<<Print>>

Former Finance Minister in the John Kufuor government, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei’s revelations on what possibly could have triggered the tragic death of late President John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills must be of serious concern to all, especially the ex-president’s former protégé, President John Dramani Mahama.

Whereas activists of the ruling National Democratic Congress are livid by the allegations of the Old-Tafo legislator and have taken him to the cleaners for attributing the devastating death of the late President to the Bankswitch fuss, The aL-hAJJ can report that the former Finance Minister’s disclosure may not be entirely incorrect as fresh evidence emerging will show that Prof Mills, prior to his sudden death, was leaving in Panphobia (the fear of the unknown).

This latest revelation must be taken even more serious, especially by President John Mahama because months of painstaking investigations into the heartbreaking death of the late law Professor by this paper have revealed that though, the late President was unwell, his untimely death could also be as a result of fright, having been badly letdown by appointees he very much trusted and relied on.

This then could validate Dr Akoto Osei's proposition that the murky issues on the award and subsequent abrogation of Bandswitch contract and its ensuing consequences could have been a factor in the former vice president's death.

Reports available to this paper on circumstances that led to the death of President Mills on July 24, 2012 indicate, he was mournfully overwhelmed by reported cases of scandals and allegations of corruption leveled at his administration which he considered was antithesis of his persona and public image.

This, according to very dependable sources close to him, was to further worsen the old professor's not-too-good health, as the reported cases and allegations of corruption was as well providing credence to former President Rawlings' persistent harsh attacks on him and his government. Dismissed Attorney General, Martin Amidu’s inordinate and inexorable desire to implicate the late president in the Woyome affair, our sources say, was also key.

The genteel astute academician-turned president was reported to have been exceedingly traumatized by what those indiscreet accusations from leading members of his own party and government would do to his hitherto, years of impeccable public service, accomplishments and above all, his virtue, which has been acknowledged globally.

Although it was noticeable on his return from his last trip to the United States that President Mills was fatally ill, no one thought those were his last days on earth. Therefore, it cannot be gainsaid that, perhaps certain unanticipated developments could have surfaced, precipitating his early return to his maker on that fateful July 24, 2012.

Persons close to the late former president told The al-hAJJ that other disturbing events aside the Bankswitch ruckus, such us the earlier payment of over GHC51m judgment debt to businessman Alfred Woyome, the GYEEDA, SADA scandals and other widely talked-about scandals that rocked his administration, all may have contributed to his ill-fated demise.

What was also said to have exacerbated President Mills' already not-too-good health, leading eventually to his death, according to a former aide, was the almost daily 'harassment' by former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Martin Alamisi Amidu, who in a subtle attempt tried to directly link him to the 'fraudulent' payment of the GHC51m judgment debt to businessman, Alfred Woyome.

Incessant disparaging pronouncements by President Mills' former mentor, Jerry John Rawlings, particularly his constant portrayal of the Mills administration as the worst government Ghana ever had, was said to have affected the poor "oldman" mentally and physically.

It would be recalled that in his early days in office, founder of the NDC, Jerry John Rawlings started a deadly wave of attack on President Mills and his administration which was later to be joined by his wife, Nana Konadu and was further intensified by the Friends of Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings (FONKAR).

While Mr Rawlings, Nana Konadu and their assigns were shredding the late President, Martin Amidu, who was Mills' running mate in the 2000 elections, also began unleashing his 'daily epistles’ targeted at painting the Mills government as filthy corrupt and neck deep in the Woyome rot.

Members of the various opposition parties, particularly the NPP, also took advantage of the window of opportunity provided by Mr Rawlings and his people to launch their own scathing attacks on the late President and his administration, making nonsense of his hard earned reputation.

In the wake of these disturbing developments and following the deterioration of his condition, handlers of the late President led by his Secretary, Mr Bebaako Mensah; Chief of Staff, Henry Martey Newman, Col. Lawson among others advised he took some time off to recuperate at Peduase Lodge, to which he obliged.

However, and unknown to them, the ex-president was to unexpectedly return to the seat of government Osu, which also doubled as his abode less than 24 hours after he was ferried to the state lodge, explaining he was lonely and uncomfortable staying there, moreover, he wanted to fellowship with them that Sunday (Just 72 hours before his demise).

Even though the late President Mills was noticed overly disturbed over the attacks on his person and his government (some of which were unwarranted), days prior to his passing on that Tuesday, July 24, 2012, he was reported going about his normal duties, had telephone conversations with people including yours truly, and was looking hale and hearty and bubbling with life without any sign of someone spending his last days on earth.

But, all that was to change Friday, July 20, 2012 when, with excruciating pain in his heart, he lamented to close pals about how the Jerry Rawlings, Nana Konadu and Martin Amidu led attacks on him as well as the reported corruption scandals of which Bankswitch, GYEEDA and SADA were part, had seriously battered his hitherto well-earned public image.

Attempts by his handlers for him to be flown back to the United States again when his health condition was observed deteriorating fast during the weekend, was flatly turned down by the late former president, who told them "Menko…, mennsako America bio wornimde Ghanafuor pekasa?" Literally meaning, 'I am not going back to America, don’t you know Ghanaians like to complain'?

A Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague last year awarded damages amounting to GH¢197,491,874.00 to Bankswitch Ghana after it filed a suit against the government of Ghana for unilaterally abrogating its contract.

In order to pay off the money, the Minister of Trade in a letter to all Destination Inspection Companies (DICs) informed them that “any of them who can advance the government of Ghana an amount of $35 million will be awarded a contract of 0.35% of free on board values on all Ghana’s imports for at least a period of five years to enable that company recover its investments.”

The money will then be used to defray the GHC 197 million judgment. This generated public uproar, with members of the opposition New Patriotic Party and their ilk calling for the head of the sector Minister, Dr Ekow Spio Garbrah.

In response to bribery allegations by members of the NPP, Dr Spio Garbrah noted that the ongoing public debate about the legality or otherwise of the ministry’s decision was being pushed by the biggest opposition party.

According to the Trade minister “they (NPP) signed the contract, and are those who will benefit if the judgment is paid…. NPP people who don’t understand and want to benefit from the judgment debt of one billion cedis are those making the noise to confuse the public”.

In a riposte to the Trade Minister, Member of Parliament for Tafo, Dr Akoto Osei, who signed the Bankswitch contract and testified in favor of the expatriate company, claimed that the actions of some government officials in cancelling the Bankswitch contract eventually caused the death of President John Mills.

“He [Dr. Spio Garbrah] should be careful what he speaks about. If he wants to play politics with something that has caused somebody’s death. Go and ask them what the good professor was worried about the day before he died. Go and ask Martey Newman the Chief of Staff, the people who knew about this issue. He never authorized the letter purported that he had given the [bankswitch] contract to somebody else,” he stated.

Stay tuned