The NPP National Youth Organiser, this afternoon on Joy FM’s midday news, allowed his emotions to run wild when he tried in vain to question the very tall, academic, public service, and political record of NDC Leader and Presidential Candidate, Professor John Atta Mills.
John Boadu, in his emotional outburst, described the nomination by President Kufuor of Professor Mills for the Order of the Star of Ghana, Companion Division, the nation’s highest award, as a “DISASTER”.
John Boadu’s use of the word “disaster” makes the point poignantly that his understanding of the word is the not the understanding of all those who have a proper grasp of the English language.
What John Boadu failed say, in his emotional outburst, is that, Professor Mills lectured him at the School of Administration, Legon, and therefore imparted quality knowledge to him.
If for any reason, John Boadu should come out to question the qualities of Professor Mills as a good lecturer, he would be the only person wearing that cap because senior members of his party such as Mr. Allan Kyeremanteng, Ms. Gloria Akuffo, Mr. Joe Ghartey, to mention a few, all benefited from the tutelage of Professor Atta Mills, and attest to the fact that the learned professor was very good at his vocation of teaching.
On the issue of Professor Mills’ tenure as Head of the Economic Management Team, during his time as Vice President, which John Boadu sought to describe as a “disaster”, the records speak for themselves and well-meaning Ghanaians know the contribution to nation building that the learned Professor Mills made during that period.
VAT and GETFUND, to mention just two innovative policy initiatives, saw the light of day during Professor Mills’ term as Vice President and Head of the Economic Management Team.
It is a matter of public knowledge the way John Boadu’s NPP opposed the introduction of VAT and GETFUND, but are benefiting from them in government, and sometimes even try disingenuously to claim them as their policy initiatives.
When it comes to the arena of sports, Professor Mills acquitted himself as a sportsman from his school days and played for the national hockey team on several occasions.
As a sports administrator, Professor Mills’ record as, Head of the National Sports Council, Chairman of the Black Stars Management Committee, as well as a Director of Accra Hearts of Oak, speaks volumes.
As Leader of the NDC in opposition, Professor Mills’ contribution to the peace Ghana enjoys as well as his contribution to the growth of the country’s democracy, are not things that John Boadu’s emotional outburst can wish away. For a fact, but for Professor Mills not having an inordinate desire to become president, he could have also declared the NDC winner of the 2004 election after Jake Obetsebi Lamptey and the NPP so did, and only the Good Lord knows what would have happened to the peace and stability the nation is enjoying. The emotional outburst of John Boadu shall do nothing to erase the manner in which Professor John Evans Atta Mills distinguished himself and continues to distinguish himself in all spheres of nation building.
Meanwhile, John Boadu, via his attempt to rubbish the very enviable record of Professor Atta Mills, has called the judgment of the Leader of his party, President John Agyekum Kufuor into question.
Obviously, John Boadu does not think that President Kufuor applied his brain to the decision to honour Professor Mills and that the President must have taken the decision without any sound and solid analysis.
In other words, John Boadu thinks very lowly of President Kufuor and believes that the President is a disaster.
It would be interesting to see how John Boadu turns round to applaud the stewardship of President Kufuor now that he has put it out in the public domain that he has enough reason to doubt the judgment and thinking capacity of the President of the Republic.