Tribute In Memory Of Former Prez Atta Mills

When President John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills passed on into eternal glory on 24th July 2012, so much love, expression of grief, compassion and adulation poured out from all Ghanaians and many other international personalities who esteemed him. 

But even in death, one could not measure the full stature of this unique and illustrious son and servant of mother Ghana and the world. His true godliness and nobility are beyond description. 

President Atta Mills was a servant leader. His life was marked with humility, peace, genuine love and care, integrity and persevering faith. 

One can testify of him as a man radically transformed by the power of the gospel of Jesus. Christ. His Christian faith journey experienced a special vibrancy when he encountered the Holy Spirit and its liberating and in-filling grace in the fellowship of the Legon chapter of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship under the leadership of Prof. James Anquandah. 

He continued his walk with God in the Legon Interdenominational Church and remained a Methodist. He was not a perfect man, but certainly was a godly man who exhibited humility in all endeavours. 

Some describe humility as strength and power under control. His political colleagues say of him “you brought Godliness into politics – a profession hitherto known to be heartless, dishonest, exploitative and thus ungodly”. 

Politics in this country should not be made unattractive to our compatriots of clean hands, reflective minds and high achievers. 

One recalls the then Council of State members stating that “An abiding lesson which the late President Atta Mills taught and reinforced for us as a nation was that: each one of us can attain great heights as professionals or even rise to become the President of this Republic.

 But the road to that great city of shining excellence and glittering achievement passes through the simple village called Humility. 

This humility village is skirted by equally simple hamlets and cottages called Respect and Love for all our fellow human beings. 

As far as he was concerned, intellectual achievement must always ride along in the eternal company of humility, self-sacrifice and love for Man and God.”

One would not associate closely with President Atta Mills over a good period and go on being puffed up and looking for number one attention everywhere. 

The late President and the most powerful person in the country during his tenure subjected himself to be searched anytime he used the VVIP Lounge of the Kotoka International Airport. 

This obviously deterred others from looking for special privileges for themselves at the Airport. President Atta Mills acknowledged the supremacy and sovereignty of the Lord Jesus in all matters of both individuals and nations. 

To him the Lord Jesus was “tumi wura” (Almighty) and the source and end of all wisdom. The then Council of State powerfully observed that "As President, Professor Mills gave his all for his nation through selfless and dedicated leadership. 

His love for Ghana and passion in advocating peace and unity both at home and abroad raised the stature of Ghana to a high pedestal in the international community. 

He has indeed left an indelible mark in the political history of Ghana and his name will be written in gold in the book of history as one of Ghana’s finest Presidents.” We all knew President Atta Mills as Asomdwehene. 

He was never arrogant and never vindictive. 

He had peace with God, peace within and was an instrument of peace in Ghana and beyond. 

When there was change in government in 2001, Mrs. Ernestina Naadu Mills and President Mills endured undignified insults and vituperations by all sorts of characters in his time. 

It was not as if the persons who indulged in this past time of infamy misunderstood the good professor. 

On the contrary, they perfectly understood him, except that they knew he was too good and too decent a person to be involved in the nasty and adversarial game of politics. 

President John Dramani Mahama said of his predecessor “he was an empathetic, decent, incorruptible, caring, intelligent, selfless, thoughtful and God-loving leader who cared deeply about creating a better Ghana for all”. 

Prof Mills’s wife, Ernestina Naadu Mills summed it all up crisply, “Fiifi, you were a blessing to me, Ghana, Africa and the world”. 

The good Professor has paid his dues as an academic, a tax administrator and a politician in humility. Let us pray that we learn from his good deeds in building Ghana as a prosperous nation. 

May his soul, rest in peace.

By: Jude Hama, FORMER CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF SCRIPTURE UNION, GHANA.

Email: ghanajesuscrusade@gmail.com / sughanaho@gmail.com)