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Chief of Staff eulogises late President John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills at 13th commemorative lecture
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Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, has paid glowing tribute to the late President, His Excellency John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills, describing him as a gift to Ghana and a leader who represented both the past and the future of the nation.
He delivered the praise during the 13th John Evans Atta Mills Commemorative Lecture held at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Tuesday, July 22, 2025.
The event drew participants from academia, politics, and civil society organizations (CSO’s) to honour the legacy of the late president
The lecture was organised by the John Evans Atta Mills Memorial Heritage under the theme “Atta Mills: A Case Study for the Fourth Republic.”
Mr.Debrah said President Mills was not only a man of strong personal values, but also someone shaped by the realities of Ghana’s political and social environment.
He said Mills served under Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings as Vice President, and by doing so, he bridged the gap between the country’s past and its democratic present.
He added that the late president understood what it meant for a nation to struggle with development, public mistrust, and corruption. Yet, through it all, he stood firm as a man of integrity who believed in courageous and principled leadership.
The Chief of Staff praised Professor Mills as a teacher of law and a jurist who had deep respect for the wishes and concerns of ordinary people.
According to him, the people silently longed for a leader who valued patriotism over partisanship, and Mills answered that call with humility and strength.
He noted that the professor’s leadership was not only the result of his personal beliefs and character but also the influence of family, environment, and social expectations.
He intimated that the unique blend of experience and empathy made Mills a true example for others to follow.
He described the late president as a father figure and an exceptional leader whose values must be passed on and called for the nurturing of future leaders in the spirit of Atta Mills.
“let’s raise leaders who will serve with honesty, wisdom, and love for the country” he urged.
The programme was attended by prominent people like the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin; Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary of the NDC, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey and former Electoral Commission Chairperson, Mrs. Charlotte Osei.
By Jacob Aggrey
The Director of Legal Affairs of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gary Nimako Marfo, has questioned who will bear the cost of conducting presidential and parliamentary primaries following the Supreme Court’s ruling on the party’s delegate system.
Speaking to journalists, Mr. Nimako Marfo said he would not immediately comment on the ruling, adding that he wanted to wait for the full details before sharing his views.
“I don’t want to comment on it now. Let’s wait,” he said.
When asked about the Supreme Court’s decision that all members in good standing should vote in party elections, he shifted attention to the financial implications of implementing the ruling.
According to him, allowing all members in good standing to vote would increase the cost of organising internal party elections.
He questioned who would pay for the expanded electoral process.
“Who is going to pay for the cost of the elections?” he asked.
When a journalist suggested that political parties would bear the cost, Mr. Nimako Marfo replied, “Let’s wait and see.”
The comments come after the Supreme Court ruled that political parties should allow all members in good standing to vote in their internal elections, a decision that is expected to expand participation but also increase the financial and logistical demands of organising presidential and parliamentary primaries.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Supreme Court of Ghana has declared the delegate system used by political parties to elect presidential and parliamentary candidates unconstitutional.
In a 5-2 majority decision delivered, the Court ruled that the long-standing system violates democratic principles and ordered all political parties to ensure every registered, card-bearing member participates in presidential and parliamentary primaries.
The ruling brings to an end decades of internal party elections conducted by a limited number of delegates.
The suit was filed by former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng; veteran politician Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe; and former Minister for Lands and Forestry, Dr. Christine Amoako-Nuamah.
The plaintiffs argued that the delegate system created inequality among party members by granting voting rights to a privileged minority while excluding ordinary members in good standing.
They told the Court that restricting voting rights to delegates was inconsistent with the democratic principles enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.
The Attorney-General’s Department supported the suit and urged the Court to adopt a “one member, one vote” approach.
In its submission, the State argued that political parties perform an important public function in Ghana’s democratic framework and that their internal electoral processes must reflect constitutional values of equality, participation and universal suffrage.
The Attorney-General further submitted that expanding voting rights to all registered members would strengthen accountability and deepen internal democracy within political parties.
The judgment means that going forward, presidential and parliamentary candidates will be selected by all registered members of a political party, instead of by delegates alone.
Political parties are expected to review their constitutions and structures to comply with the Court’s directive ahead of the 2028 general elections.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
