Ghanaian economist and brother of the late former President John Evans Atta Mills, Cadman Atta Mills, has reacted to a video showing ministers and government officials at the airport awaiting President John Dramani Mahama’s arrival, following the approval of his historic resolution on reparative justice at the UN General Assembly.

The video, shared on X on Sunday, March 29, 2026, captured several prominent figures including Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine; and Samuel Nartey George, Minister of Communication; alongside officials from the Jubilee House, seated and holding Ghana flags as they awaited Mahama’s return home.

Atta Mills questioned the practice of such receptions, drawing comparisons with his late brother’s governance.

He noted that former President Mills was not fond of such displays and instead preferred to be seen off by either his vice president or the Chief of Staff.

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“Interesting tradition: show up and be seen. You are either with the delegation or at the airport to send off and to welcome back. But who is manning the shop? President Mills was not very fond of that. He was satisfied to be seen off by his vice and/or his Chief of Staff. That was that,” he wrote beneath the post.

He further added that he once questioned his brother for doing the same thing, as a response to an X user pointing out that some government officials had also welcomed Prof Mills at the airport during his presidency, calling it unnecessary.

Cadman Atta Mills explained that he had told his brother it was “insane” for him to have allowed such a reception, but added that in his brother’s case, the welcome was tied to a special occasion.

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“It was not just unnecessary. It was insane! And I let him know about it. But at least that was a special occasion. There were concerns about his health (he was really in a bad shape when he left for medical attention in the US at my insistence).”

Read Atta Mills' comments below:

Interesting tradition: show up and be seen. You are either with the delegation or at the airport to send off and to welcome back. But who is manning the shop? President Mills was not very fond of that. He was satisfied to be seen off by his Vice and/or his Chief of Staff.…

— Cadman Atta Mills (@CadmanAttaMills) March 29, 2026

You remember Prof once returned from his medical treatment outside to a lot of ministers and govt officials welcoming him at the airport, where he did some jogging 🏃🏾to show that he was fit. That was also unnecessary at the time.

— WKHKYD? (@profdublyn_zee) March 29, 2026

It was not just unnecessary. It was insane! And I let him know about it. But at least that was a special occasion. There were concerns about his health (he was really in a bad shape when he left for medical attention in the U.S. at my insistence).

— Cadman Atta Mills (@CadmanAttaMills) March 29, 2026