Late Ghanaian President John Evans Atta Fiifi Mills: Portrait of a true democrat and leader …Rest in Peace Atta Mills
Death is beautiful. Because she is coloured in variety, she is. She is sometimes patient and at other times not. And, as both yellow and green leaves can fall from the same tree; so it is with us, both young and old can die at any time, without warning.
Without warning, we drop down and die, leaving everything behind and taking nothing away. This is the way of life; this is the way of death. Death laid her icy cold hands on Ghanaian President John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills and took him away.
It is with a heavy heart that we learn of the sudden and untimely death of the president of the Republic of Ghana who died on Tuesday 24 July 2012. The death of the president of the world's No. 2 cocoa grower comes months before Mills was due to stand for re-election in December 2012 at the helm of the West African country that posted double-digit growth in 2011 and has been praised for its strong democracy in a turbulent region.
In 2008 Mills, was elected with a margin of less than 1%. President Atta Mills had lost three times in previous elections but did not tire and neither did he give up as he focussed more on his vision to be a central player in consolidating democracy not only in Ghana but the whole of Africa. That the narrowness of the victory did not set off an explosion of violence, as had occurred after elections in Ivory Coast and Kenya, was and is still widely viewed as evidence of the maturity of democracy in Ghana, which in 1957 became the first African nation to declare independence.
It is the same man who was to intervene in the Ivory Coast political logjam by assisting the volatile country to return to constitutional Democracy. He was not just a leader for Ghana but for his neighbours and all those who yearned for democracy and needed help.
President John Atta Mills will be remembered for consolidating his country's democratic and development achievements, and for the long dedicated service to his country. In Mr Atta Mills’s time in office, Ghana became a significant oil exporter. But it was the nation’s political stability that helped win an Africa Peace Prize making Ghana, the envy of its neighbours. President Mills tirelessly worked to improve the lives of the Ghanaian people. He helped promote economic growth in Ghana in the midst of challenging global circumstances and strengthened Ghana's strong tradition of democracy. Mills adhered to democratic principles and institutions, ensuring the kind of stability that brings prosperity.
During his reign, Mills put his country and had great vision for Ghana. He was results driven, not divisive, not vindictive, able to stand up to his own party members, and de-emphasized chieftaincy and tribal politics, emphasized nationality and peace. Under Mills, Ghanaians witnessed the massive infrastructural developments and achievements in a short span of two years against the backdrop of mismanaged and shattered economy that we inherited.
Alongside the above listed attributes of Atta Mills’ great leadership and in as much as he had his shortcomings, the following is some of what the Late President achieved for his country in building a stable economy;
1. Sustained reduction in inflation
Inflation rates reduced consistently and the trend continued into 2012. From a high of 18.1% in December 2008, the rate of inflation as at October 2010 is 9.38%. This is indicative of the fact that the fiscal-monetary policy mix and corrective measures put in place to put the economy back on track are working.
2. Improved gross international reserves
Gross International Reserves in January 2009 was US$2bn covering 1.8 months of imports. Currently, it is US$3.5bn covering 3 months of import cover.
3. Currency Stabilization-The Ghana Cedi has since stabilized; an indication that the effects of both monetary and fiscal policies are yielding positive results. The stability of the cedi is the longest since the re-denomination exercise. The latest survey shows a more positive assessment of the general macroeconomic outlook and a rebound in both business and consumer confidence.
4. Expansion of School Feeding Programme -The school feeding programme has been improved and expanded.
5. Revamping Collapsed Science Resource Centres - During the tenure of Mills, his Government started a program to re-equip science resource centres in all districts of the country as part of the commitment to enhance the teaching and learning of science. The centres, an innovation under the Jerry Rawlings, were neglected and run down. A model state of the art Science & ICT Resource Centre was constructed in Bolga in the Upper East Region to serve the three Northern Regions and students from neighbouring countries. President Mills commissioned this in November 2010
Like a man, Atta Mills born on July 21, 1944, he bared his chest and took it all in good faith, believing in a better Ghana and always doing his individual best in a collective government, but gave up the ghost nevertheless and inevitably.
Mills didn't join the silent ones without playing a part in Ghanaian politics. He did his best. And, whatever the case, whatever the cry; death has no care and no cure.
Adieu, John Evans Atta Mills; you played your part, you did your best. The world salutes you. Take a bow, Son of Africa, Rest in Peace.