John Atta Mills Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==Illness and death== Mills died on 24 July 2012 at the [[37 Military Hospital]] in [[Accra]],<ref name="BBC Article on Death">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18972107 |title=Ghana's President John Atta Mills dies |work=BBC News |date=24 July 2012 |access-date=24 July 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724184729/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18972107 |archive-date=24 July 2012 }}</ref> three days after his 68th birthday.<ref name="reuters2012">{{cite news|title=Ghana President Mills dead β presidential statement |work=Reuters |date=24 July 2012 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/ghana-president-idUSL6E8IOJ0S20120724 |access-date=24 July 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811034216/https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/24/ghana-president-idUSL6E8IOJ0S20120724 |archive-date=11 August 2012 }}</ref> Though the cause of death was not immediately released, he had been suffering from [[Head and neck cancer|throat cancer]] and had recently been to the US for medical reasons.<ref name="BBC Article on Death" /><ref name=":1" /> Announcing his death, his office noted that he died hours after being taken ill,<ref>{{cite news|first=David |last=Adadevoh |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j7aqtvyZGFEqa34R8LIkVC62k51Q?docId=CNG.43240e669c8687bb76838f143bc4c40d.61 |title=Ghana president dies after illness: presidency |date=24 July 2012 |agency=Agence France-Presse |access-date=24 July 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729031257/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j7aqtvyZGFEqa34R8LIkVC62k51Q?docId=CNG.43240e669c8687bb76838f143bc4c40d.61 |archive-date=29 July 2012 }}</ref> but a presidential aide said that he had complained of pains the day prior to his death. However, Mills' brother, Dr. Cadman Mills later disclosed during the graveside service that he had died from complications of a [[stroke|massive hemorrhagic stroke]] resulting from [[Brain Aneurysm|brain aneurysm]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Mills-died-from-Hemorrhagic-stroke-Cadman-Mills-370015 |title=Revealed: Mills died from Hemorrhagic stroke - Cadman Mills | General News 2015-07-21 |publisher=Ghanaweb.com |date=24 July 2012 |access-date=21 July 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723220210/http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Mills-died-from-Hemorrhagic-stroke-Cadman-Mills-370015 |archive-date=23 July 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=GBC News, Mills died from massive stroke β Brother |url=http://gbcghana.com/index.php?id=1.1011155 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123223959/http://gbcghana.com/index.php?id=1.1011155 |archive-date=23 January 2013 |access-date=27 September 2012 |publisher=Gbcghana.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=30 March 2017 |title=Prof Mills did not die of throat cancer β Dr Cadman Mills |url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Prof-Mills-did-not-die-of-throat-cancer-Dr-Cadman-Mills-523772 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519022517/http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Prof-Mills-did-not-die-of-throat-cancer-Dr-Cadman-Mills-523772 |archive-date=19 May 2017 |access-date=30 March 2017 |website=ghanaweb. |language=en}}</ref> According to the [[BBC]], his voice had degenerated in the previous few months.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-19204106 |title=President John Atta Mills funeral held in Ghana |date=10 August 2012 |work=BBC News |access-date=12 June 2017 |language=en-GB |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605051701/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-19204106 |archive-date=5 June 2014 }}</ref> Former minister Elizabeth Ohene said that as a result of previous false reports of his death, she had not believed initial claims of his actual death. "For the past three or four years, there's been news he's been unwell and rumours of his death β twice β and he appeared with grim humour to say they were exaggerated, insisting he was well."<ref name="BBC Article on Death" /> His vice president [[John Dramani Mahama]] was sworn in at about 20:00 GMT on the same day. In accordance with [[Constitution of Ghana|Ghana's constitution]], Mahama's tenure expired at the same time Mills' was due to end, by the end of the year just prior to an [[2012 Ghanaian presidential election|election]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL6E8IOJOX20120724 |title=Ghana VP to be sworn in as new president |date=24 July 2012 |work=Reuters |access-date=24 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726221518/https://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL6E8IOJOX20120724 |archive-date=26 July 2012 }}</ref> in which he was due to run.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ghana-president-idUSBRE86N14720120724 |title=Ghana President Mills dies, VP to replace him |first=Kwasi |last=Kpodo |date=24 July 2012 |work=Reuters |access-date=24 July 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724184145/https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/24/us-ghana-president-idUSBRE86N14720120724 |archive-date=24 July 2012 }}</ref> Mahama said upon being inaugurated in parliament: <blockquote>This is the saddest day in our nation's history. Tears have engulfed our nation and we are deeply saddened and distraught. I never imagined that one day that it would place our nation in such a difficult circumstance. I'm personally devastated, I've lost a father, I've lost a friend, I've lost a mentor and a senior comrade. Ghana is united in grief at this time for our departed president.<ref name=aljaz>{{cite news|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/07/20127259518486684.html |title=Ghana swears in Mahama as new president |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=25 July 2012 |access-date=25 July 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726095044/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/07/20127259518486684.html |archive-date=26 July 2012 }}</ref></blockquote> ===State funeral=== [[File:Atta Mills Mausoleum, Korle-Klottey (IMG 20230201 133136 1).jpg|thumb|right|Atta Mills' gravestone at the Asomdwee Park, Accra in 2023]] From 8β10 August, his body [[lay in state]], and Ghanaian government officials, civil society, traditional leaders, the clergy, the general public and dignitaries such as CΓ΄te d'Ivoire's [[Alassane Ouattara]], Liberia's [[Ellen Johnson Sirleaf]], Nigeria's [[Goodluck Jonathan]] and Senegal's [[Macky Sall]] paid their last respects. Within this period, a two-night vigil was also held at the forecourt of the State House for cultural and musical performances such as traditional dirges, plays and tribute reading. Thousands streamed into the [[Parliament House of Ghana|State House]] to pay their last respects to Mills as he [[lay in state]] with some mourners queuing for hours, many of them wailing with grief, in lines up to 10 km (6 miles) long per press reports.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-19204106 |title=President John Atta Mills funeral held in Ghana |newspaper=BBC News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605051701/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-19204106 |archive-date=5 June 2014 |date=10 August 2012 }}</ref> The body was then taken by a military [[cortege]] from the State House parliamentary complex to the Independence Square for the funerary services which was attended by 18 African Heads of State, 5 vice-presidents, United States Secretary of State, [[Hillary Clinton]], former United Nations [[Secretary-General]], [[Kofi Annan]], president of the [[Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace]], [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinal]] [[Peter Turkson]], [[Secretary-General]] of [[African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States]], [[Mohamed Ibn Chambas]] and several other international envoys. In all, there were 67 foreign delegations represented at the funeral.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2012/08/10/world/africa/ghana-funeral-mills/ |title=Ghana mourns as President John Atta Mills is buried |author=the CNN Wire Staff |date=10 August 2012 |work=CNN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140805134048/http://edition.cnn.com/2012/08/10/world/africa/ghana-funeral-mills |archive-date=5 August 2014 }}</ref> In addition to the over 50,000 people who gathered for the ceremony, his funeral was also attended by Benin's [[Thomas Boni Yayi]], who said of Mills that he was "passionate about peace in Africa and in the region," as well as Togo's [[Faure Gnassingbe]], who said "[Mills] was like a brother to me. I will surely miss him."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/08/20128101419431132.html |title=Thousands attend Ghana president's funeral β Africa |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=27 September 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926102532/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/08/20128101419431132.html |archive-date=26 September 2012 }}</ref> Ahead of religious ceremonies on Friday morning, the officially declared [[national day of mourning]], a helicopter hovered over the area dropping leaflets reading: ''We want peaceful elections in 2012''.<ref name="modernghana1">{{cite web |date=13 August 2012 |title=How the foreign media carried President Mills burial |url=http://www.modernghana.com/news/411289/1/how-the-foreign-media-carried-president-mills-buri.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111033212/http://www.modernghana.com/news/411289/1/how-the-foreign-media-carried-president-mills-buri.html |archive-date=11 January 2016 |access-date=27 September 2012 |publisher=ModernGhana}}</ref> The funeral ended with the release of a hundred white doves into the air to signify the peaceful nature of the departed leader.<ref name="modernghana1"/> After the funeral service, the president's body was taken on a military procession through some principal streets of the Ghanaian capital, [[Accra]] and then for burial in a newly created [[President (government title)|presidential]] [[mausoleum]] located in the northern part ([[List of cemeteries in Accra|Asomdwee Park]]) of a bird sanctuary, Geese Park renamed along the Marine Drive and next to the old seat of government, the 17th-century Fort Christiansborg, (also known as [[Osu Castle]]), which overlooks the Atlantic Ocean's [[Gulf of Guinea]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19204106 |title=BBC News β President John Atta Mills funeral held in Ghana |publisher=BBC |date=10 August 2012 |access-date=27 September 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021013124/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19204106 |archive-date=21 October 2012 }}</ref> As the sitting [[Commander-in-Chief]], Mills was accorded full military honours, steeped in distinct and elaborate traditions, including a slow march by the [[Ghana Army]], a [[flypast]] of [[Ghana Air Force]] jets ejecting plumes of smoke in the [[national colours]] of red, gold and green, with the [[Ghana Navy]] ships also performing ceremonial manoeuvres on the shoreline behind the Independence Square and a [[21-gun salute]] accompanying the playing of the bugle call, [[Sunset (bugle call)|''Sunset'']] and the [[Christian hymn]], ''[[Abide with Me]]'' (''Eventide'') synchronized with the sounding of the [[Last Post]] by military buglers after the casket had been lowered into the grave.<ref>{{cite web |date=10 August 2012 |title=Late President Mills To Be Buried With Full Military Honours |url=http://www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php/news/general-news/15229-late-president-mills-to-be-buried-with-full-military-honours |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814145505/http://www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php/news/general-news/15229-late-president-mills-to-be-buried-with-full-military-honours |archive-date=14 August 2012 |access-date=27 September 2012 |publisher=Ghana government ghana}}</ref> Approximately 700 domestic and foreign media outlets received accreditation from the Ghanaian Ministry of Information to cover the event.<ref>{{cite web |date=7 August 2012 |title=700 expected to cover Mills' funeral | General News |url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=247060 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910153321/http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=247060 |archive-date=10 September 2012 |access-date=27 September 2012 |publisher=Ghanaweb.}}</ref> An estimated 20β25 million television and online or web audience watched the three-day funeral ceremonies. The [[state funeral]] for the late president was most likely the largest gathering of people in one place at a single public event in recent or modern Ghanaian history. ===International reactions=== Following his death, a press statement from the United Nations [[Secretary-General]], [[Ban Ki-moon]] said Mills "will be remembered for his statesmanship and years of dedicated service to his country."<ref>{{cite web |title=World mourns with grieving Ghana as tributes pour in |url=http://www.citifmonline.com/index.php?id=1.979104 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119050610/http://www.citifmonline.com/index.php?id=1.979104 |archive-date=19 January 2013 |access-date=28 September 2012 |publisher=Citifmonline.}}</ref> and French President [[Francois Hollande]] described Mills as " the guardian of institutions and the defender of Ghanaian democracy...committed to protecting national unity and profoundly attached to African unity and to the place of Africa within the international community."<ref>{{cite web |author=kwajo |date=26 July 2012 |title=French President FranΓ§ois Hollande, Vodafone CEO mourn Mills |url=http://www.ghanatoghana.com/Ghanahomepage/french-president-francois-hollande-vodafone-ceo-mourn-mills |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125052817/http://www.ghanatoghana.com/Ghanahomepage/french-president-francois-hollande-vodafone-ceo-mourn-mills |archive-date=25 January 2013 |access-date=28 September 2012 |publisher=Ghanatoghana.}}</ref> A [[White House]] statement from United States President [[Barack Obama]] called Mills a "strong advocate for human rights and for the fair treatment of all Ghanaians, tirelessly working to improve the lives of the Ghanaian people; He helped promote economic growth in Ghana in the midst of challenging global circumstances and strengthened Ghana's strong tradition of democracy"<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|author=Thomas Fessy |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18972107 |title=BBC News β Ghana's President John Atta Mills dies |publisher=BBC |date=24 July 2012 |access-date=28 September 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928000150/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18972107 |archive-date=28 September 2012 }}</ref> while Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, [[David Cameron]] praised Mills as "a tireless defender of democracy in West Africa and across the continent"<ref>{{cite web |date=24 July 2012 |title=Prime Minister's statement on the death of President Mills of Ghana |url=http://ukun.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=792510782 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121224051742/http://ukun.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=792510782 |archive-date=24 December 2012 |access-date=28 September 2012 |publisher=Ukun fco government united kingdom}}</ref> Furthermore, the Prime Minister of Japan, [[Yoshihiko Noda]] lauded Mills for "his exemplary leadership which endeared him to the hearts of many and his contribution to strengthening the relationship between Ghana and Japan."<ref>{{cite web |date=26 July 2012 |title=Japanese Prime Minister mourns Mills |url=http://www.ghananewsagency.org/details/Social/Japanese-Prime-Minister-mourns-Mills/?ci=4&ai=46772#.UFs2orLN-uA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120801021638/http://www.ghananewsagency.org/details/Social/Japanese-Prime-Minister-mourns-Mills/?ci=4&ai=46772 |archive-date=1 August 2012 |access-date=28 September 2012 |publisher=Ghananewsagency.}}</ref> [[FIFA]] President, [[Sepp Blatter]] offered his sympathies to Ghanaians on behalf of the worldwide football fraternity saying, "Ghana has lost a great football supporter and a supporter of the development of the game in the country."<ref>{{cite web |date=29 August 2012 |title=FIFA boss Sepp Blatter pays tribute to Mills | Sports News |url=http://sports.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201207/91228.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802014021/http://sports.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201207/91228.php |archive-date=2 August 2012 |access-date=28 September 2012 |publisher=Sports myjoyonline.}}</ref> In a message of condolence from the Vatican City, [[Pope Benedict XVI]] "recalled Mills' years of public service and his dedication to democratic principles and entrusted the late president's soul to the providence of Almighty God"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gHvSDqVBskbSPok3g8395zWWvQDQ?docId=CNG.287c1c4767b1b1e720aaa6d96dd14bf4.421 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130124185631/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gHvSDqVBskbSPok3g8395zWWvQDQ?docId=CNG.287c1c4767b1b1e720aaa6d96dd14bf4.421 |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 January 2013 |title=AFP: Pope saddened by Ghana's loss |date=28 July 2012 }}</ref> The [[Secretary General]] of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], [[Kamalesh Sharma]] eulogised Atta Mills by describing him as "an inspiring leader, a strong advocate and champion of the Commonwealth, and our membership benefited enormously from his active participation in Commonwealth life and his wisdom."<ref>{{cite web |date=24 July 2012 |title=Commonwealth Secretariat β Commonwealth Secretary-General mourns death of Ghanaian President |url=http://www.thecommonwealth.org/news/34580/34581/248729/240712sgmournsdeathofghanianpresident.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415223149/http://www.thecommonwealth.org/news/34580/34581/248729/240712sgmournsdeathofghanianpresident.htm |archive-date=15 April 2013 |access-date=28 September 2012 |publisher=Thecommonwealth}}</ref> The West African regional body, [[ECOWAS]] said President Mills' death "has robbed the region of a voice of wisdom which enriched the discussions of the affairs of the Community."<ref>{{cite web |date=25 July 2012 |title=ECOWAS condoles with Ghana over President's death |url=http://www.panapress.com/ECOWAS-condoles-with-Ghana-over-President-s-death--12-836491-100-lang2-index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018052308/http://www.panapress.com/ECOWAS-condoles-with-Ghana-over-President-s-death--12-836491-100-lang2-index.html |archive-date=18 October 2012 |publisher=Panapress.}}</ref> The [[African Union]] through its chairman, [[Yayi Boni]] said "the late President Mills had the same vision as the first President of Ghana, [[Kwame Nkrumah]] and it was a great, great loss for the country and for the continent."<ref>{{cite web |title=Archived copy |url=http://www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php/news/tributes/15242-au-chairman-yayi-boni-pays-tribute-to-late-president-mills |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032547/http://www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php/news/tributes/15242-au-chairman-yayi-boni-pays-tribute-to-late-president-mills |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=15 January 2022 |website=www.ghana.government Ghana}}</ref> Liberia's president and 2011 [[Nobel Peace Prize]] laureate [[Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf]] extended her condolences to Ghanaians, saying the news had "come as a surprise. On a personal level his moderation and integrity stood out, playing a strong role at the regional meetings they both attended".<ref name="autogenerated1"/> Nigeria's President [[Goodluck Jonathan]] said of Mills: "he was a great friend of our country and a firm believer in the shared heritage and common destiny of all Africans. President Mills and I shared a vision of peace and political stability as well as regional and continental economic integration in pursuit of progress and development, in our individual countries, within the sub-region and in Africa as a whole".<ref>{{cite web|author=Powered by DMflex WebGen --- www.dmflex.com |url=http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/tribute-to-john-atta-mills/122314/ |title=Tribute to John Atta Mills, Articles |publisher=Thisday Live |date=14 August 2012 |access-date=28 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918155055/http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/tribute-to-john-atta-mills/122314 |archive-date=18 September 2012 }}</ref> [[South Africa]]n President [[Jacob Zuma]] paid tribute to President Atta Mills, saying: "South Africa and Ghana enjoy strong relations at both the bilateral and multilateral levels, and under President Mills' leadership, we saw genuine efforts aimed at deepening the historical relations between our two nations."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/pebble.asp?relid=6523 |title=President Zuma sends condolences on the passing of the President of Ghana |publisher=The Presidency |date=25 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522101159/http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/pebble.asp?relid=6523 |archive-date=22 May 2013 }}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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