We Still Don’t Know What Killed Atta Mills – Family runs to Akufo-Addo

The family of the late former President of the Republic, Professor John Evans Atta Mills has appealed to President Akufo-Addo to use his high office to assist them in retrieving the autopsy report that was carried out following the death of their beloved son on 24 July 2012.

Addressing the President on Friday, 12 January 2024, when they paid a courtesy call on him at the Jubilee House to thank him for the honour done to the late former President and his family by renovating his final resting place, the “Asomdwe Park”, Nana Enyimfua III, Kyedomhem of Ekumfi Asaman, speaking on behalf of the family said 12 years after the death of the former President, it is unacceptable that the family has not been given an autopsy report.

“Since I was enstooled as the Queenmother, 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 said.

“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 Queenmother added.

Was there an autopsy

President Akufo-Addo in response to the request of the family sought to get clarity on whether or not an autopsy was carried out on the body of the late former President after he died on 24 July 2012.

He noted that it comes to him as a surprise that a basic document such as an autopsy report after the death of such an important personality like the former President should be a subject of controversy.

Claims of KEEA MP

Mr Koku Anyidoho, Chief Executive Officer of the Atta Mills Institute, who was part of the delegation observed that but for the inquiry of the Queenmother, he would have loved to stay completely away from the issue of the autopsy report on the death of his former boss.

Mr Anyidoho further indicated he is personally not aware of any autopsy report on the cause of death of the former President, however, he said he is aware that the brother of the late former President and the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) member of Parliament for the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) constituency in the Central Region, Mr Samuel Atta-Mills, is on record to have said that he has an autopsy report and that he knows the cause of the death of his brother.

Assurance to act

President Akufo-Addo after the submission of Koku Anyidoho, told the delegation that he will give the request of the Atta Mills Family all the necessary attention it deserves because he considers it to be a legitimate demand. He added that since Professor Atta Mills died as a sitting President, his autopsy report should be a matter of public record and not a secret.

Asomdwe Park

Responding to the family’s thank you gesture on the redevelopment of the final resting place of the late professor Evans Atta Mills, President Akufo-Addo said the late former President was his good friend back in school at the University of Ghana, and even though they had different ideological difference, it was only right that the man who was his contemporary is given a befitting resting place especially when he lost his life right on the line of duty serving his country at the highest office of the land.

Ekumfi monument

To the request of the family for President Akufo-Addo to do something significant in the Ekumfi traditional area which will serve as a monument in remembrance of him after he leaves office on 7 January 2025, President Akufo-Addo said he accepts the challenge and he will do all within his power to do as the chiefs and elders have requested in his last year in office.

 

SOURCE: Wilberforce Asare, Asaase Radio