A GNA Feature by Christian Agubretu

Accra, Aug. 6, GNA - Rest is best enjoyed after hard work. And thus one can not begrudge President John Evans Atta Mills for announcing he would be taking his leave to 'chill" a little after almost two years of hard work.

In physics when an object is at rest, it will not move until force is applied to it. But in human nature when a man is at rest, the brain continues to work without any force applied which enables him to assess or take stock of his work in order to find better ways to improve upon them.

When the news broke out that President Mills was going to take his leave, one could not fail to appreciate the need for every human being at a point in life to take a rest for a couple of weeks. Anyone close to the work of the President or any Chief Executive Officer would acknowledge that every minute of their time is used to do one thing or the other.

Perhaps in the case of the President, a few instances could be cited to bring out the load he carries on his shoulders. He mounted the saddle of leadership after a hectic campaign that took him across the length and breadth of the country to solicit votes.

There he stood in an open top vehicle for more than four hours in the blazing sun, clad in smock and drenched with sweat because thousands of National Democratic Congress (NDC) members and admires had blocked the principal streets as he entered Wa, the Upper West Regional Capital, in March 2008 to a rousing welcome.

President Mills had to go through similar energy-sapping experience wherever he went looking for votes and to proclaim to Ghanaians that the announcement about his death in South Africa was false.

Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, the then National Organiser of the NDC, who was part of the entourage, remarked: "It is not easy to become a President."

President Mills also for the first time in the history of Ghanaian politics introduced what has become known as a "door-to-door" and "house-to-house" campaign for which many have said was the main reason for the NDC's victory in 2008.

President Mills visited every region, district and community in Ghana visiting virtually every house and knocking on almost every door to introduce himself as a Presidential Candidate for the 2008 Elections on the ticket of the NDC. That was the nature of his nationwide tour which fetched him and the NDC the victory.

President Mills achieved this at a time when the doubting Thomases were using his health condition to malign him in order to discredit him to the Ghanaian electorate. They said the Professor Mills' health was failing and that he could not assume the highest office of the nation.

At the 2008 Presidential Candidates Debate organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Prof. Mills told the nation that he had "energy to do the work and sometimes one who might have wheeled a patient to the hospital could die and the patient will survive".

Then came the 2008 Election in December, which was described as the most traumatic and heartbreaking event given the fact that the whole nation had to wait for the outcome of three rounds of election to determine the winner.

As fate will have it, Prof Mills was sworn in on Saturday January 7, 2009 as the Third President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana and ever since that day, every minute of his time has been occupied and utilized for the cause of Ghanaians and humanity as a whole.

Despite the hue and cry in some circles of the public after the Communication Directorate of the Presidency has announced the President Mills' leave, many who know the true value of rest have applauded the decision.

Mr Austin Gamey, a Labour Consultant, lauded the decision saying President Mills needs it. According to the Labour Act, Mr Gamey said, every worker including the President must go on leave once every year.

He said it was wrong for people (workers) of all categories to pile up their annual leave. He explained further that the President being the Chief Executive of the nation was setting a good example for other workers to follow since no worker was indispensable.

Mr Koku Anyidoho, Communication Director at the Presidency, said the President would spend 15 days in US and return to his country for another one week before resuming official duties. He expressed the hope that his leave would not attract wild speculations and said President Mills would come back more invigorated.

He said the President deserved the leave after working so hard to select his Cabinet and other Ministers, who have helped him to stabilize the economy and readied it for accelerated growth and development.

According to Chinua Achebe, the famous Nigeria writer, "he who blows the trumpet must sometimes stop and wipe his mouth." The President is scheduled to leave for the USA on Monday 9th August 2010.