Mrs Justice Joyce Bamford-Addo, Speaker of Parliament on Thursday said most of the convictions of the late President John Evans Atta Mills resonated at the numerous interactions he had with the Speaker and Leadership of the House.

She said “No wonder Parliament saw the translation of many of these convictions into action. Members of Parliament will soon not use the lobbies of Parliament as extension of their offices”.

"The almost completed refurbishment of the Tower Block popularly known as “Job 600" and its use will undoubtedly be some of the indelible memories of his legacy to Parliament and Ghanaians, "she added.

Mrs Justice Bamford-Addo made the observation in a tribute to the late President John Evans Atta Mills on the floor of the House.

She pointed out that the late President Mills was passionate in seeing to the expansion and strengthening of the frontiers of democracy in Ghana, particularly Parliament, and believed that resourcing Parliament to effectively perform its functions would inure to the best benefit of the country.

"Parliament is moved to tears because he did not live to see the full completion and inauguration of these projects which he eagerly looked up to.

“It is our fervent hope that the late President Mills’ dream of making his country peaceful, stable, democratic and united shall endure forever. It is our prayer that his death will mark the end of an era in bickering, tensed atmosphere that characterised our political discourse and begin an age in which all of us will take inspiration from his good works and recognise them as focal in our dream and in our nation building.”

Mrs Justice Bamford-Addo described the late President Mills as humble, a man of purpose and honour, who has passed on to glory but his memory would linger on, therefore, in grief "Let us not say that he is no more but rather we must live in thankfulness and be proud of the fact the he was a national asset".

"His epitaph will be engraved in history and he shall be remembered for generations to come as one of the finest and gentle Presidents of our country," she added.

The Speaker of Parliament said Parliament's fond memory of the late President Mills was that of a humble, gentle, peaceful and selfless man, and whenever presenting the state of the nation address, exhibited his usual sense of purpose to deliver, never wavered in the midst of the incessant heckling but rather created humour to subdue the tension to the admiration of all.

"Therefore, let us dry our tears now and accept the situation confronting us, painful though it is by taking heed in the words of John Dryden, an English Play Writer and Poet. Since everyman who lives is born to die, and none can boast sincere felicity, with equal mind, what happens let us bear, nor joy nor grief too much for things beyond our care, like pilgrims to the appointed place we tend; the world is an inn and death, the journey’s end."

On behalf of Parliament, she extended condolences to the widow, Dr Mrs Ernestina Naadu Mills, son Mr Samuel Kofi Atta Mills, the bereaved family and all Ghanaians.**