Is this the US$75, 000 Casket?

Ghana’s late former president, Professor John Evans Atta Mills may still have been alive but for the Ghanaians’ relentless and not good enough criticism of our leaders.

Prior to the Sunday when he returned to the Castle from Peduase Lodge before the Tuesday when he passed-on to glory, the late president John Mills flatly rejected suggestions from some of his senior aides, for him to be flown back to the US for a review when it was becoming apparent that his health was deteriorating. An impeccable source told The Al-Hajj.

“When the president, preceding his recommended move to Peduase for adequate rest was complaining of some neck and body pains we impressed upon him to let us send him back to the US for a review, he completely turned it down, maintaining… “menko bebia, mami ntana ahara, ebeye yie, na wonim se Ghanafuor pekasa pee”? To wit; Am going nowhere, let me stay here, don’t you know how Ghanaians like complaining too much?”

This is only one example of how we as a people and a nation may have willfully or inadvertently contributed to the sudden and untimely demise of our late president, Atta Mills.

If only the president had heeded to the advice and allowed himself to be flown to US for further medical review, may be, he would have been alive, but because of his sensitivity to our numerous but unproductive and unwarranted censures. For example, on the eve of his departure to the United States on Saturday the 16th of June this year for what was then described as a routine medical check-up, the late President Atta Mills had the unpleasant duty to quash rumours of his death when he addressed the media at the airport and stated that he is only going for a “routine check-up” and will be “away for a few days.”

Even then, the president’s harmless phrase, “routine check-up” and will be “away for a few days” was later to become subject of grave but unnecessary controversy and innuendos, spearheaded by the opposition inclined media, particularly; New Statesman and Daily Guide newspapers.

When details of a Presidential notice to Parliament was later read to MPs during the following Tuesday’s sitting by the first Deputy Speaker, Edward Doe Adjaho in accordance with Article 59 of the Constitution of Ghana which indicated the president shall be away in the US from Saturday 16 June to Monday 25 June, 2012 for a routine medical check-up; headlines like ‘Mills trip to US to Last more than a week’ and ‘Mills Medical Check-Up to last 10 days.

One report, laced with aspersions states “It was unclear what he was going to talk about with his doctors, but speculations were rife that the President needed a second and perhaps a third opinion on the issue about his health”. Former President John Mills, a man of honour, a man of integrity and God-fearing, could not put up with such wild, unfounded and undeserving innuendos and aspersions woven with malice and calculated to tarnish his hard won reputation.

This is forcefully encapsulated by his brother, Dr. Cadman Mills in his appreciation message at the burial service of the late president: “Before my brother (Mills) died, the last words that he said that I clearly remember are that, he raised his hands in the air and he said ‘God, I leave it all to you’, Amen. I’ve no doubt that God heard his call. I’ve no doubt that he is now in the bosom of the Lord. I’ve no doubt that he’ll find eternal peace. Pray for him, and May God be with you, Fiifi," Dr Cadman Mills said. The late President, according to a tribute brochure made available at the funeral, had written and signed a message to Ghanaians, christened “everlasting message” before his death.

The message reads: “I came to serve; I have finished my time here on earth and have moved on to everlasting rest and celestial duties with my heavenly Father.

“As you leaf through these pages of my life’s story, I pray to God that it touches you in many positive ways.”

“Weep not; for I am not dead.”

“I am alive and awake in the Lord.”

“Ghana will not die; Ghana will live to declare the works of the Lord.”

“As I rest in the perfect peace in the celestial realms with my Maker, I pledge to always uphold and defend the good name of Ghana.”

“Remember the Lord in all your ways, and He will protect you”

“Stay well my brothers and sisters, for I will always be with you.”