Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has described the late President Professor John Evans Atta Mills as the best president Ghana has produced under the Fourth Republic, particularly in terms of integrity and the fight against corruption.

Speaking on JoyPrime on January 6, Mr Kpebu said that when asked who had been the best president in Ghana’s Fourth Republic, he would, without hesitation, vote for Atta Mills, even though the former president’s tenure was brief.

According to Mr Kpebu, the shortness of Atta Mills’ time in office is why people often say that good things do not last, or that good people die early. However, he stressed that the brevity of his presidency did not diminish the quality of his leadership.

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He highlighted the former president’s honesty, stating that “Atta Mills never took our pesewa.” Mr Kpebu explained that when a leader lives an upright life, it strengthens the fight against corruption and helps to drive the nation forward.

“When the life of the leader itself speaks volumes, it helps to drive the nation,” he said.

Recalling an incident at the Tema Port, Mr Kpebu said customs officers reportedly ran away upon seeing Atta Mills. According to him, the president told them, “Look, don’t run away; I am human.” He described the episode as a reflection of the respect and fear inspired by the former president’s reputation for integrity.

Mr Kpebu added that many other examples demonstrated Atta Mills’ character and leadership style, reinforcing his stance as the best president in the fight against corruption.

He further noted that former United States President Barack Obama’s decision to visit Ghana was influenced by the kind of honest leadership Atta Mills represented.

“Any day, I would vote for Atta Mills,” Mr Kpebu said, emphasising that the late president “stands tall among them.”