Today Monday, July 21, 2025, marks what would have been the 81st birthday of former President Professor John Evans Atta Mills, whose legacy as a unifying and peace-loving leader continues to resonate more than a decade after his passing.
Prof. Mills, Ghana’s third president under the Fourth Republic, is remembered as a noble statesman with an enduring commitment to peace, justice and national unity. His calm and principled leadership earned him the title Asomdwe Hene — “King of Peace.”
“I have always said that I will be president for all Ghanaians, whether they voted for me or not,” he once said. “It would be my responsibility to heal the wounds and unite the nation.”
Throughout his presidency, Mills consistently emphasized that national development required collective responsibility and respect for the rule of law.
“I will not condone actions that would put one citizen against the other as a way of settling political scores. That is highly unacceptable. The Ghanaian way should be that, under the Rule of Law, and with the benchmark of due process, any violations of the laws of Ghana will be addressed in a manner that is fair, balanced, and right in the sight of God.”
Born July 21, 1944, Mills contested Ghana’s presidential elections in 2000 and 2004, both of which he lost to former President John Agyekum Kufuor. He won the 2008 election against Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and was sworn into office on Jan. 7, 2009.
He served until July 24, 2012, when he died in office after a brief illness — becoming the first sitting Ghanaian president to pass away while in office.
As the nation reflects on his life and service, Radio Univers joins many in honoring a leader whose integrity, humility and dedication to peace remain a benchmark in Ghana’s democratic journey.
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Story by Xavier Mensah|univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Michelle Lartey
