On Thursday, July 24, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama led a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at Asomdwee Park in Accra to mark 13 years since the passing of the late President Professor John Evans Atta Mills.
The ceremony was attended by Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, NDC party leaders, Council of Elders, family of the late president, and the general public. Below are five key takeaways from President Mahama’s deeply personal and heartfelt tribute.
The legacy of Professor Mills is rooted in peace, humility, and service
President Mahama described his former boss as “a rare breed of leader” who governed with a moral compass. “He stood tall not just in intellect but also in moral stature,” Mahama said. He emphasized Mills’ unwavering commitment to peace, justice, humility, and integrity, values that are increasingly needed in today’s divisive political climate.
It’s not enough to honour Mills once a year—we must live his values
Mahama stated emphatically that “it is not enough to lay wreaths at his grave or sing his praises in death.” According to him, the best way to truly honour the late president is to “carry forward the values that he held dear”—a call to ethical leadership, justice, and people-centered governance.
The Reset Agenda is built on the foundation of the Better Ghana Agenda
President Mahama tied his current leadership philosophy and direction to the foundation laid by Professor Mills. “Our Reset Agenda today rests on the foundation of the Better Ghana Agenda that was laid by Professor J.E.A. Mills,” he stated, acknowledging the lasting impact of Mills’ presidency on the country’s democratic and developmental trajectory.
Mills’ style of leadership offers hope in tough times
Reflecting on Ghana’s current economic and social challenges, Mahama noted, “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, listen with empathy, and govern with principle.” He cited Mills’ calm, principled leadership style as a blueprint for resolving today’s national issues.
Asomdwee Park is more than a resting place—it’s a national call to conscience
President Mahama called Asomdwee Park “a national symbol” and “a living reminder of what our politics can be and must become.” He urged Ghanaians to “lower our voices and elevate our purpose,” stressing that true leadership is about legacy—not statues or slogans, but lives touched and examples left behind.
Professor Mills served as Ghana’s president from 2009 until his passing on July 24, 2012. He is remembered as a man of peace and principle who placed country over self.
“Rest well… your work lives on in us,” Mahama concluded.
