The late J.E.A. Mills
THE RAGING war of attrition Samuel Atta Mills, brother of late President John Evans Atta Mills, and his aide, Samuel Koku Anyidoho, is taking a nasty dimension suggesting that the late President’s remains may be exhumed for reburial.
According to Samuel Atta Mills, the family is considering exhuming the body from Asomdwee Park if management of the place continues to remain in the hands of the Atta Mills Institute, formed by Koku Anyidoho.
According to him, they will do all within their powers to change the burial place of the late President if Samuel Koku Anyidoho’s NGO continues to manage the place.
This follows a threat by the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Atta Mills Institute, Koku Anyidoho, to disallow unauthorised persons from visiting the refurbished Asomdwee Park after the 10th anniversary of the death of the late President.
Reacting to the threat, Samuel Atta Mills, younger brother of the late President, indicated that “President Atta Mills, the Asomdweehene, is buried at Asomdwee Park. It is a national place for any Ghanaian to go there. Now, if an NGO is saying that I am going to prevent some people from coming out there, are we sitting down for an NGO to take possession of a national place?
“It is a national place because Prof. Mills was buried there. So if they are not going to allow us there, then we have to advise ourselves, ask for official permission, take the body out from there and go and bury it somewhere.
“Will you also come there and come and prevent us there?” Samuel Atta Mills asked.
Earlier, the late President’s brother, who is Member of Parliament (MP) for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem in the Central Region, on Tuesday, alleged that his late brother’s tomb had been tampered with.
According to him, the tomb was tampered with without the consent of the family but rather in complicity with Samuel Koku Anyidoho, who was Presidential Spokesperson when Prof. Atta Mills was in power.
Mr. Anyidoho, has since refuted the allegations.
Koku Anyidoho also questioned Sam Atta Mills on the whereabouts of Prof. Mills’ autopsy report.
However, the Coastal Development Authority (CoDA) has denied allegations that the renovation of the Asomdwee Park, as per a directive from President Akufo-Addo, led to the tampering of the grave of late President Atta Mills and the “desecration” of his body.
CoDA, on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, clarified that it liaised with relevant state authorities to embark on the renovation works.
It noted that the redesign and construction of the ICT lab, library and cafeteria, fence wall, concrete shed, restrooms for the security, entrance for VIPs, among others, have been completed.
The authority, however, said the asphalting of the driveway to the general entrance and landscaping of the general area around the tomb remained to be upgraded.
“We wish to state that the grave was not opened and therefore no desecration of the body of the former President, H.E John Evans Atta Mills, has taken place,” a statement issued by Chief Executive Officer, Jerry Ahmed Shaib said.
“We, therefore, assure all well-meaning Ghanaians that the project, which continues to be a top priority for CoDA, is well on schedule and will be handed over to the Office of the President for official commissioning, once completed.”
Sunday, July 24 will mark 10 years since the passing of Prof. Atta Mills, who was the third president of the Fourth Republic.
Reports indicate that the park was no longer secure as its security had been left in a sorry state and no longer a secured place befitting enough for former leaders worth celebrating.
Koku Anyidoho
BY Vincent Kubi