Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt has shared some fond memories of his encounter with the late President John Evans Atta Mills during the late former President’s health challenges.
Kwesi Pratt while speaking at the 12th anniversary of Prof. Mills’ death at the Conference Centre of the University of Ghana, Legon recounted a moment he inquired from Prof. Mills if he was in good health condition to contest the 2008 presidential election.
Kwesi Pratt recalled that in 2008, Prof. Mills admitted to him his ailing condition with hopes of recovering after a medical checkup in in South Africa.
“Professor Mills admitted that he had been unwell, but insisted the doctors in South Africa had said that he would be alright. I left Prof feeling somehow assured that he was worthy for the fight ahead of him and the National Democratic Congress on December 7, 2008,” Kwesi Pratt said on July 19.
The Editor of the Insight Newspaper recalled his conversation with the late President on that day.
“Prof. Mills visited the Freedom center to participate in an event and made us all alarmed at his condition. He was having serious problems with his vision and after the event, he walked into my office, and I plucked the courage to ask the very difficult question.
Kwesi Pratt said: “Prof. Can you make it?”
The late Prof Mills replied: “Make what?”
Kwesi Pratt continued: “I tried to explain myself and he shocked me with some wavering commitment to himself with duty and to the people of Ghana.”
The revered journalist recalled the late Prof. Mills words to him: ‘I will use the last ounce of energy in me to serve the people, I can’t give up now. The country is in a very dire situation, and I am ready to make sacrifice to be part of the rescue team,’ Kwesi Pratt recounted the late President’s statement.
Prof. Mills assumed office as the President of Ghana in 2009 after winning the 2008 December elections. He died on July 24, 2012 few months to the election while still in office, seeking to be re-elected.
His Vice-President, John Mahama was later sworn-in as President who subsequently won the 2012 elections for the NDC.
The post ‘I will use my last ounce of energy to serve Ghana’ – Kwesi Pratt recalls Prof. Mills’ words to him amidst ill-health first appeared on 3News.
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