Four Members of Parliament (MPs) are sponsoring a private Members motion for the House to form a bipartisan committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of former President John Evans Atta Mills.
The lawmakers are MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri and Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh; MP for Tolon and Second Deputy Majority Whip, Habib Iddrisu; MP for Mpraeso, Davis Ansah Opoku; and MP for Tema Central, Yves Nii Noi Hanson-Nortey
In their motion, the MPs are requesting “That, this Honourable House constitutes a bi-partisan committee; to unravel the unending mystery surrounding the death of late President Mills which sad event occurred on 24th July, 2012”.
Late Professor Mills narrowly won the 2008 general election on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and became President of Ghana on January 7, 2009 until his demise on July 24, 2012 at age 68.
Many Ghanaians had called for a probe into the circumstances that led to his death on July 24, 2012 following reports that there was no ambulance to rush him to the 37 Military Hospital for emergency care.
The unresolved narratives and cause of the death of the former President led to several calls for an independent probe.
However, it is not clear if the current Speaker, Mr Alban Bagbin, who is a member of the NDC will admit the motion to allow the bipartisan probe.
If the motion is admitted and tabled for debate, the sponsors would be required to provide a basis for their motion.
Renewed calls for probe
There appears to be renewed calls for investigation into the death of late President Mills following some allegations made against one of his adherents.
A few days ago, founder of Atta Mills Institute Samuel Koku Sitsofe Anyidoho petitioned the Ghana Police Service for an official inquest into the death of the late Mills.
The former Director of Communications under the Presidency of Atta Mills from 2009 to 2012, said the call was premised on the need to clear his name and save his reputation on the issue.
But there have been questions whether the Ghana Police is the right institution for the inquest.
Koku also requested the police to investigate wild and damaging utterances against him shared in a youtube video and which was distributed by Accra FM host, Nana Kwabena Bobie Ansah.
In his petition, the former NDC Deputy General Secretary indicated that on 7th February 2022, a Youtube video clip was circulated in the name of a certain JM Ba Kwadwo.
According to him, open threats were issued verbally against him in the said video clip including a brazen notice of plans to attack him.
“Also I am widely accused of having a hand in the death of late President, John Atta Mills, which sad event occurred on 24th July, 2012.
“I am also accused of going to shrines with the pictures of former President John Dramani Mahama with the sole aim of using foul means to end his life.
“In the view of above, I respectfully report the case to the Police to investigate these very wild and damaging utterances that are directed at me by the above-mentioned suspects.
“I also take the opportunity to request for an official inquest into the death of the late President Atta Mills in order to clear my name and save my reputation,” he stated.
Accusation against Mahama
Meanwhile, Koku Anyidoho has accused former President John Dramani Mahama of being behind the unsavoury attacks on him.
There have been longstanding rumours that the former President and Koku do not ‘see eye-to-eye’ and the rumours appeared to have gained currency with a recent social media posts by the former spokesperson and adherent of Atta Mills.
Koku had alleged that former President Mahama hated his boss, the late Professor Mills.
In April 2021, the former NDC Deputy General Secretary fired on social media platform Twitter, asking, “Why did John Dramani Mahama hate his boss President John Evans Atta-Mills; and extended the hatred to Koku Anyidoho?”
He decried that Mr. Mahama, after succeeding the late President Mills, refused to build the Asomdwe Park close to the Independence Square at Osu, Accra, where the mortal remains of Professor Mills was interred.
“Why did John Mahama REFUSE to build the Asomdwe Park? Let the world know that I do not hate JM (John Mahama); he hates me because of my loyalty to President Atta-Mills,” Koku Anyidoho said.
