He Rides On With Peace

The people of Anlo Traditional Area are mourning the loss of a great man dear to their hearts.

Even in death, Prof. John Evan Atta Mills is exuding his legendary legacy of peace, as the tragic event has united the country (the land of gold) with a peaceful air blowing all over.

As I indicated earlier, people living along the famous Keta Lagoon are deeply sad. Indeed, the people suffered harrowing ordeals because of a protracted chieftaincy dispute in which lives were lost over a period of time.

However, a change in government in 2009 brought into office the humble and the gentle Prof. Mills who abhorred vengeance and vindictiveness and this enabled the people of the great lagoon area to enjoy an air of freedom and liberty again.

Under his peaceful reign, all swords were sheathed, economic activities started to blossom again and the children attended school. The people are indebted to the Peaceful Professor.

It did not surprise people when he visited Anloga, the traditional capital of the Anlo state in November last year, to celebrate the historical Hogbetsotso Festival (which was celebrated for the first time after 13 years' lull.

Thousands of the indigenes thronged the festival ground to catch a glimpse of the man who 'liberated them' again after Notsie.

The security personnel on that Saturday had a hectic time controlling the crowd and for the first time in the history of the festival, the whole programme of the day was disrupted as the crowd could not be controlled.

At the durbar, the good Professor stressed his addiction to peace when he addressed the crowd. Certainly, the theme of the celebration was: “Reconciliation, Peace, Unity and Development: The Way Forward”.

Addressing the large gathering, President Mills warned that he would not allow anybody or group of persons to subvert the peace currently being enjoyed by Ghanaians.

'I hear people have started beating war drums. We will not allow anybody to subvert the peace we are enjoying,' he said.

'We will apply the law to the letter; we do not want violence or bloodshed before, during and after the elections,” the President added.

He emphasized the determination of the government to ensure free, fair and transparent 2012 general elections.

The President told the enthusiastic crowd that government would ensure the maintenance of peace and enthusiasm across the country.

Ghana's foremost patriot and pacifist said the Electoral Commission (EC) had taken steps to ensure a level playing field for all parties to accept the outcome of the election.

President Mills said the country needed peace to develop, adding that since “we have chosen the path of democracy we must abide by the tenets and rule of the contest”.

'Sometime I ask myself why people always fight. We should be fighting for development rather than over things that will not bring development.”

A day after the shocking news, I had a call from one of my nieces at Tegbi, a coastal town  in the Keta Municipality who told me that her father was not himself after hearing news about the death of our President and she did not know what to do.

I quickly told her to get some strong men to get him bound with a strong fishing net rope.

On Thursday, I rushed down and took control of everything. I had to do it because my cousin Lovi (the name means small crocodile), had a special liquor in his cult room and if given the chance to drink it, he would cause havoc in the village. I spent a long time convincing him that the late President was a Christian, good and humble man so he should be sober in his mourning.

After calming down, my cousin said that the painful part of the life of the late President was that from day one that he took office, the vilification never ceased from all angles until his demise.

'Nye tse, nyae be amenyui fe nya me nyona le amegblegble gbor o' he said, to wit; my young brother, Let it be known to you that bad people do not like good men.

My cousin wept bitterly and for the first time I saw my cousin Lovi the spiritual champion of the waters in that condition.

'My young brother when you go back to Accra, try and get the authorities to name the new Volta University after this great son of Ghana who only in three years managed to change the dented image of Ghana, defused the volatile tension brewing in Ghana even in death. He was the finest President Ghana has ever got. His legacy is unique' Lovi said.

'The chiefs and people of Anlo have expressed their deep condolences to Dr. Mrs. Naadu Mills, President John Dramani Mahama and the people of Ghana. Let Mawu Sogbolisa keep our noble President in His bosom,' Lovi added.

By Amos Amaglo

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