Family of late former President Mills request autopsy report after 12 years

Family members of the late former President Professor John Evans Atta Mills have appealed to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to assist in retrieving the autopsy report carried out after their “son’s” death 12 years ago (24 July 2012).

The family, who paid a courtesy call on the President last Friday at the Jubilee House, thanked him for the honour done the former President by renovating his final resting place, the Asomdwe Park.

Nana Enyimfua III, Kyedomhem of Ekumfi Asaman, who spoke on behalf of the family, said 12 years after the death of former President Atta Mills, it was unacceptable that the family has not been given an autopsy report to know exactly what caused their “son’s” death.

“Since I was enstooled as the Queen mother, I have not seen any autopsy report in the hands of the family. It is a very difficult situation that the family and I have. We are unable to explain to anyone the actual cause of death of the former President because we do not have the official autopsy report.

“It is only right that we know exactly what the doctor found as the cause of his death. To this end, I wish to plead with your government for and on behalf of my entire family, to assist us in securing the autopsy report,” Nana Enyimfua III told the President.

“If the autopsy report is obtained, it will go a long way to put the family’s continued confusion on the cause of death of the late Atta Mills to rest and the future generations of our family will have a source document to use in explaining to their children of the real cause of death of the former President,” the Queen mother added.

Responding to the family’s request, President Akufo-Addo asked the family whether or not an autopsy was carried out on the body of the late former President after his demise.

The President expressed surprise that a medical report such as an autopsy after the death of an important personality like the former President had to be a subject of controversy.

Mr Koku Anyidoho, Chief Executive Officer of the Atta Mills Institute, who was part of the delegation, said but for the request of the Queen's mother, he would have loved to stay completely away from the issue of the autopsy report on the death of his former boss.

Mr Anyidoho indicated that he was not privy to any autopsy report carried out after the death of the former President but had heard from the brother of the late former President Samuel Atta-Mills that an autopsy was done and knew the cause of the death of his brother.

President Akufo-Addo assured that he would assist the late former President’s family with all the necessary attention it deserves as he considers it to be a legitimate demand, adding, “Professor Atta Mills died as a sitting President, his autopsy report should be a matter of public record and not a secret.”

Responding to the family’s gratitude to him for the redevelopment of the final resting place of the late former President, President Akufo-Addo said the two were close friends at the University of Ghana.

Even though they had ideological differences, he said it was legitimate that his late contemporary was given a befitting resting place, especially when he passed away while in office.

The family requested President Akufo-Addo do something monumental in Ekumfi, the late former’s birthplace in his remembrance after he leaves office on 7 January 2025.

President Akufo-Addo agreed to do all he can before he leaves office, as the chiefs and elders have requested.