12th Atta Mills Memorial Lecture July 19

The 12th Anniversary Memorial Lecture to mark the demise of President John Evans Atta Mills, third President of the Fourth Republic, is slated for July 19, 2024.

The lecture, which will be delivered by the Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jr, will be held at the Cedi Conference Centre of the University of Ghana. The event, which will be organised by John Evans Atta Mills Memorial Heritage, a non-governmental organisation, will be chaired by a former Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Akuffo.

The lecture forms part of activities lined up by the organisation to honour the memory of the late President. The Board Chairman of the John Evans Atta Mills Memorial Heritage, Alex Segbefia, disclosed this at a news conference in Accra yesterday.

Book launch

Mr Sgbefia said a book titled, “Atta Mills Around the Regions” will be launched at the lecture. The book is a compilation of all the lectures delivered in the clustered 16 regions of the country as part of the year-long celebration of the 10th anniversary of the passing of Professor Mills.

The book is reviewed by Professor Ransford Gyampo of the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, and the President of the University of Ghana Branch of the University Teachers Association of Ghana.

Mr Segbefia said on July 24, 2024, a 12th-anniversary wreath-laying ceremony and memorial service for the late former President would be held at the Asomdwee Park, near the Black Star Square, and that members of the general public were invited.

Again, he said on July 27, 2024, the President John Evans Atta Mills Memorial Hockey Tournament would be held at the Theodosia Okoh Hockey Stadium in Accra.

Sherry Ayittey

“In July last year, we lost an illustrious matriarch and one of our Cabinet ministers who served under President John Evans Atta Mills, Dr Mrs Hanny Sherry Ayittey. She was a founder member of the Memorial Heritage and a member of its Board of Directors.

 She was a pillar of the Memorial Heritage, and actively took part in all our activities,” he said, adding that the late Dr Ayittey had since been replaced by Ms Nancy Ampofo, a senior lawyer.

Mr Segbefia said at the burial of the late former President, it was the wish of his family that no effort should be spared in creating special vehicles in his name to keep his legacy alive.

His family promised to join others to offer support and access to education for gifted children and youth from disadvantaged homes, promote sports for youth and children with special needs, and to undertake targeted actions to provide basic productive infrastructure for poor and peri-urban communities.  

“One such vehicle created in memory of Prof. President Mills is the JEA Mills Memorial Heritage,” he said.

Memorial heritage

In terms of context, at the 10th-anniversary commemoration of his demise, a group of academics, his friends, professional colleagues, former appointees, as well as his family members created a memorial heritage to preserve the legacy of Professor Mills.

“It will also acknowledge his attributes and values of humanity, kindness, compassion, resilience, strength in adversity, and above all, his true leadership,” he emphasised.

Mr Segbefia said it was for this reason that they decided to set up a not-for-profit organisation to promote the President John Evans Atta Mills brand, a unique view of strengthening democratic values and human development.