Of Atta Mills & Defeats

Truth, according to our old wise men, sometimes hurts but is always sacred. I have been wondering whether it is fate, destiny, or lack of confidence by Ghanaians in the good old professor JEA Mills that has confined him to defeats in all high profile contests that he has so far entered. To take you through a little memory lane, the man professor John Atta Mills entered into Ghanaian politics in 1996 when then president Rawlings who had fallen out with the Vice President of the land, Mr. Paul Nkensen Arkaa decided to look for a don to partner him in that year’s election. It is on record that Rawlings picked Mills after Honourable people like Professor Agyapong of Cape Vars fame and Professor Benneh, then immediate past vice chancellor of Legon turned him down. Atta Mills made nonsense of academic credential when he stooped so low to accept to become the vice of Rawlings, a man whose GCE O Levels could not even qualify him for Sixth Form. The message that professor Mills send to the youth and young ones was very simple; Education is not that important--- just try to learn how to use lies to persuade people and marshal courage one day and take the gun to remove government and presto, you will have all the professors coming to bow unto you. It will also interest you to know that before Mills was offered the veep positioned, he had stood for the vacant vice chancellor’s position at Legon but his own colleagues and friends that he has stayed and worked with for as many years rejected him. He lost miserably! Find below Mills electoral defeats.

Defeat No. 1. 2000 Legon Vice Chancellor Position Contest

Defeat No.2. 2000 Presidential Election: Lost to President Kufour

Defeat No 3. 2000 Presidential Run-Off. Lost to Kufour

Defeat No.4 2004 Presidential Election: Lost to Kufour

Defeat No. 5 2008 Presidential Elections: Lost to Nana Akufo Addo

The fact therefore remains that on the presidential contest alone Mills had entered and lost three good times prior to the 2008 elections. Mills could therefore be described as someone who needs no introduction to the Ghanaian electorate judging from the number of times he had campaign all over the country and appearances on the ballot papers. However he marshalled all the strengths in him for two good years prior to the recent elections on December 7, and yet against four new faces, he was defeated by Nana Akufo Addo with over 102,000 votes.

One will therefore ask what is wrong with Prof Evans Atta Mills. This is what I have delved into the archives to find about the man’s past and records and now appreciate why people don’t have confidence in him.

Leadership

Professor Mills has so far not convinced Ghanaians of any strong leadership skills. Within his NDC it is on record that high profile members have left and formed new parties and Mills, as the camouflage leader could never bring this people back. A situation that seriously weakened the NDC. During his tenure as vice president, he was made the chairman of the Economic Management Team and its now understatement to say that as they were leaving office in 2001, that Ghanaian economy was in shambles, with inflation hovering around 70%, Interest rate in the excess of 50%. The national revenue was nothing to write home about yet this was the section he claims to be an expect. I leave it to your judgment if he couldn’t perform in his strong domain, then what will happen to the other sectors where he could be described as a novice. Whiles in the castle Rawlings created gallows and dungeons, to torture innocent people who cross his ways. Mills new of all the atrocities that were going on yet not even once did this man came up to show to the world that he didn’t subscribe to what was going on under his nose.

Even in the Bible, God has always called on people he called to lead to be courageous and fearless, remember Joshua?. Moses? David, Paul etc etc….. Mills could be described as the exact opposite. He is timid and lacks courage. Nana Addo on the other hand has shown courage, boldness and good organisational skills. He fought a good fight under the tyranny for the oppress in the society by the toils and that of his friends we all now enjoy freedom. The manner in which he brought the NPP party together after their presidential primaries speaks volumes of the man’s leadership qualities. When Alan decided to quit the party, Nana intervened and Alan is now his corner man. This is a mark of good leader

Fate

As fate will have it, I am more than convinced that Prof Mills was not born to become a leader. Don’t get me wrong, God in his own wisdom decided to give talents and attributes that makes all of us what we are so if you were not created a leader any attempt that man makes you to become one will result in disaster.

Nana Addo’s performance as Member of Parliament, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Minister of Foreign Affairs, President of the Greater Accra Bar Association, etc is quite an enviable one. What has Mills got to show us in terms of achievement? Don’t tell me he was a lecturer because when it comes to that, Ghana has more than 100 professors and no single lecturer trains a student to obtain a degree. Even the people that he claims to have thought them couldn’t perform anywhere as Lawyers until they have gone through Nana’s and other’s chambers for re training. It is on record that almost all the season, young and brilliant Lawyers we currently have in the country, like Kwame Akuffo, Yule Kulendi, Akoto Ampaw to mentioned a few has had a stint at Akufo Addo and Prempeh chambers.

The NDC Party

The NDC records both in government and out of government has been abhorring that there is nothing they could say to have 50% of the electorate to give them their mandate to win the presidential elections. Whiles in government, they behaved as if the nation was their property with Rawlings himself as leader orchestrating the demise of industries belonging to his perceived opponents. They sold about 300 enterprises to themselves and saw to the destruction of others. I hope you remember what happened state owned tata and omnibus, the railways corporation, GNTC, Tema Dry Dock, Ambassador hotel. GIHOC, Nsawam Canary etc… Let Professor Mills tell us the number of jobs they collapsed and the number they created if he has any element of honesty in him. During their term, people like ET Mensah then minister of sports did all they could to destroy Kumasi Ashanti Kotoko. ET is on record to have said that so long as he remains as Minister of Sports, he would make sure that Kotoko would never win the premiership and true to his word he succeeded in achieving that and for six good years Kotoko was languishing in the shadows of Accra Hearts of Oak. Don’t get me wrong, I am an ardent supporter of Hearts of Oak and pride myself as the founder of Teshie Camp two chapter, though I didn’t stay around long to make powerful like chapter O of Nima and others. By virtue of my association with some high people in the helm of affairs of Ghana Soccer then I know what I’m talking about. Don’t ask me for evidence but if you care ask people like Kwabena Yeboah editor of Africa Sports, Herbert Mensah and Mr. Harry Zakour. I find it amazing the way notable leaders of the NPP have remained neutral with football clubs and league despite their known ties to Kotoko. It is on record that President Kufour a one-time board member of Kotoko promised and delivered a bus to Hearts as to whether they received it or not is not part of the argument. Under NPP’s regime of eight years both Hearts and Kotoko has won the league 4 times apiece.

From the above I will personally add my voice to the others backing Nana Akufo Addo for the presidency and ask all Ghanaians especially the soccer lovers, both Fabulous and Phobia fans to vote for Nana because he will serve the interest of both clubs better as have been demonstrated by JAK’s administration. For now I belive the best team for Ghana is Nana Addo-Dr. Bawumia. Lets support them to move the country forward.

We are moving forward!!! Lonf Live Ghana

By Sir Raymoo (Omanbapa)

Southampton, UK