Professor Mills Never Allowed Power to Change Who He Was – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama paid a moving tribute on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at Asomdwee Park in Accra, as Ghanaians marked the 13th anniversary of the passing of the late President Professor John Evans Atta Mills.

Describing the occasion as one of “remembrance” and “quiet reflection,” President Mahama recalled the day of Mills’ passing, noting how the weather on that day mirrored the present—cool, grey, and heavy with meaning.

“Exactly 13 years today we lost a very great man. The weather I remember was exactly the same,” Mahama said.

“After his death, for many months, the weather in Accra remained overcast and cold. There was a certain cold that swept over the land.”

The solemn ceremony drew senior government officials, party executives, Council of Elders, Mills’ family, and members of the public. Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang and Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin were also in attendance.

President Mahama described Mills as a leader defined by his humility, moral clarity, and unshakable humanity.

“13 long years may have passed, but for many of us, the pain of Professor John Evans Atta Mills’ departure will always remain fresh.

“His sudden transition… left not only a deep vacuum in our political and national life, but also in the hearts of those who knew him well.”

Mills, who served as President of Ghana from 2009 until his death in 2012, is remembered for his quiet strength, commitment to peace, and people-centered governance.

“Professor Mills was a rare breed of leader… a voice of reason, a voice of restraint, and a voice of hope,” Mahama said.

“Even in the face of provocation, he responded not with anger but with grace. He never allowed power to change who he was.”

As Mills’ Vice President from 2009 to 2012, Mahama spoke of witnessing firsthand Mills’ compassion and dedication.

“I witnessed his concern for the most vulnerable in society… He believed that leadership should be lived, not performed.”

President Mahama urged Ghanaians not to let the memory of Mills fade into mere ceremonial observance but to live by the values he upheld—peace, integrity, justice, and humility.

“It is not enough for us to lay wreaths at his grave once a year. The most authentic tribute we can give Professor Mills is to carry forward the values he held dear.”

He further linked the current government’s “Reset Agenda” to the foundation laid under Mills’ “Better Ghana Agenda,” emphasizing continuity in their shared vision.

“Let me say for emphasis that our reset agenda today rests on the foundation of the Better Ghana Agenda that was laid by Professor Mills.”

Calling for unity and moral leadership, Mahama concluded with a message of national introspection.

“To the people of Ghana, let us recommit ourselves to the Ghana that Professor Mills believed in—a Ghana that is united in diversity, strong in values, and anchored in peace… You may be gone from our sights, but you are never gone from our hearts.”

Source: Liberalprint.com