John Evans Atta Mills

Biography

John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills, born on 21 July 1944 in Tarkwa, Ghana, became one of the country's respected legal scholars and political leaders. He started his education at Achimota School and then attended Huni Valley Senior High School and Komenda College of Education. He went on to further his studies at the University of Ghana and then specialized in constitutional law and tax policy at SOAS, the University of London, and the London School of Economics and Political Science. His academic success earned him a Fulbright Scholarship, which helped him deepen his knowledge in legal and economic matters. Mills became a well-known university professor, focusing on constitutional law and tax policy. His academic background laid the groundwork for his later involvement in politics, as his legal skills were valuable to Ghana's democratic institutions. Married to Ernestina Naadu Mills, she supported him throughout his career. Mills entered national politics when he became Ghana’s third Vice President from 1997 to 2001 under President Jerry Rawlings. This role marked the start of his significant position in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and made him a key player in Ghana's political scene. After serving as Vice President, Mills ran for president in 2000 and 2004 as the NDC candidate but didn't win. His dedication to public service eventually led to his victory in the 2008 presidential election, where he narrowly won against the governing party candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo. Mills was sworn in as Ghana's 11th President on 7 January 2009, becoming the third President of the Fourth Republic. His presidency aimed at economic growth, good governance, and sustaining Ghana's democratic institutions. Sadly, Mills passed away in office on 24 July 2012 in Accra, just three days after his 68th birthday, making him the first Ghanaian president to die while in office.