The first anniversary of the establishment of the John Evans Atta Mills Memorial Heritage, which seeks to preserve his heritage and legacy has been commemorated in Accra.
It is dubbed: “J.E.A Mills Memorial Heritage, a non-profit, independent, non-partisan charitable organization, established to promote President John Evans Atta Mills’ unique view of society to strengthen democratic values and human development”.
It was established in 2021, by a group of academics, professional colleagues, family members, friends and former appointees of President John Evans Atta Mills who conceptualized the creation of the J.E.A. Mills Memorial Heritage.
President John Evans Atta Mills passed on peacefully to glory at 1.40pm on 24th July, 2012. He is the first and only President of Ghana so far to die whilst in office. He was the first Fulbright Scholar to become President of Ghana and the elected Head of State of any country in the world for that matter.
It was after five decades of distinguished public service to Ghana that Professor J.E.A Mills rose to become the President of Ghana. His was a ‘legacy of commitment to education and the pursuit of excellence, a legacy of devotion to the development of the youth through sports, and a legacy of deep respect for the political process’. The Memorial Heritage was established in his memory, to preserve his heritage and legacy.
The Released Statement.
A statement by J.E.A Mills Heritage, signed by Alexander Percival Segbefia, Chairman of the Heritage, said President John Evans Atta Mills passed on July 24, 2012 as the first and only President of Ghana to die while in office.
According to the statement, February 2023, marks one year of the launch of the J.E.A. Mills Memorial Heritage, “We are happy to announce, that during its first year of existence, the Memorial Heritage has lived up to its ideals and objectives.”
“After its incorporation and a successful launch on February 1, 2022 at the Cedi Conference Centre, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, the Memorial Heritage successfully organized lectures and other activities to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the death of President John Evans Atta Mills,” the statement revealed.
It said the first 10th Anniversary Commemorative Regional Lecture was held for the Northern Sector comprising the Upper East, Upper West, Northern, North East and Savannah Regions at the Tamale Campus of the University of Development Studies on May 28, 2022.
According to the statement, a publication titled, ‘Atta Mills Speaks’, a compilation of the four State of the Nation Addresses by President Mills from 2009 to 2012 was launched during the Ho lecture.
“The highlight of the 10th anniversary commemoration was the Annual Commemorative Lecture which was held on July 26, 2022 at the Accra International Conference Centre. The lecture was chaired by Nana Otuo Siriboe II, Omanhene of the Juaben Traditional Area and Chairman of the Council of State of the Republic of Ghana and the Keynote speaker was an outstanding personality and revered legal luminary, Tsatsu Tsikata.”the statement revealed.
“In its first year, the Memorial Heritage engaged in other activities related to our vision and objectives. These included, but were not limited to, the institution of awards to the overall best five sandwich students of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), a University established by President J.E.A. Mills in 2012 in fulfilment of his party, the NDC’s 2008 Manifesto promise,” the statement revealed.
According to the statement, the Memorial Heritage also supported the NDC to organize a wreath-laying ceremony at the Asomdwee Park, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the death of President Mills on July 24 , 2022. Earlier, on March 15, 2022 the Memorial Heritage appointed its Advisory Council.
The Advisory Council was chaired by Togbe Afede XIV, the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State of the Volta Region.
