Prof John Evans Atta Mills, flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), may have failed to with the 2000 Presidential elections, but he still commands respect and a high following among a cross section of the Ghanaian populace.
This fact was amply demonstrated at the weekend, when the former Vice President led a six member NDC delegation to sympathise and mourn with the bereaved families of eight out of 13 members of the EP Church, Ghana at the Madina Trinity Parish.
The 13 people lost their lives in a motor accident at Akpafu-Jodzi in the Volta Region about a month ago. Virtually everybody wanted to catch a glimpse of the man who had become an idol to some people in his own right.
The delegation, mostly Members of Parliament (MPs), was made up of Steve Akorli, MP for Ho East, Joe Gidisu, MP for North Tongu, James Victor Gbeho, MP for Anlo, Kofi Attor, MP for Ho Central, Kwame Ampofo, MP for South Dayi and Mrs Edit Hazel, MP for Evalu-Ejira.
The government delegation was led by Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Minister of State at the Office of the President. The ready charged atmosphere was thrown into a frenzy mood when the former Veep was asked by the leadership of the Church to offer a word of condolence.
The crowd spontaneously stood up amidst loud shouts of “Ehe edzo !!, Sankofa !, throwing their handkerchiefs in the air, as they reminisce the past. The speech delivered by the learned Prof could hardly be heard by the gathering as a result of the deafening shout of “Sankofa” by the morning crowd, turning the solemn atmosphere in a mini campaign durbar.
The situation even made some of the mourners to forget about their mourning state as they joined in the shouts. The former Veep managed somehow to console the bereaved families and the church with his usual “asomdwee” message, making some people wonder whether he might have had some studies in Theology.
He donated 5m cedis on behalf of the party to the Disaster Fund set up by the church to cater for the dependents of the deceased. Citizens of Akpafu-Todzi resident in Accra and the Madina Queen of Peace Catholic Church also donated 3m cedis and 6.3m cedis respectively to the Fund. The deceased were among other mourners returning from a funeral of a church member at Akpafu-Todzi.
