Parliament, Tuesday, extolled the virtues of the late President John Evans Atta Mills, describing him as a true patriot and selfless leader of the land who worked diligently to ensure that the lives of all Ghanaians were improved.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu and a deputy Minister for Education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who led the discussions to mark the third anniversary of the death of the late Associate Professoer, described him a “noble leader the country’s democracy produced in our time.”
He also described him as a man who was not corrupt but worked tirelessly to consolidate the gains the country had made over the years.
“Few Presidents in our continent have been noted to leave office or died during their tenure and there have not been revelations of dubious secret bank accounts discovered abroad or properties dotted all over the world. This is a man who defied the dominant narrative from Africa and proved that public office could be used to improve the lot of the common man and not to amass personal wealth,” he said in a statement he presented on the floor of the House.
He also lauded the late President for his belief in the youth towards nation building, noting that “no wonder that he gave opportunities to many young people, including my good self, to serve in his government. He vehemently disagreed with the notion that the youth ought not be heard or seen in decision-making and policy formulation.”
That notwithstanding, Mr. Ablakwa described the late President a man of modest and peaceful man who “drastically” reduced the size of the presidential convoy, the size of government and presidential delegations that travelled abroad, refused to accept hampers and gifts, reviewed the end of service benefits to ex-presidents and is not known to have acquired any property while in office.
He, therefore, called on the nation to be inspired to emulate the footsteps of the late Associate Professor of Law in order to sustain the relative peace the country was currently enjoying.
Contributing to the statement, the Minority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, cautioned Members to refrain from making comments that portray the former President as a saint.
“Let us not pretend that because of the accolade of ‘Asomdwoehene’, nothing untoward happened during his time in office,” he said.
He went further to draw members’ attention to the political violence that occurred in Agbogbloshie under the watch of the late President in 2009 in which a sympathizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was butchered to death.
He also recalled Prof. Mills’ failure to concede defeat after the 2004 elections, saying “sometimes people say things about people after they have passed on as if they want to rewrite history. The impression should not be given that he was a saint who did nothing wrong.”
The Majority Leader, Alban Sumana Bagbin, in his words described the late President as “too much” since his virtues could not be quantified. He said because love the late President Atta-Mills had for the country, he worked tirelessly and died in office.
The member for Effutu, Mr Alexander Afenyo – Markin, also contributing to the statement appealed to Ghanaians to let the death and virtues of the late President unite the country.
He acknowledged the fact that the late Prof. Atta Mills was a peaceful man who preached that despite the political differences of Ghanaians, they were of the same stock.
The Member of Parliament for Tamale and Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Haruna Iddrisu, also described the late President as “public servant of uncommon grade”.
He advocated the naming of the University of Energy in the Brong Ahafo Region after him to symbolize his good work for the country.
He also proposed naming the University of Mines in Tarkwa after former President Jerry John Rawlings and John Agyekum Kuffuor.
By: Kasapafmonline.com/Ghana
