The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA-Ghana) on Thursday stated that it has received with shock and sadness news of the passing of H.E President John Evans Atta Mills.

A statement released to the Ghana News Agency in Accra by the Board, Management and Staff of the Institute said the IEA wished to express its condolence to the wife and family of the late President Mills, as well as the Government and People of Ghana on the sad occasion.

"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," it added.

The statement recalled President Mills' support of the IEA Ghana Political Parties Program (GPPP) and mentioned the late President’s recognition of the Institute’s initiatives in his 2009 and 2010 State of the Nation Address as follows:

“Several areas of our governance agenda require legislative intervention. Fortunately, the IEA - sponsored “Ghana Political Parties Program” 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 in reference are the 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.

Again in his 2010 State of the Nation Address, he also recognized the role of The IEA in facilitating a bi-partisan co-operation among the Political Parties on key legislation, the statement said.

The statement quoted the departed President as saying, "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 characterized past transitions, has been agreed upon."

It indicated that 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, the statement added.

"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," it stated.**