Mahama Decries Politics of Insults, Calls for Issue-Based Leadership at 13th Anniversary Ceremony
At late President Mills’ 13th anniversary, Mahama urges political leaders to abandon insults and vengeance, calling for a return to principled, people-centered governance.
- Mahama urges end to politics of insults and promotes ethical, issue-based leadership
- Says Prof. Mills’ legacy of humility and integrity should guide national politics
- Announces rehabilitation of Mills Memorial Library to preserve his legacy
President John Dramani Mahama has called on Ghanaian political leaders to abandon the destructive culture of insults and vengeance, and instead embrace issue-based leadership rooted in integrity, empathy, and national interest.
He made the appeal on Thursday, July 24, 2025, during a solemn wreath-laying ceremony held at Asomdwee Park in Accra to mark the 13th anniversary of the passing of former President John Evans Atta Mills.
Addressing dignitaries, party officials, and members of the public, Mr. Mahama, who served as Vice-President under the late Professor Mills, said Ghana must reset its political culture to reflect the values championed by the late president — particularly truth, humility, and service to the nation.
“If there’s one lesson we draw from the life of President Mills, it is that no challenge is insurmountable when we lead with integrity, when we listen with empathy, and when we govern with principle,” Mahama stated.
He criticized the increasing toxicity in Ghanaian political discourse, describing it as a growing threat to national unity and development. “Professor Mills governed this country with a deep moral compass. He placed truth over expediency, people over politics, and the country over self,” he said.
Mr. Mahama lamented that many citizens are growing disillusioned with public leadership and warned that without a shift in tone and focus, the nation risks deepening its divisions. He urged leaders to reject personality attacks and focus on policies that improve lives.
In a nod to the enduring legacy of the late president, Mr. Mahama announced that rehabilitation works are underway on the Professor Mills Memorial Library in Cape Coast, which has fallen into disrepair in recent years. The restoration is being led by former Information Minister Kofi Totobi Quakyi and aims to return the library to its role as a center of research and education on Mills’ political philosophy and governance.
The event, organized by the John Evans Atta Mills Memorial Heritage, was attended by high-profile figures including Vice Presidential Candidate of the NDC, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, party elders, and relatives of the late president.
Atta Mills, who served as Ghana’s president from 2009 until his untimely death in 2012, is widely remembered for his commitment to peace, tolerance, and social justice.
Mr. Mahama stressed that the best tribute to his legacy is not just commemorative ceremonies, but the embodiment of his values in everyday governance.
“Asomdwee Park is not just a final resting place. It is a living reminder of what our politics can be and must become,” Mahama concluded.
