Fourteen years after the passing of former President John Evans Atta Mills, Professor Frimpong Boateng says the greatest tribute Ghana can pay him is not the erection of monuments but embracing the values of integrity, accountability and visionary leadership that defined his presidency.
In addressing the gathering at the 14th commemorative lecture held at the University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA) on Wednesday July 22, 2026, Prof. Boateng urged the nation to reflect on the ideals that successive presidents championed, citing, zero tolerance for corruption, protection of the public purse, probity, accountability and the current fight against illegal mining (galamsey).
He lamented that many of these presidential pledges have been undermined over the years to the detriment of Ghana.
The heart surgeon who was also the former minister for finance under NPP administration argued that, while monuments and commemorative lectures are appropriate, the country owes the late President something far more meaningful.
“What the country owes President Mills is the courage to do what he tried to do, to govern this country with integrity, to plan for the future rather than the next election, and to seek the welfare of ordinary citizens above the interests of those in power,” he insisted.
Prof. Boateng further praised the late President for what he described as his refusal to practice family-and-friends favoritism while in office, saying his leadership set an example of ethical governance.
He also called on public servants to choose honesty over convenience, encouraged engineers and scientists to remain in Ghana to help build the nation, urged entrepreneurs to manufacture locally instead of relying on imports, and appealed to citizens to continue demanding accountability from those in authority.
He concluded that Professor Mills understood Ghana’s development challenges as a technology gap requiring sustained commitment from successive governments to build the nation for future generations.
