Associates, Peers Eulogize Atta Mills for His Leadership and Governance Style

Kwesi Pratt, Jnr, the Managing Editor of The Insight Newspaper and Director of Pan African Television, has eulogized and paid glowing tribute to the memory of the late President of Ghana, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, saying: “He did not condone corruption.”

He said, “Today day, there are some people including heavyweights who deliberately create the impression that by wanting to be a “father for all,” Professor Mills condoned corruption and did not pursue criminal elements who
had used their positions in the previous administration to amass wealth.

This is completely false and most unfair to the memory of Professor Mills. We can still remember the committees of inquiry he set up to investigate alleged wrongdoing and the prosecution of some wrongdoers.

The problem was that he was frustrated by the Judiciary and other state institutions at every turn. Perhaps it is useful to warn the incoming Mahama administration that it will not be easy to prosecute wrongdoers in the Nana Akufo-Addo administration. There would be the judiciary to contend with and other factors and institutions which may impede that effort.”

Speaking at the 12th President John Evans Atta Mills Anniversary Commemorative Lecture in Accra on the topic, “Remembering Atta Mills: 12 Years On”, he said, that what the people of Ghana deserve most is for their new government to work assiduously to improve their access to health, education, employment, housing, nutrition and transportation.

The Director of Pan African Television disclosed that one of the greatest passions of Professor John Evans Atta Mills was for constitutional reform.

According to him, he so badly wanted the 1992 constitution reviewed and amended. Kwesi Pratt, Jnr said, “There are many reasons why I agreed with him. First, the constitution, unlike the 1960 constitution, did not commit the Republic of Ghana to Pan-African Unity.

It devalued the secular character of the state by its references to deities. It subverted the practice of democracy by making District and Metropolitan Chief Executives and some members of the Assemblies, Presidential appointees rather than elected officials.

The constitution did not insist that spouses of public officials should declare their assets and Article 71 officeholders were treated like queens and kings in the feudalist era.

My problem with this passion was and still is that nowhere in history have the poor been protected against the tyranny of the elite by the mere formulation of words on a piece of paper.

As I stated when I appeared before Professor Mike Oquaye’s Constitutional Review Committee at the Institute of Economic Affairs, “No constitution enforces itself. Outcomes depend on how people behave around constitutions, especially the governing elites.

Often, calls for review and amendment of the constitution are insincere attempts at deflection from misconduct. There is more than enough by way of prescriptions, procedures, and standards of conduct in our constitution for leaders to operate it effectively for the benefit of the people.

“The main reason we have continual constitutional crises lies not so much in poor drafting but in the subservience of our political class to special interests.

Unfailingly, since 1992, President after President has overreached and abused his powers. Presidents have turned a blind eye to or even participated in, appointees’ reckless dissipation of national resources.

Presidents have tolerated institutional abuse of citizens’ democratic rights. Presidents have supported or ignored undemocratic claims and use of state power by traditional authorities.

Presidents have ignored police and military violence against citizens and Presidents have facilitated militia violence against citizens. They have also sought on occasions to impose their backward religious beliefs on a secular society. To many, our Supreme Court has also displayed spinelessness in interpreting and applying the Constitution.

It has failed to deal with constitutional law as a mechanism through which the powerless can fight the excesses of the bosses in society.”The event was also used to launch a book titled, “Atta Mills Around The Regions.”

Source: Adovor Nutifafa
dovor100@gmail.com