July 24 turned out to be one hell of a significant day. The
weather was so usually gloomy even the carefree knew there was something amiss.
All along till midday, the good professor,aged 68, was contending with a question
everyone, big or small, wise or foolish must answer once in a lifetime.
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| The Late President Atta Mills |
Well, he is gone and everyone is sad. For all the noise, it was an open secret that the late President was a good, who bemoaned corruption, sighed for underprivileged and a truly God fearing man.
He ascended the presidency when Ghana needed him most. At a
time when politics had morphed the entire country into a state pregnant with
fear, the good professor ascended the throne with a reconciliatory theme. His
characteristic wide smile, occasional gaffs and sense of humor and hearty
laughter was many a time sound bites and ringtones all across. Ghanaians rarely
listened to him with a state of tension or fear but rather with a disposition
of smiles in expectation of gaff or humour.
I remember the negative media episode leading to his death
with revulsion. He was heckled, even pronounced dead my some, when all he
needed from us was our goodwill and prayers. The press conference thereafter to
discount the death claims will go down as well as the last sweet moment with
the father of the nation, smiling, chatting away with the journalists and
turning the conference into a one happy moment to everyone’s relief. The chill
over his death has been felt like the passing away of a close relation. I
couldn’t help but shed some tears as a typed this out. That is how intimate,
most Ghanaians felt latently for the good professor.
What happens next? John Mahama was sworn in the very night
in parliament amid his eyes acrid from tears for his predecessor. John is a
fine gentleman, in fact a very fine gentleman. His engagement with the public
has always been refreshing and he is a man with a disposition to take things
easy. He loves to wear his jeans pants with easy shirt that very naturally puts
all the three piece coat bearing audience at ease. He is likeable and
non-combative and a natural fit for now
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| Fresh President John Mahama |
In all this however, I believe the hand of God at play.
Ghanaians pray a lot and God answers our prayers in mysterious ways. In times
like these, we would love to hear reconciliatory public figures mend our
hearts. I am saying so especially because of the turn of recent events and we
all know what i am talking about. Had the late president’s main aspirant
maintained a cool and reconciliatory tone, then a natural fit for the party
would have been readily at hand, either as a possible president or vice. But
God knows best, calling the good professor right after an offshoot had been conceived.
Late President Mills ascendency was a miracle that
confounded all the statistical looms. He played his role with decorum, even
when he had so much power to wield.
May his soul rest in peace.
