The late Mills I knew
As Ghanaians mark the first anniversary of the demise of former President, John Evans Atta Mills, one of the people who remember the touching event with a heavy heart is Nii Noi Owuo.
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Nii Noi Owuo, who is popularly called Nii, was one of the security guards of the late President Mills.
His association with Prof. Mills dates back to the 1980s when he was the acting Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Authority (IRS). In fact, Nii lived in Prof. Mills' house as his son and a brother.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic at the Flagstaff House last Monday, Nii recalled that he accompanied Prof. Mills to the Castle, Osu, when former President Rawlings wanted to nominate him as his running mate for the 1996 election.
According to the 56-year-old man, Prof. Mills was reluctant to accept the nomination because he had got an appointment outside the country.
When Prof. Mills became the Vice-President in 1997, Nii virtually relocated from his residence in Osu to the Castle.
Nii was with Prof. Mills at the Kuku Hill Campaign Office of the NDC for the 2000, 2004 and 2008 elections.
Throughout the three-and-half year presidency of President Mills from 2009 to 2012, Nii was one of the security guards around the President.
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In fact, Nii is a popular figure because of his miniature size coupled with his brisk and over zealous movements at state functions. He does not have higher education nor formal military training. He is married with two children.
One thing that you cannot take away from Nii is his immaculate dressing - suits of different make.
Nii told the Daily Graphic that the late President Mills took him as his son.
He said every morning, he would go and greet the former President Mills and immediately after that, President Mills would put his hands into his pocket and give him money without counting how much it was.
Apart from that, he said, occasionally, the former President would tell him in Ga ''Nii, from the look on your face, you are broke. Come and take this money.''
Nii revealed to this reporter that all his suites were paid for by former President Mills.
He said occasionally, Prof. Mills would ask him to go to a tailoring shop to take invoice for either four or six suits.
''Prof. Mills will ask me to go and get the invoice for four or six suits. As soon as I bring the imprest, he gives me the money to go and pay,'' he said.
He said the one he was wearing during the interview was one of the suits bought for him by the former President.
Besides, Nii said, Prof. Mills had friendly engagements with him. For instance, he said, Prof. Mills could call him on phone and ask him about the score lines of the national hockey league.
Nii recalled with a sense of loss the day that former President Mills passed on July 24, 2012.
Nii said tears dropped freely from his eyes upon learning of the demise of his father and friend.
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He could not stop crying for days, while food became sour in his mouth.
Ever since the day of former President's demise, Nii said he always prayed for the late President before he went to bed.
Nii said he would continue to pray for the late President Mills because he could not forget the generosity that he extended to him.
By Musah Yahaya Jafaru