‘We won’t exhume Atta Mills’ mortal remains to Otuam’ – Family

The brother of the late president Professor John Evans Atta Mills has debunked claims that the remains of the former president will be exhumed and reburied in his hometown in the Central Region.

Prof. Mills who died in office in July 2012 was buried at the Asomdwee Park in Accra. But almost 7 years after the ‘Asomdwee Hene’ was laid to rest at the park, the park has become a home for prostitutes and smokers who keep deteriorating the resting place of the late president.

One Paul Ansah Ackom, who claimed he was a family member of the former president said he had visited the presidential mausoleum told some journalists he realised cattle and rodents had invaded the Asomdwee Park.

Last week, reports suggested the family of Prof. Mills were planning to exhume his remains and rebury him at what will become his final resting place in Ekumfi Otuam where he hails from.

But Member of Parliament for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem, Hon. Samuel Ata Mills who is a younger brother to the late president has rubbished the reports, reports Power FM’s Princess Arita Anim.

The MP said their family has not considered such a decision and stressed “I don’t know those who are saying they are our family members [and speaking for us].We the Atta Mills family has not come out to say anything [in connection with the resting place of Prof. Mils]. If somebody is saying something, that does not mean we are saying that.”

Howver, Hon. Ata Mills bemoaned the sorry state of the Asomdwee Park and asked the government to tidy up the place, since it can serve as a tourist site and generate revenue for for the country.

“The truth is, the state of the Asomdwee park is disgusting. There were National Security operatives in charge of the place. People pay money to go and watch the graves of former presidents in America. In Germany, there is a similar place called Heroes Park. They [the government] brought goose and ostriches to the park and made it lovely but today, its sad to see the nature of the place where a former president has been buried being taken over by marijuana smokers and prostitutes,” he told Arita Anim and passionately asked, “is this nation worth dying for?”

He wondered why the state has neglected the resting place of Prof. Mills after he served the nation for many years.