‘Ghana Lost a President, But I Lost a Mentor and a Friend’ — Mahama Pays Tribute to Atta Mills
On the 14th anniversary of Prof. Atta Mills' death, President Mahama visits Asomdwee Park and reflects on his legacy of integrity and calm leadership.
- President Mahama visits Asomdwee Park to honor the memory of the late Professor John Evans Atta Mills.
- Mahama highlights Mills' humility, decency, and unwavering convictions as enduring lessons for modern politics
- The President reaffirms his commitment to upholding Atta Mills' values by treating public service as a sacred trust.
President John Dramani Mahama has paid a moving tribute to the late President John Evans Atta Mills, describing the former head of state as both a foundational leader for the nation and a personal mentor and friend.
Marking the 14th anniversary of Professor Mills’ passing, President Mahama visited Asomdwee Park in Accra on Friday, July 24, 2026, to lay wreaths at his final resting place. Reflected in a social media message following the visit, Mahama noted that Mills’ true legacy resides in the moral standards he championed throughout his public service.
“Fourteen years ago today, Ghana lost a president, but I lost a mentor and a friend,” President Mahama wrote. “At Asomdwee Park this morning, I stood once again where we laid Professor Mills to rest, and I was reminded of what truly endures: not the title he held, but the man he was. Gentle. Principled. Unshaken in his convictions, even when the noise around him grew loud.”
Mahama emphasized that Professor Mills’ career served as proof that empathy and firm governance can coexist effectively in national administration, offering a timeless blueprint for contemporary political leadership.
“Professor Mills taught us that kindness is not weakness, and that decency has no conflict with leadership,” he stated. “In a time when our politics can feel divided and impatient, his life is a quiet but powerful lesson.”
Reaffirming his personal dedication to those principles, President Mahama pledged to continue guiding his governance with integrity and to honor public office as a sacred trust.
Professor John Evans Atta Mills served as Ghana’s third President under the Fourth Republic until his death in office on July 24, 2012.
