A group of academics, professional colleagues, students, family and appointees of President John Evans Atta Mills today, Wednesday January 26, 2022, announced the establishment of the John Evans Atta Mills (JEAM) Memorial Heritage.
The John Evans Atta Mills Memorial Heritage, has already been registered as a Non-Profit Organization at the Registrar General’s Department in Accra.
This, appears to be the most organized, strategic and definite approach to take back the Atta Mills brand from persons and one-man institutions, believed to be profiting financially from it, and had not reflected the late President’s peaceful and non-confrontational disposition.
It is also seen as an attempt to manifest his endearing legacy as unifier; “a father for all”, as he succinctly put it.
There has been attempts to celebrate the man who obtained his PhD at the tender age of 27 years, but that has always remained in small sentences and passages in speeches, and has had little to no significant impact on the former law lecturer nicknamed, “Asomdwehene” – “the King of Peace” in Akan.
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A library built at Cape Coast to honour him with the University of Cape Coast, tasked to manage it, hasn’t received the expected recognition and operation.
The library appears abandoned and a waste of resources, although bearing the name of a celebrated tax lawyer and former head of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) who constantly preached against profligate expenditure, while serving as President.
According to a statement issued by the Governing Board of the JEAM Memorial Heritage and signed by its Board Chairman, Alex Segbefia, former Minister for Health, under John Dramani Mahama, the John Evans Atta Mills Memorial Heritage, will be launched at the Cedi Conference Centre, University of Ghana on Tuesday, February 1, 2022.
The Memorial Heritage is a non-profit, independent, non-partisan organization, anchored in Professor Mills’ passion and commitment to inclusivity, transparency, accountability and his relentless quest for peace and a better society.
“Senior Economist and elder statesman, Mr Kwame Pianim, will deliver the main speech at the Launch. The theme for the Launch is, ‘The man John Evans Atta Mills – 10 years on.’
There will be thematic presentations by Professor Akua Kuenyehia, former President of the International Criminal Court, the Hague, Professor Francis Dodoo, a former Pro-Vice Chancellor of University of Ghana and four-time Olympian and Dr. Esther Ofei-Aboagye, a former Director of the Institute of Local Government Studies,” the statement added.
According to Mr. Segbefia, the JEAM Memorial Heritage will be formally launched by John Dramani Mahama, former President of Ghana and Vice President to President John Evans Atta Mills.
The launch will be chaired by Nana Kobina Nketsia V, Paramount Chief of the Essikado Traditional Area in the Western Region.
24th July 2012, the day of his death, is marked by his party; the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to eulogize him.
Nationally, he has had Accra High Street named after him.
The Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) has also named its law faculty after John Evans Atta Mills but hardly mentioned as such – even on its official website.
He died on 24 July 2012, while in office. He was a lecturer in tax law, a sportsman and sports administrator.
He was a politician, who was admired for having a decent language for his opponents. He was equally humorous.
