary is convinced the supposed probe is an attempt to divert attention of the nation away from burning issues on national agenda.

General Mosquito added that until they give further and better particulars on the mystery they are talking about, the motion will not be approved.

In a Facebook post, he described the motion led by Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, as “complete and utter nonsense.”

According to him, the decision to find the cause of death aside from being an initiative to waste time is a ploy to divert the attention of Ghanaians from pressing matters in the country.

On Thursday, four Majority MPs filed a Private Member’s motion calling for a bi-partisan investigation into the death of the former President Mills.

Aside from the Nsawam-Adoagyiri MP, the remaining sponsors of the motion include Tolon MP, Habib Iddrissu; Mpraeso MP, Davis Ansah Opoku and Tema Central MP, Yves Hanson-Nortey.

The group wants Parliament to constitute a committee “to unravel the unending mystery surrounding the death of late President Mills which sad event occurred on July 24, 2012.”

On July 24, 2012, the former statesman passed away returning from a medical check-up from United States. It was reported that Atta Mills was battling throat cancer.

Meanwhile, the MP for Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirem, Samuel Atta Mills, accused the four MPs of using his brother’s death for politics.

Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosiisen on Thursday, he said the Majority should rather focus on addressing issues bothering the country such as the UTAG strike and the demands by the aggrieved National Builders Corps (NABCo).

“It’s bad news. Why are they trying to cry more than the bereaved? You care more about Prof Mills than JB Danquah-Adu who was murdered in his house. Have you investigated that? Annoh-Dompreh is someone I used to respect a lot, he shouldn’t make me change my perception about him.”

“Why is it that every year they want to remember Nana Yaw [late President Evans Atta Mills]? People are suffering in this country, workers are going on strike, UTAG is on strike, all kinds of problems. Is this what Annoh-Dompreh could think of? Every year they are using Prof. Mills’ death for politics,” he stated

Also, some social media users have asked the Majority to rather investigate the death of J.B. Danquah-Adu, the former Member of Parliament for Abuakwa North.

Mr J.B. Danquah-Adu was stabbed to death on February 9, 2016, at his Shiashie residence in Accra, yet the culprit has not been brought to book.

I agree, bro.

— ALHASSAN SAMUEL ANEYIRE (@Sokkascientist1) February 18, 2022

“Prof. Atta Mills had his own problems with the retention of Koku Anyidoho even in his office,” he told Accra-based Kasapa FM.

According to him, the NDC member, who was expelled from the party days ago, is only appropriating the legacies of late Atta Mills for his personal interest.

“Koku Anyidoho is not special to Atta Mills in any way to the extent that we’ve given him the opportunity to appropriate his legacies to appear that he has some special relationship or ties with Prof. Mills.

“Some of us were closer to Atta Mills than Koku Anyidoho, but we don’t take advantage of our closeness with the big people and brag about it. So let it be said and known that Koku Anyidoho doesn’t have any exclusive entitlement to Atta Mills’ legacies because they were close or something,” he stressed.

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Mr Anyidoho was expelled following alleged misconduct and anti-party behaviour cited in a letter to him on Tuesday, July 27, 2021.

“The Functional Executive Committee acting in compliance of Article 48 (1) of the NDC Constitution unanimously adopted the report and accepts full responsibility for your expulsion from the party,” the letter added.

Prior to the latest development, he had been serving a suspension that begun on February 8, 2021, after his consistent criticism of the party.

Prof. Mills died on July 24, 2012, at the 37 Military Hospital, three days after his 68th birthday.

The former President would have turned 77 today, July 21, 2021.

True to the saying that ‘out of sight isn’t out of mind’, Mr Mahama took to his social media page to write a brief message in the late president’s honour as he mourns him.

Mr Mahama wrote: Happy birthday Prof. Continue to Rest in Peace.

He backed his message with a lovely photo with his former boss which saw them beam with smiles.

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• PHOTOS: Mahama, Naadu and NDC gurus lay wreaths on Mills’ grave

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The post of the Vice President, under the erstwhile Atta Mills administration, has generated tributes and goodwill messages from Ghanaians who have sighted it.

Read the post below:

Happy birthday Prof.
Continue to Rest In Peace. pic.twitter.com/1sBAlRRYVV

— John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) July 21, 2021

A wreath-laying ceremony will be held at Asomdwee Park, near the Osu Castle in Accra at 0700 hours.

A statement issued by Emmanuel Siisi Quainoo, Member of the Planning Committee, said the ceremony would be conducted in accordance with the COVID-19 protocols.

The dress code for the much-anticipated ceremony will be white or Prof. Mills’ cloth.

Many bigwigs of the party, including Mrs Ernestina Naadu Mills, widow, former President John Dramani Mahama, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, National Chairman and Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary and other party leaders and supporters are expected to grace the occasion.

The former President died on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, at the 37 Military Hospital three days after his birthday.

Since his demise, the NDC and family have held public lectures to honour him but last year’s event was called off following the outbreak of the coronavirus and its attendant restrictions on public gatherings.

However, former President Mahama took to social media and eulogised late President Mills saying “You will forever remain in our hearts”.

“You would have been 76 years today, Prof. Though in eternity, memories of your sterling qualities and principled leadership are still fresh with us. You will forever remain in our hearts. Yours is a soul that cannot be forgotten, a man we cannot celebrate enough,” he emphasised.

Before his demise on July 24, 2012, Prof Mills’ spiritual father was the Founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations.

The late President, before his death, also visited Prophet Joshua’s church and addressed the church members from the altar as the latter stood by him.

”There is strength in sharing views and ideas with like-minded people. My brothers and sisters, we’re all the same children of God. Let’s help one another, let’s hold each other’s hands, and whatever happens to us, let’s give praise to the almighty God,” Professor Mills said.

However, following the demise of the televangelist on Sunday, June 6, 2021, the former Central Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress has revealed they had issues.

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According to Uncle Allotey, as he is affectionately called, though the two were good friends, they were at loggerheads at a point.

He made the revelation on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen but said he wouldn’t make public the circumstances that led to the loggerheads.

Uncle Allotey also did not state at what point the duo had those issues he spoke of.

This was as a result of verbal attacks he suffered from former President Jerry John Rawlings.

In a book titled “Working with Rawlings”, authored by former Local Government Minister, Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi; Prof. Mills is quoted as saying “I can’t take it anymore, so I have decided to resign as President”.

Prof. Ahwoi recounts the incident as one which made him panic.

He writes “I was attending an IEA-sponsored workshop at Aburi in the Eastern Region.

“President Mills asked me (called him on phone) whether I had heard the things Rawlings had said about him to the smaller group of NDC loyalists that he had met in Tamale after the congress.

“When I replied in the negative, he said “Kwamena, then try and get the audio and listen to it. I have been humiliated enough. I can’t take it anymore so I have decided to resign as President”.

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Prof. Ahwoi says it took the intervention of Captain (Retired) Kojo Tsikata, a former National Security Advisor and Kofi Totobi-Quakyi a former Minister of Information to convince the late President to change his mind.

He said this was at a meeting that lasted about four hours at the seat of government.

Prof. Ahwoi notes that on arrival at the Castle where the former President resided at the time, there were visible signs of him packing out.

“He had packed many of his belongings in suitcases and card boxes and many others were strewn on the seats in the hall, ready for packing.”

He recounts the conclusion of the meeting “…he agreed not to resign and we agreed to take steps to ensure that Rawlings stopped his public humiliation of President Mills or reduced it significantly.”

He further reveals that they agreed to use younger members of the party to respond to Mr Rawlings after any public aspersions of President Mills.

“Any time former President Rawlings attacked or insulted President Mills publicly, one of the younger members of the party would take him on publicly not with insults but logic.”

These are the younger party members Prof. Ahwoi claims Mr, Rawlings christened ”babies with sharp teeth.”

According to him, many have misconstrued his nickname ‘The Bull’ to mean he is an uncouth and loud person, who can be used for their own selfish purposes but that is far from the truth.

Sharing the memory on Happy FM, he noted that in his position as the Head of Communications at the Presidency during the tenure of the late President Atta Mills, he was approached by someone from the party to attack former President Rawlings verbally.

He noted that because of the father and son relationship he had with the late president, he informed him about the incident and this was the advice he received: “When I went to the president and told him so and so person says I should go after Rawlings, the President exclaimed, herh!! Koku, sit down. And he said, Koku, never, never, never insult Rawlings in your life.”

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He mentioned that the late president repeated his advice and warned him never to insult Mr Rawlings as the person who made the request of him (Koku) was trying to trap and destroy his political career.

“After his death, I was approached by the office of former President Rawlings. When the approach came and I got close to former President Rawlings, I actually told him this story and what the late President Mills said to me,” he added.

On Tuesday, July 24, 2012, at about 2:15 p.m., the entire world was thrown into a state of mourning as President John Evans Atta Mills was reported dead.

This was the first time a sitting President of the Republic of Ghana passed on.

As Ghana continues to mourn Prof. Mills, here are five of his top memorable quotes:

1. “I have always said that I will be President for all Ghanaians whether they voted for me or not and without consideration for which part of the country they come from. It will be my duty as President to heal wounds and unite our dear nation. I intend to pursue relentlessly all avenues for entrenching peace and unity in all parts of the country as I am enjoined by the constitution to do.”

2. “As we approach the December Presidential and Parliamentary elections, it is my prayer and hope that we shall continue to preserve and maintain the peace, remain united and focused as people with one destiny. We can hardly achieve meaningful development if the citizenry on whose behalf we are managing the country does not support and cooperate with us.”

3. “I will not condone actions that will pitch one citizen against the other as a way of settling political scores. That is unacceptable and will not be the Ghanaian way of doing things. The Ghanaian way should be that, under the Rule of Law, and with the benchmark of due process, any violations of the laws of Ghana will be addressed in the manner that is fair, balanced, and right in the sight of God.”

4. “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. Let this day not just see us enjoying just the holiday part of it; let us find time to reflect on the way forward as we strive to build a Better Ghana. We must reflect on the legacies that our forebears bequeathed to us; consider what we have added to that legacy, and commit ourselves to leave a solid legacy for the generations after us.”

5. “As a nation, we have no other option but to “sustain the peace” we are enjoying in order to broaden the frontiers of our democracy and development. At no point in time should we take the peace we are enjoying for granted? Our fallen heroes and Founding Fathers toiled to give us this dear nation and we dare not destroy what they have toiled to build. Standing here every 6th March as President since 2009, and watching our youth partake actively in this celebration, there is no doubt in my mind that they are filled with dreams; big dreams of taking over from us, and becoming responsible adults…We must not destroy their dreams.”

Mr Rawlings is said to have arrived at the ‘Asomdwee’ Park in Accra around 6:30 am.

This was during a brief ceremony of wreath-laying to commemorate the eighth anniversary of Prof Mills’ demise on July 24, 2012, while serving as President of Ghana.

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Taking to Twitter, Founder of the Atta Mills Institute, Koku Anyidoho, shared photos which captured Mr Rawlings at the ceremony.

Watch the photos below:

This morning @ 6.30am, President Rawlings was at the Asomdwe Park to pay his respects. pic.twitter.com/OoMo517jTJ

— Samuel Koku Anyidoho?? (@KokuAnyidoho) July 24, 2020

Koku Anyidoho revealed that since his boss died on July 24, 2012, he always appears to him in his sleep.

“The number of times I have encountered President Mills in my dreams is unimaginable. The last time I saw him was last week Monday,” he disclosed in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme, Tuesday while detailing activities to mark the 8^th anniversary of his passing.

He said the late Mills tells him the only thing to make him rest in peace is for a monument to be built for him at Asomdwee Park.

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Based on this backdrop, Mr Anyidoho said on Friday, July 24, 2020, he will lay wreaths at Asomdwee Park in Accra to mark the 8th anniversary of the death of Prof. Mills.

Also, he revealed that an initiative will be launched to raise funds to manage the final resting place of the late President.

Mr Anyidoho bemoaned how some people, who benefitted immensely from the late President, have turned their backs when it mattered most.

“I use my personnel money and sometimes beg to ensure the tomb is painted but people who benefitted from President Mills have all turned their backs. God have mercy on you,” he bemoaned.

This notwithstanding, Mr Anyidoho was grateful to the government for giving a facelift to Asomdwe Park ahead of the 8^th anniversary celebration.

His pain and anguish, he explained is because of the sorry state of his final resting place, Asomdwe Park in Accra.

The former Director of Communications at the presidency said the late President Mills wants his tomb to be a memorial in his honour.

“A country that does not honour its heroes is not worth dying for; Atta Mills is restless because of the state of Asomdwe Park,” he stated in an exclusive interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Tuesday.

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Though the Asomdwe Park has seen a major facelift, Mr Anyidoho said the late President wants a monument to be built in his honour.

“Every year I beg for money for the tomb to be painted because I refuse to allow President Mills to sleep in filth,” he opined.

Mr Anyidoho charged all those who benefited from the benevolence of the late President Mills to contribute their quota to honour his memory.

A wreath-laying ceremony will be held at Asomdwee Park, near the Osu Castle in Accra at 0800 hours.

A statement issued by the party’s Director of Communications, Kraka Essamuah said the ceremony would be conducted in accordance with the Covid-19 protocols.

“Further details of the programme will be communicated in the course of the coming week,” it said.

The Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe Abronye, has berated brother of the late president John Atta Mills, Samuel Atta Mills for asserting that, the death of the former president is being used to score cheap political points.

Abronye DC, as he is popularly known, speaking in a telephone interview on Adom FM Midday News, said Mr Mills was under the influence of alcohol, hence his comment.

He [Samuel Atta Mills] was drunk when he said that, because if he wasn’t why then would he say someone is making politics out of it. Who is using President Mills’ death to score political points? He fumed.

“He [Samuel Atta Mills] has been promised he would be made the Central Regional Minister by Mahama and that is why he is saying such things,” he alleged.

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Abronye DC, who was livid during the interview, said investigations into the death of President Mills ought to be carried out as the former president’s only son up to now doesn’t even know what killed the father.

Member of Parliament (MP) for Komenda/Edina/Eguaafo/Abirem, and brother of the late President Mills, Mr Mills, speaking on Okay FM’s ‘Ade Akye Abia’ programme, cautioned persons who want to use the death of his brother to score cheap political points to desist from their act of ‘drunkenness’, saying that the family had conducted an autopsy and is satisfied with the results of the autopsy.

Abronye DC was some months ago invited by the Criminal Investigations Department for accusing former president John Mahama of killing President Mills.

Chief Executive Officer of Atta Mills Institute, Koku Anyidoho has described how he provided protection for the late President John Evans Atta Mills.

To him, his motive was mainly to protect his integrity and project his commitment to duty as far as the welfare of the late President was concerned.

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“There are certain things I won’t do. I am not a saint but I won’t do. The President was under attack. The bodyguards protect the President with their guns and their bodies because that was what they were trained to do. I had to protect the President with my voice and I was doing it with passion,” he stated.

According to the former Director of Communications at the Presidency, during the erstwhile Mills administration, he did not have any unlimited power despite his closeness to the late Mills.

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“I am not saying I got it right all the time protecting the President. So if I got it wrong somewhere along the line, to err is human and so I couldn’t have gotten it right all the time. I didn’t have any power. Yes I was close to the President. I was his speech writer so he had to have confidence in me but people have put their own interpretation on it,” he told host of Asempa FM’s Ekosi Sen show, Osei Bonsu, popularly known as OB.

Mr Anyidoho noted that when he tried to allow public perception about him to get to him, the late Atta Mills urged him to remain focused.

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“At one time when I wanted to fight the rumours, the president told me he remained the president and for as long as he was happy about what I was doing, I should ignore the rumour and gossip ‘and don’t allow yourself to be derailed else I will get rid of you.’ He told me to stay focused because even he the president, he had ignored them,” he recounted.

Source: Adomonline.com | Dorcas Abedu-Kennedy

“NDC is projecting Prof Mills as zero and not a hero because if they cherish his achievements and legacies, they would have at least proved something to Ghanaians,” he said.

To Mr Kumi, the actions and inaction of the NDC make it evident that they are ashamed of the kind of man the late president was.

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“They could have at least organised annual lectures in his honour, but you don’t even hear them observe a minute silence at their party’s event for him but they rode on this man’s back and used him to win election 2008,” he stated on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem show.

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“It is about time we begin to celebrate our heroes in a befitting way because it is only unserious countries that do not celebrate their heroes. Maybe, the government can begin by considering the refurbishment of Prof Mills’ Asomdwe Park and Library which have been abandoned,” he urged.

Source: Adomonline.com | Gertrude Otchere

A son of the late President of Ghana, Sam Kofi Atta Mills, has said he swept his father graveyard ahead of his sixth-anniversary celebration.

According to him, little has been done to the ‘Asomdwee Park’, where his Dad was buried to be described as a graveyard of a former president of Ghana.

Speaking to Ghanaweb, Sam Kofi Atta Mills said if he had his own way, he would have added some museums to the ‘Asomdwee Park’ to attract tourists.

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“Just like the Kwame Nkrumah mausoleum, we can do something similar here. There is a park over here with some animals, we can make the place more habitable for people to come in as a tourist place,” he stated.

“Those who feel like they have the logistics and the power feel within themselves that they can help…if we are able to collectively come together and say let’s actually do this, it will help,” he added.

Mr Atta Mills noted that he will continue to do anything within his power to keep the ‘Asomdwee Park’ in good shape.
Ghana marked exactly six-years after the demise of Prof John Evans Atta Mills on July 24, 2012.

Born on 21 July 1944, at Tarkwa in the Western Region, the late President hailed from Ekumfi Otuam in the Mfantsiman East Constituency in the Central Region. At age 27, he was awarded his PhD after successfully defending his doctoral thesis in the area of taxation.

He lectured at the Faculty of Law and the Business School, both of the University of Ghana for over two decades, and author of a number of publications.

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He was also a visiting professor at Temple Law School (Philadelphia, USA), Leiden University in the Netherlands and at the Liu Institute for Global Issues at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.

He was a member of the Ghana Stock Exchange, and became Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service of Ghana, and named the National Tax Commissioner in September 1993.

The late President was also a distinguished sportsman and sports administrator, as he played hockey and was a member of Ghana’s National Hockey Team and later the Veterans Hockey Team. He was also a reputable swimmer as well.

On the political scene, the late President Mills was chosen as the running mate by former President Jerry John Rawlings, who was seeking re-election for a second term in office.

They overwhelmingly won the 1996 election and the Professor became Vice President of Ghana from January 7, 1997, to January 6, 2001.

Between 2001 and 2008, Prof Mills became the de facto opposition leader and earned a reputation of decent politicking. He later became known as Asomdwehene, to wit, King of Peace.

On January 7, 2009, the late Prof Mills was sworn-in as Ghana’s third President of the Fourth Republic.

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He was until his untimely death the presidential candidate for the NDC for the 2012 presidential election, after winning a challenged presidential primary by a remarkable 96.7 per cent.

Prof Mills is the first sitting leader in the history of the country to die in office.

He died on July 24, 2012, three days after his 68th birthday.

Brother of the late President John Evans Attack Mills has described as shocking the death of former Vice President H.E. Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur.

The former Vice President died at the 37 military hospital Friday Morning after he reportedly collapsed at the Air Force base gym.

But Samuel Atta Mills in an interview on Adom News described the late former President as a refined politician by all standards.

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According to him, the relationship between him and the late former vice president was very strong that he (Amissah) was fond of him till his demise.

“He was a very lovely guy. He was my senior in Secondary school and he used to play practical jokes on me. One of the things I always remember most was that when I was in secondary school, he used to send me to buy koko and bofrot every morning.

“Even when I was in the Castle he did the same thing to me sending me to buy him koko and I think it was fun and I enjoyed it a lot. He also used to protect me from the bullies when we used to be in secondary school and I choose to remind him as a great man” he recounted.

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Amissah-Arthur was an economist, academic and politician who was the sixth Vice-President of Ghana, in office from 6 August 2012 until 7 January 2017, under President John Dramani.

Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, born April 29, 1951, was an economist, academic and politician who was the sixth Vice-President of Ghana, in office from August 6, 2012, until January 7, 2017, under President John Dramani Mahama.

Previously he was Governor of the Bank of Ghana from 2009 to 2012.

He was sworn in as Vice-President on August 6, 2012, following vetting by the Parliament of Ghana.

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He was nominated by President John Dramani Mahama to be the vice-president a week after Mahama himself was sworn in. This followed the sudden death of John Atta Mills on July 24, 2012.

Amissah-Arthur is married to Matilda Amissah-Arthur with two children. He is a Christian and is known to worship at the Calvary Methodist Church at Adabraka in Accra.

His comment comes five years after the demise of former President John Atta Mills even his only surviving son, Sam Atta Mills, has said he has still not seen the autopsy report of his father.

Tragedy struck on July 24, 2012, when Atta Mills died at the 37 Military Hospital aged 68.

He had reportedly been battling with throat cancer, and in the days leading up to his death, had been in the US for some medical attention.

But his family led by Dr. Cadman Mills insisted the late President suffered a growth in his sinuses cased by polluted air.

However, on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem Tuesday, Asiedu Nketia who said he believes President Akufo-Addo smokes wee indicated that the declassified Wikileaks report about the health of the late President was right.

He noted that, if the late Atta Mills eventually died after the Wikileaks report, then the assertion that he had throat cancer is true.

“President Mills is dead and cancer also kills so if Wikileaks said he had throat cancer than it is true.

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