Mills was worried - Otumfuo

Ghana’s late President, John Evans Atta Mills was worried about several undisclosed key national issues which he had the golden opportunity to discuss at length with Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at a secret location in Accra barely a week before his death.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who would not reveal details of the discussion, said the former Ghana leader sent emissaries to him at the Manhyia Palace and asked for permission to discuss vital issues bothering on the state with him (Otumfuo.)

The Asante Monarch noted that President Mills wanted to travel to Kumasi to discuss those pressing national issues with him but he could not do so due to his health condition and pleaded with the Asantehene to answer his urgent call.

Otumfuo said he indeed heeded the president’s request by traveling to Accra where he had secret conversation with the former president alone at a secret location before he emplaned to Israel to woo investors to Ghana some few days ago.

According to him, during the meeting with late Ghana leader which was held at a secret place in Accra, President Mills poured his heart out by stating some national issues which he claimed were worrying him.

The King made the disclosure when President John Dramani Mahama sent a powerful delegation to the Manhyia Palace, led by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Kwaku Agyeman Mensah, to officially inform Otumfuo about the late president’s demise on Thursday.

Otumfuo said when he returned from Israel last Monday he again had lengthy discussions with President Mills on phone, noting that it pains him so much that he could not meet President Mills in person again before he died.

Paying glowing tribute to the memory of the former president, Otumfuo said Prof. Mills’ death came as a great shock to him, noting that though it was evident that the late Ghana leader was ill nobody including himself expected him to visit his ancestors at this time.

According to the King, President Mills frequently visited him at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi to solicit his views and support regarding key national issues during his days as vice president and lately as president.

He described President Mills as respectful and humble person who contributed his quota towards the advancement of his dear motherland Ghana and appealed to Ghanaians to let his demise unite the nation.

The Asantehene insisted that Ghanaians could give the best tribute to their late leader by staying united and helping to deepen peace, especially as the next general elections draw nearer.

He entreated the former First Lady, Naadu Mills, the bereaved family, the NDC as a political party and all Ghanaians to take heart in the wake of the painful death of President Mills.

Accompanying the Ashanti Regional Minister to the palace was the hierarchy of the security agencies in the region and other top NDC officials in the region. The solemn occasion was marked by intermittent singing of a dirge and beating of traditional drums.

The Asantehene admonished President John Dramani Mahama to imitate the humble nature of the late President Mills, stressing that it would go a long way to help him succeed as the leader of the nation.

He said the late President’s humble nature contributed immensely to his success in all his endeavours on earth, calling on the new president to remain respectful and humble to all manner of people.

Otumfuo also urged President Mahama to work tirelessly by achieving the vision of his predecessor President Mills, saying “the new president should try and take Ghana to where President Mills aspired to take the country to.”

In his remarks, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Kwaku Agyeman Mensah, said President Mahama sent his delegation to the palace to inform Otumfuo about the president’s death, saying the government could not do anything about the shocking incident without informing Otumfuo.

As tradition demanded, the minister, on behalf of government, presented traditional drinks and other items to the Asantehene, who was in mournful mood.

The Asokore Mamponghene, Nana Boakye Ansah Debrah described President Mills’ unfortunate demise as painful and shocking and urged Ghanaians to take consolation from the fact that his soul would rest in the bosom of the Lord.**