It is with great shock and sadness that we, at the Hugo Chavez
International Foundation for Peace, Friendship and Solidarity
(HCIF-PFS) have learnt of the sudden and untimely passing away of
another “Osagyfo” and President of the Republic of Ghana, Professor
John Atta Mills.
The extraordinary light that shone in the West African state of Ghana
for almost 68 years has been extinguished; the life of the greatest
gem on the African soil has been eclipsed by sudden illness and death,
but his legacy lives on. Professor Atta Mills was among those great
African leaders who displayed true visionary leadership. He
contributed enormously to the transformation of Ghana and was a
champion of democracy at home and on the African continent. His
passing away is not just a grievous loss to the Hugo Chavez
International Foundation. It will leave also a particularly broad void
in the ranks of world class leadership among the Anglophone nations,
as well as the rest of the African continent and the diaspora.
Professor Mills was an inspiration for those who dared to dream that a
new African personality and dignity could be created without indulging
in immoral behaviours in public and national life. More than that,
Atta Mills was a born leader, a tireless fighter for peace and social
justice for Africa and the developing world. We count it a privilege
to have known him and to have been his friend.
By his untimely death, Africa has lost one of the finest leaders ever
to realize the vision bequeathed to Africans by Osagyfo Dr. Kwame
Nkrumah-“One Unified Africa, One People and One Destiny”.
We join millions of Africans everywhere in paying our respects to this
great gem of Africa, as well as expressing our sympathy to the First
Lady, Dr. Ernestina Naadu Mills and the rest of Ghana’s first family
at this very sad time. No words of mouth will ever describe our sense
of loss and sadness as we bid Professor Atta Mills far well.
Once in a while, history provides a people, with a leader who is truly
outstanding, and undoubtedly Professor John Atta Mills was such a
leader. What placed him high above others was that special ability to
understand the central contradiction of the times, to grasp the most
critical question of the day and able to articulate them in a simple
and understandable way. He was able, thus, to inspire and lead the
masses into struggle. Professor Mills has repeatedly demonstrated this
quality and it was this, among others that endeared him to his people
and sustained his popularity among the masses for eight years as
Vice-President (1996-2000) and President, and Commander-In-Chief of
the Armed Forces of the Republic of Ghana (2008-2012).
The late Professor John Atta Mills will be missed dearly forever. And,
may almighty Infinite God rests his life in eternal peace!


Alimamy Bakarr Sankoh
International Executive Director.
HUGO CHAVEZ INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION

FOR PEACE, FRIENDSHIP AND SOLIDARITY
(HCIF-PFS)