STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE INSTITUTE OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS ON THE PASSING AWAY OF H.E PROF. JOHN EVANS ATTA MILLS The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA-Ghana) has received with shock and sadness news of the passing away of H.E President John Evans Atta Mills. The IEA wishes to express its condolence to his wife and family as well as the Government and People of Ghana. While we mourn as a nation, it is our hope that we will uphold the rule of law and remain united in our quest to deepen and consolidate multiparty democracy in Ghana. On this solemn occasion, The Institute would like to highlight the fruitful collaboration it enjoyed with the late President while in opposition and as President of the Republic of Ghana. We recall his support of the IEA Ghana Political Parties Programme (GPPP) and mention on this occasion the late President’s recognition of the Institute’s initiatives in his 2009 and 2010 State of the Nation Address and we quote: “Several areas of our governance agenda require legislative intervention. Fortunately, the IEA - sponsored “Ghana Political Parties Programme” which is made up of all the political parties with representation in Parliament has agreed on several draft Bills that will respond to this need. Consequently, the Government will consider these draft Bills for possible Parliamentary enactment in order to fill the void. The Bills are: • Public Financing of Political Parties Bill, including the creation of an Election Fund for Political Parties and guaranteed funding for the Electoral Commission, • A new Political Parties Bill, and • A Presidential Transition Bill.” (State of the Nation Address, 2009) In his 2010 State of the Nation Address, he further recognized the role of The IEA in facilitating a bi-partisan co-operation among the Political Parties on key legislation. “The "Ghana Political Parties Programme" of the Institute of Economic Affairs has been forged out of the voluntary will of the four political parties with representation in Parliament, not by any legislation. It demonstrates what genuine reconciliation and collaboration, based on a spirit of Wanting-To-Work-Together, can achieve. As a result of their collaborative effort, a multi-partisan "Presidential Transition Bill" to regulate the process of transition from one Government to another and which will, I hope, put an end to the acrimony and bitterness that has characterised past transitions, has been agreed upon. It is to be presented to Cabinet for consideration and to Parliament for enactment. Because of its multi-partisan nature, I am sure that Parliament will have no difficulty in passing it.” (State of the Nation Address, 2010) The highlight of this collaboration culminated in Cabinet’s approval of the Presidential Transition Bill in 2011 and subsequent enactment by Parliament. The Bill was duly assented to by the late President J.E.A Mills on the 31st May 2012. This was the man, President Mills, a true democrat dedicated to the rule of law and to the tenets of democracy and good governance. While we sympathize with the Government and the People of Ghana, we congratulate His Excellency John Dramani Mahama on his investiture as President of the Republic of Ghana in accordance with Article 60 clause 6 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. May the soul of the late President John Evans Atta Mills Rest in Peace. God Bless Our Homeland Ghana And Make Our Nation Great and Strong. From the Board, Management and Staff of the Institute of Economic Affairs, Ghana.