I first got to know the late Prof. John Atta Mills as a secondary school girl at my church (yeah, I’m that old). We were in the same Bible study group, he and his wife, along with some lecturers and university students. I was the youngest in the group at that time. Those days, he hadn’t gotten heavily involved in politics and hadn’t yet been nominated as Vice-President to former president Jerry John Rawlings.
It may sound cliché because just about everybody is saying the same things, but I knew him to be a humble, modest and... very intelligent. I say intelligent because my church Bible study is structured in the group discussion format, so I get to rub shoulders with sharp minds as we grapple theological issues and how they apply to our modern, everyday life. He was one of those who would offer insightful comments during our study times.
Even after he became Vice-President, Pres. Mills was still the same simple man. He attended church services with an unmarked car and a casually dressed bodyguard, not an entourage, and sometimes would “hide” in the congregation so as not to draw attention to himself.
When He became president, he was always honest about his challenges as leader of the country the few times he visited (he wasn’t regular in the past 5 years or so) and was sincere in his request for prayer support. However, I disliked how the presidential entourage took up our parking space and how the security team were a source of distraction as they did their work before and during church service.
I believe his wife and close family members will have deeper things to say about him, however, humility, simplicity and sincerity are the 3 things I will remember him for.
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints, (Psalm 116:15; NIV).
Rest in God’s strong, loving arms, Prof. Atta Mills. That’s where you belong.
Amen,
Lady Akofa.
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