Mills made me stoical – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has said he learned to be stoical from late President John Evans Atta Mills.

Speaking at the inauguration of the John Evans Atta Mills Memorial Library at the Chapel Square in Cape Coast in the Central region on Monday July 25, Mr Mahama described Professor Mills as a man whose entire life testified to his peace-loving nature.

“As president, he was ‘Asomdwehene’ [King of Peace] and a father for all – a peace-loving man. He prioritised peace above all else because as he rightly stated, without peace there can be no progress. He was our rock of Gibraltar, always calm even in the most adverse circumstances. He never responded when insults were cast at him. I believe I partly take from him my stoicism in tolerating even the unkindly cuts from my opponents and detractors," Mr Mahama stated.

The inauguration, which was witnessed by the former President of Malawi, Joyce Banda, and her family, chiefs and other traditional leaders in Cape Coast, university heads, members of government and the general public, was part of events that marked the fourth anniversary of the demise of the late president.

The presidential library has a 1000-seater conference facility, a museum that houses documents, and artefacts that talk about the life of the late professor.

The library will also serve as an international research centre for governance and law.

Professor Atta Mills was the first Ghanaian president to have died in office on Tuesday, July 24, 2012 at the 37 Military Hospital. He was the president of Ghana from 2009-2012.