Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS)

COMSATS Bemoans the Demise of the President of Ghana, Dr. John Evans Atta Mills

The COMSATS’ community joins the Government and people of Ghana in mourning the sad demise of the President John Evans Atta Mills, who was elected as the Chairperson of COMSATS in April this year. Dr. Mills died at the age of 68 of throat cancer, on July 24, 2012.

Considering the death of Dr. Mills a great national loss for Ghana, the Executive Director COMSATS expressed sympathy and solidarity with the government and the people of the country in his message of condolence to COMSATS’ Focal Point in Ghana and the Ghanaian Minister for Environment, Science & Technology, Ms. Sherry Ayittey.

Dr. Mills became the President of Ghana in January 2009 after winning the 2008 elections and is the first Ghanaian Head of State to die in office. Having earned his PhD in Law at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, Dr. Mills had a teaching experience of over 25 years at University of Ghana, Leiden University (Holland), and Temple Law School (Philadelphia, USA), before taking on a political career.

“Ghana is united in grief at this time for our departed President”, said Mr. John Dramani Mahama, the Vice-President who has taken charge as the Head of State of Ghana.

The late President Mills will be remembered for leading the country into a period of rapid economic growth and further solidifying the stability of one of Africa’s model democracies. Under Dr. Mills able leadership Ghana has joined the world community of large-scale oil producers.