John Atta Mills fondly remembered by brother on the second anniversary of his death

Former President of Ghana, John Atta Mills, who died in office, has received a moving tribute on the second anniversary of his death from his younger brother.

“The people of Ghana will remember him for his personal qualities,” Dr Cadman Atta Mills told Worldfolio.

“Ghanaians used to call him ‘the prince of peace’, and he generally considered himself a father for all. He was not particularly partisan in his views – some of his best friends were in the opposition. He always thought about what was best for Ghanaians.”

Dr Cadman Atta Mills, a respected economist, was appointed to the government’s special Economic Advisory Council in 2009, during the presidency of his late brother.

John Atta Mills was elected head of state on the National Democratic Congress ticket in 2009 and served until his untimely demise from a short illness in 2012.

Dr Cadman Atta Mills was retained as presidential advisor by the current head of state, John Dramani Mahama.

He remembered his much loved sibling as an honest man who lived a modest life.

“Internationally, I think he was considered as someone with a receptive brain,” said Dr Cadman Atta Mills, recalling how he used to fondly tease his older brother that people only thought he was intelligent because of his excellent memory.

“But he was very sharp. He was very clear in his mind that he wanted to improve the lives of his people. He was a president with a vision, and that came out very clearly. He was a very intelligent man, and knew what he wanted for his country.”

The late president John Atta Mills was also considered to be very fair in his dealings with other heads of states, his brother continued.

Dr Cadman Atta Mills spent many years working at the World Bank, and his colleagues often remarked that his scholarly brother would have made a great economist.

Under the government of President John Atta Mills, the 10-man Economic Advisory Council, which included Dr Cadman Atta Mills, had a clear role in policy formulation.

“We could and did consult ministers, and at the beginning of the budget preparation process, we insisted on calling labour unions to solicit their views,” Dr Cadman Atta Mills said.

“You can use these bodies as a public forum for people to raise doubts, questions, and issues regarding economic policies. People won’t do it once the policy is being printed as they would be seen as being very disruptive, but they’d do it at the first stage,” the late president’s brother added.

Family and friends of the late president will hold a Remembrance Service at the Asomdwee Park in Accra this morning, to which the public is invited to attend.