Now, The Day Is Over

Now the day is over and the curtains are about to be drawn over another life, that of one who stood tall among his compatriots as president.

As he joins his ancestors and we celebrate the life he led, he leaves behind a complex world of politics, economics and intrigues. It is a world where those who are given the mantle of leadership must be subjected to scrutiny and critiques- no matter how hard these may be. He too was not spared such criticisms as others before him and those who would follow in his footsteps from other political groupings, an order of democracy.

It is a mischievous world in which those who smile with you could be harbouring sadistic plans against you and perceived enemies and those who criticise you, rather your real friends. That is the irony of life and the world which the late President Mills has turned his back on.

In spite of the challenges of the world he is leaving behind, he too played his part, changed it a bit and left the rest to others to also do same and leave one day anyway. That is the way of all flesh no matter which station of the world we find ourselves in.

The funeral arrangements laid out for him hit a crescendo today as his remains are committed to Mother Earth, as it were, becoming, as a matter of fact, a part of the long history of humanity.

Every human being, regardless of their status, shall surely taste death but once. Prof Mills has had his turn and is now en route to his maker, a transition which provides for us another lesson about the transience of all life and the need for modesty.

When we complete our sojourn on Earth as destined by the Creator and Omnipotent, we would not tarry a second longer. That is a diktat of God and nothing can alter it.

The testimonial we leave behind shall not be concealed when we finally take that final leap to the spiritual world to meet our maker and give accounts of ourselves.

The late President Mills imparted knowledge to those he taught and they are living testimonies of his good deeds. He also had the opportunity of serving at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and finally the presidency of the nation, a consummation of service to his motherland.

We can regard him as one who sought to change his country, its destiny and fortunes, arduous tasks which he could not achieve without the input and support of his compatriots who he had the prerogative to choose from a large pool.

As to whether those he chose to help him achieve his dream of reaching an appreciable point on the ladder of progress is a matter best left to the individual Ghanaian.

He was often castigated for not doing much to rein in his seeming reckless lieutenants who, without doubt, did not do as much as he would have wished them to do.

He was one who would not want to hurt such personalities and so he contained them always seeking a means to prosecute his projects, these challenges notwithstanding.

Even when it was glaring that a contagion stood in his way and challenged his physical ability to continue in office, the lieutenants were said to have plodded him on until the end.

As the commemoration of his life comes to an end today, what he definitely seeks of us who are yet to complete their tenure on Earth and join him sooner or later are prayers. Rest in peace, Prof Mills.