Parliament eulogises Prez Mills
Members of Parliament (MPs) yesterday paid glowing tribute to the late President John Evans Atta Mills and called on Ghanaians to accord their past leaders the needed respect and honour. Contributing to a statement to mark the first anniversary of the death of President Mills, MPs from both sides of the House took turns to extol his leadership style.
They asked Ghanaians who aspired to leadership positions to emulate his humility.
In the statement, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu and Deputy Minister of Education, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said President Mills was a remarkable intellectual who contributed to the development of the country.
He said history and time would properly tell the story of “this selfless African icon who dedicated his entire life to bettering the lot of all Ghanaians”.
He said President Mills’ reverence for Parliament was exceedingly significant, as he discharged his constitutional obligation with a deep commitment.
“Beyond the physical structures that President Mills left behind and will be remembered for, it is my considered view that perhaps his enduring legacy will be his exceptional style of tolerance, modesty, sincerity, humility, decency, sacrifice and non-vindictiveness by which he plied his trade of politics,” he said.
The Speaker of the House, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, recounted how he had been informed about President Mills’ death on that fateful day.
He described the late President as a great listener, teacher, unifier, modest man and man of peace.
He, however, noted that politicians needed to come together to correct the perception that all politicians were thieves, since that wrong perception would not entice good people into the arena of politics.
The Majority Leader, Mr Benjamin Kunbuor, also warned Ghanaians against politics of destruction, since, according to him, there were honest and decent people who had served the nation with integrity.
The Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, called for the recognition of all former leaders, no matter their political inclination, to unite the country.
The Second Deputy Speaker, Mr Joe Ghartey, was not happy that the naming of a roundabout in Accra after former President Edward Akufo-Addo was no longer recognised and described the situation as a mistake.
He called for respect for all former presidents and suggested that libraries should be established in their memory.
Mr Cletus Apul Avoka, the MP for Zebilla, said President Mills was bold, as he stood against gay rights, adding that the people of Ghana owed living former presidents respect and should not wait until they passed on before they showed them respect.
Prof George Gyan-Baffour, the MP for Wenchi, said the late President Mills was a simple, honest, unassuming and selfless man, adding that even in death he wanted Ghanaians to celebrate his anniversary in peace, as the battle of pink sheets was over.
He said President Mills died while he was President and so he should be immortalised.
By Emmanuel Adu-Gyamera, Parliament
Daily Graphic/Graphic.com.gh/Ghana