Ghanaian physician and cardiothoracic surgeon, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has reflected on his experiences with the late President John Evans Atta Mills during the latter’s time in office.

Speaking at the 14th Commemorative Anniversary Lecture in honour of the late President Mills, held at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) on July 22, 2026, Prof Frimpong-Boateng recounted the two occasions on which the late President dismissed him from office.

According to him, President Mills first removed him as Chairman of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), despite what he described as an exemplary tenure.

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Prof Frimpong-Boateng explained that he only became aware of his dismissal through a public announcement.

“I learned, along with the rest of Ghana, that I had been removed as Chairman of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), a chairmanship that had been considered exemplary. The second dismissal was communicated to me personally. I received a dismissal letter from Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, the then Minister for Health,” he said.

Sharing further details of his experiences with the late President, Prof Frimpong-Boateng said the second dismissal came in 2011, when he received a letter from the then Minister for Health terminating his appointment.

According to him, a week after his dismissal, President Mills personally visited Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to confirm that he had vacated his office.

“On August 23, 2011, President Mills visited Korle Bu. On August 30, 2011, he returned, accompanied by his former schoolmate and Professor of Medicine, who then chaired the Korle Bu Teaching and Research Board, to confirm with his own eyes that I had packed my belongings and left Korle Bu.”

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Professor Frimpong-Boateng, however, stated that despite the circumstances surrounding his dismissals, he continues to honour the memory of the late President.

“But I stand here anyway, not despite those dismissals, but in a sense because of them. They are my credentials. A man who was removed twice by President Mills has no motive to flatter his memory. If I speak well of him, it is not because I owe him anything, but because I knew him,” he added.

Watch the video below:

"Prof. Mills sacked me from office twice, so I have no reason to flatter his memory. If I'm here speaking in his honour today, it's because he was truly a good man." - Guest speaker Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng shared the candid reflection during the 14th President John Evans… pic.twitter.com/zVNiodGVVy

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