President of Ghana H.E. Prof John Atta Mills, known for helping his country flourish economically thanks to the oil reserves found two years before he took office in 2009, passed away on the 24th of July.
Elected to office with a margin of less than 1%, Mills defeated his opponent, Nana Akufo-Addo, making him the third president of the 4th Republic of Ghana, instituted in 1992.
Vice President John Dramani Mahama was sworn in as the new president of Ghana and will face reelection in December of this year, which Mills sought before his death. He is the only head of state in the country to ever pass away during his term.
Mills had an impressive academic and professional career studying at the London School of Economics and Political Science and later earning a PhD in law at the University of London. This led to a teaching placement in law at the University of Ghana, later serving as a visiting professor at Temple Law School in Philadelphia and Leiden University in Holland. During his academic career he wrote in various publications about taxation.
In 1997 Mills became Vice President of Ghana, alongside former President Jerry Rawlings, where he served until 2001 before deciding to make a bid for the presidency himself.
Mills presided over Ghana during a time of unprecedented economic growth and political stability. Under his leadership, the country’s GDP grew by 13.4% in 2011 and is projected to continue growing in the upcoming years. His administration was known for transparency and political stability.
In July 2009, H.E. Prof. President Mills welcomed U.S. President Obama to Ghana on the first stop of an Africa tour. The Obama administration worked closely with the Mills’ administration, promising an investment of $1.2 billion geared towards further development of the economy and social infrastructure.
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