Rawlings Reacts To Statement By Atta Mills’ Family

Founder of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Former Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, ex-President Rawlings says he deeply regrets “any misunderstanding or misrepresentation” his statements on BBC have caused the family of the late Prof Mills.

He was responding to a statement issued by Abusuapanyin Nkuma-Kyerba Twidan on behalf of Prof Mills’ family describing his (Rawlings’) recents comments in an interview with the BBC as “uncouth, derogatory and uncensored insults“.

According to the late Prof’s Abusuapanyin, the family has had enough of the constant attacks on Mills’ persona whose only fault, according to them, was seeking to serve his country, and added that “Our Son died in a bed, at peace with himself, and with dignity in the eyes of equally well-thinking men. Such a kind fate may not befall those tempted to stride the world as rabble-rousing tin-gods.”

But the office of the former President in a terse statement said “no ill motive was intended in the comments by Mr Rawlings”.

“Former President Rawlings wishes to assure the family of the late President Mills that he retains a healthy respect for the contributions that President Mills made to the country of Ghana and the NDC party,” the statement partly reads.

Below is the statement from Mr Rawlings’ office.

RESPONSE TO STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT MILLS’ FAMILY

The attention of the Office of ex-President Rawlings has been drawn to a statement issued by the family of the late President Mills in response to comments recently made by President Rawlings in an interview with the BBC.

The Office of ex-President Rawlings would like to assure the family of former President Mills that no ill motive was intended in the comments by Mr Rawlings.

Former President Rawlings wishes to assure the family of the late President Mills that he retains a healthy respect for the contributions that President Mills made to the country of Ghana and the NDC party.

Any misunderstanding or misrepresentation of the statements on BBC is therefore regretted.

Signed: Office of President Rawlings