The Good Professor

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.

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

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.