In a stirring commemorative lecture at the University for Professional Studies on Wednesday, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, former Minister and a seasoned cardiothoracic surgeon, painted a sober picture of the Ghana President John Evans Atta Mills left behind — a country of promise frustrated by institutional neglect and short-term politics.
Delivering the address to mark the 14th anniversary of the late president’s passing, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng recalled Atta Mills as a leader defined by “peace, humility, integrity, transparency, accountability, academic excellence, and servant leadership.” Yet, he told a packed hall, those virtues alone cannot build a nation if public institutions are starved or mismanaged.
“Professor Mills believed in the rule of law and ethical governance,” Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said, urging Ghanaians to imagine where the country might be had Mills completed a full term or a second term. He commended some memorial restorations — including the refurbishment of Asomdwe Park and the Atta Mills Memorial House at Ekumfi Otuam — but warned that other national projects, notably the presidential library, had fallen into disrepair until recent renovation efforts.
Using the recent floods in Greater Accra as a warning, the former Health Minister argued that the disasters expose institutional failure: weak waste collection, encroachment on flood-retention sites, and regulatory inaction that allows development in protected wetlands. “A nation that cannot manage its waste and protect its wetlands cannot undertake the disciplined, sustained project of national development that President Mills envisioned,” he said.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng drew on three personal encounters with the late president to illustrate Mills’ personal integrity and his commitment to combating corruption and building indigenous capacity in science and technology. He highlighted achievements from the Mills era — macroeconomic gains, reductions in inflation, the commissioning of Jubilee oil, and the creation of specialized universities — while stressing that these were early yields of purposeful governance, not finished business.
Central to the lecture was a call for long-term national planning. Prof. Frimpong-Boateng denounced short-lived, politically branded initiatives that vanish with administrations, and lamented the chronic underfunding of universities, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, and the Environmental Protection Agency. “Ghana asks its scientists to be entrepreneurs first and researchers second,” he said, calling for sustained investment in research, industry, and infrastructure.
Transport, housing, and daily living burdens formed the moral heart of his plea. He cited commuting times exceeding 110 minutes in Accra, a housing deficit of nearly two million units, rising electricity tariffs, and widening inequality as evidence that macroeconomic recovery has not reached ordinary citizens.
Concluding, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng urged leaders to move beyond rhetoric and to protect institutions across administrations, saying the “Better Ghana Agenda” requires disciplined, technology-led development and accountability — the very ideals the late President Atta Mills stood for.
Rationale for the John Evans Atta Mills Memorial Heritage:
The late John Evans Atta Mills’ amiable demeanour was unprecedented, a breath of fresh air on Ghana’s political scene. His personality stood out in a very combative political scene.
This was a welcome change, and it reimagined the “Ghanaian politician.” He had a strong sense of compassion, and his kindness was unmatched. Though President of Ghana, he never lost touch with his humanity. He was bestowed the title “Asomdwehene” (King of Peace) for his calm nature and for always looking to create an atmosphere conducive to peaceful coexistence for all. He was also firm, focused, and assertive. These noble qualities were among the top overarching qualities with which he was associated.
The haven of peace he created in Ghana did not go unnoticed. This brought benevolence and commendation from the international community, attracting business and partnerships with various organisations and countries.
During his tenure as President of the Republic, his vision for a “Better Ghana” was operationalised in the document “The Agenda for Shared Growth and Accelerated Development for a Better Ghana.” This vision improved the standard of living of many Ghanaians.
His countenance and achievements are what all who hold Ghana and its noble ideals dear should emulate and, as such, serve as the basis upon which the John Evans Atta Mills Memorial Heritage has been established.
By Kingsley Asiedu
