Personality
John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills served as the President of Ghana from January 7, 2009, until his untimely death on July 24, 2012. Before his presidency, he held the position of Vice President from 1997 to 2001 under President Jerry Rawlings.
Economic Achievements:
During Mills’ tenure, Ghana experienced significant economic growth. In 2011, the country was recognized as the world’s fastest-growing economy, with a growth rate of 20.15% in the first half of the year and 14.4% by the end of the fiscal year. This remarkable growth was attributed to prudent fiscal and monetary policies and the commencement of oil production.
Inflation rates were also brought down to single digits, reaching approximately 8.4%, the lowest in 42 years. Additionally, the budget deficit was reduced to 2% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), significantly improving from 14.5% in 2008. The Ghanaian currency, the Cedi, stabilized as a result of these policies.
Education Initiatives:
President Mills’ administration made substantial investments in education. The government increased capitation grants and introduced programs to provide free school uniforms and over 100,000 laptops to students. More than 23 million exercise books were distributed, and the school feeding program was expanded to include an additional 230 schools. Efforts were also made to eliminate “schools under trees” by constructing nearly 1,700 new classroom blocks. Two new specialized public universities were established: the University of Health and Allied Sciences in the Volta Region and the University of Energy and Natural Resources in the Brong-Ahafo Region.
Healthcare Improvements:
Under Mills’ leadership, the healthcare sector saw notable advancements. Many teaching, regional, and district hospitals were upgraded with new facilities and high-tech equipment. Several polyclinics were built to increase access to healthcare, and the National Ambulance Service was expanded to cover all districts. Utilization of the National Health Insurance Scheme rose by 75%, indicating improved healthcare access for Ghanaians.
Agriculture and Rural Development:
The Mills administration passed the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) law to promote agriculture and industrialization in the northern regions. The producer price of cocoa increased to $1,600 per tonne, the highest in Ghana’s history, and cocoa production reached a record-breaking 1 million metric tonnes. The rural electrification program extended national electricity coverage from 54% to 72%, improving livelihoods in 1,700 communities.
Death and Legacy:
President John Atta Mills passed away on July 24, 2012, at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra, three days after his 68th birthday. He was the first Ghanaian head of state to die in office. His death was attributed to complications from a massive hemorrhagic stroke resulting from a brain aneurysm. Vice President John Dramani Mahama was sworn in as President on the same day.
In honor of his contributions, several institutions and initiatives have been named after him, including the John Evans Atta Mills Educational Centre of Excellence and the FPSO John Atta Mills, a floating production storage and offloading vessel.
References:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Atta_Mills
- https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Evans-Atta-Mills