Let Mills’ legacy shape Ghana’s reset agenda – Mahama

• Posted on July 25, 2025July 25, 2025
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

President John Dramani Mahama has urged Ghanaians to draw inspiration from the life and values of the late President John Evans Atta Mills as the country navigates a new phase of national development.

He made the call on Thursday, July 24, 2025, during a wreath-laying ceremony at Asomdwee Park in Accra to mark the 13th anniversary of Professor Mills’ passing.

President Mahama, who served as Vice-President under Professor Mills, said the “reset agenda” currently being pursued by his administration is grounded in the principles of the Better Ghana Agenda, which he noted was initiated by the late president.

“If there is 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,” he stated.

Mr Mahama urged political leaders to abandon what he described as “the politics of insults and vengeance” and instead embrace public service that prioritises the people and the country over personal ambition.

“Professor Mills governed this country with a deep moral compass. He placed truth over expediency, people over politics, and the country over self,” the president said.

He added that Professor Mills’ legacy remains a steady guide at a time when many Ghanaians are growing disillusioned with public leadership.

Mr Mahama also disclosed that work is underway to rehabilitate the Professor Mills Memorial Library in Cape Coast, which has fallen into disrepair since 2017.

He said a team led by former Information Minister Kofi Totobi Quakyi is spearheading efforts to restore the facility to its original role of preserving the late leader’s political and intellectual contributions.

Thursday’s ceremony was attended by senior government officials, executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), members of the party’s Council of Elders, relatives of the late president, and members of the public. Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang and Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin were also present.

Professor Mills served as president from 2009 until his death in 2012. He is widely remembered for his calm approach to leadership, promotion of peace, and focus on social justice.

Mr Mahama said the most meaningful way to honour the memory of Professor Mills is not through songs or monuments, but through ethical governance and a return to national values.

“Asomdwee Park is not just a final resting place. It is a living reminder of what our politics can be and must become,” he said.