Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has described his late boss, former President John Evans Atta Mills as a selfless leader who prioritized the needs of the nation over personal and political gain.
“My boss, President John Evans Atta Mills, was a selfless leader. He prioritized the needs of the nation over personal and political gain. When he took over from the NPP government, he was the first to cut his own salary as a sincere gesture to show solidarity with the economic hardships faced by many Ghanaians”.
Those were the words of John Mahama during the 12th-anniversary memorial service and wreath laying held for the late former President at the Asomdwe park in Accra on Wednesday July 24, 2024.
According to Mr. Mahama, late President Mill was passionate about lifting the vulnerable and duly allocated resources to social welfare programmes adding that, he was a man who epitomized truth and honesty.
The NDC flagbearer also mentioned that, his late boss was a responsible President who carefully managed the nation’s resources, implemented fiscal policies aimed at economic stability, cautious about excessive borrowing and focused on sustainable development ensuring all projects were completed efficiently and within budget.
Additionally, Mr. Mahama noted that, the late Prof. Mills believed in fixing problems and took proactive steps in addressing challenges facing the nation highlighting his role in tackling the “schools under trees” problem by constructing new school buildings, providing educational resources and thereby improving the learning environment for students.
Pledging to continue legacies left by Prof. Atta Mills in governance, John Dramani Mahama emphasized the need to complete the constitutional review started by the late President when he and the NDC is voted into power.
“It was to prevent the kind of abuse of Presidential and Executive powers that he planted the seeds for a constitutional review. This is an undertaken that we the NDC are duty bound to complete for the people of Ghana and for the memory of Prof. Mills when we win the upcoming elections and take office on 7th January 2025”, Mahama said.
Late President John Evans Atta Mills died at the age of 68 on July 24, 2012 at the 37 military hospital in Accra.
He was married to Ernestina Naadu Mills and left behind a son, Sam Kofi Atta Mills