President John Dramani Mahama on Monday inaugurated the President John Evans Atta Mills Presidential Research Library at a colourful ceremony at Cape Coast in the Central Region.
The research library, which is the first presidential library in Ghana, would among others, provide information about the former president to researchers globally.
The library, which was funded by operators in the telecom sector, would preserve the legacy of the former president, as well as other illustrious sons of Africa.
The library is made up of 25 rooms, a lecture hall and kitchen.
Speaking at the inauguration, President Mahama said Ghanaians must ensure peaceful transfer of power, adding that the late President Mills resisted attempts by people to harass some Ghanaians of different political affiliations when he assumed office.
President Mahama indicated that the opening of the library would ensure that many others gain access to education to ensure prosperity.
“This should be the presidential library befitting the life of Prof Mills as a renowned academia, sport man, politician, president and peace-loving Ghanaians,” he added.
The President noted that the proximity of the presidential library to the historic Cape Coast Castle is symbolic, adding that while the castle tells the story of enslavement of ancestors, the library would also tell the story of one of Ghana’s foremost nationalists.
Central Regional Minister, Kweku Ricketts Hagan described former President Atta Mills as an intellectual, who invested his time in improving the educational sector of the country.
Mr. Hagan said that the greatest tribute the country can pay to the late president was to make good use of the facility.
Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Prof D.D Kuupalu said the facility would not only serve as educational facility but tourist site.
Vice Chancellor therefore charged managers of the facility to reach out to national and international partners to enhance services in the facilities.
Paramount Chief of Oguaa Traditional Area, Osaberima Kwesi Atta II, indicated that the effective use of the facility would help enhance education in the region.
Osaberima Atta II expressed gratitude to the president for honouring the memory of former President John Atta Mills.
From Sarah Afful, Cape Coast