Mr. Edward Doe Adjaho, First Deputy Speaker on Thursday described late President Mills as belonging to a group of persons in the world who touches the heart and makes an impact on people they meet.

He said with such people “our direction is altered, and many times we find ourselves striving to continue our life’s journey by their examples.

Mr. Adjaho said this when he presented a tribute in honour of late President Mills in the Chamber after members took their turn on Wednesday to file past the body of the late President at the Banquet Hall.

He said he wanted to quit Parliament in 2000 but the late President advised him to stay on saying, many of the individuals that the President touched in one way or the other would bear witness to his goodness, adding that, he was very compassionate.

Mr. Adjaho said “what laid behind him (Mills) are tiny matters compared to what lies ahead of him: to win the prize for which God has indeed called him, Indeed he made his faith in God the foundation upon which he built his presidency and this he personally told me several times.”

He said the late President Mills’s faith in his maker was unshakeable; he was principled and instilled values of forbearance and courage, to face adversity, integrity and most of all, trust in God. He was “patient, kind and friendly; Self disciplined, hard working, self restraint and loyalty were the essence of his character, and decency was his middle name.”

Mr. Adjaho noted that his example to remain focused in spite of life’s hurdles is now an example to instil in others; he always stood for what was right and good.

His crave for peace and unity of this country and his party was at the top of his agenda, adding that, “some of us have consolation in the fact that after his death the whole country is united in mourning him.”

“He will be unforgettable, an irreplaceable gem he was and will always be.”

Mr. Adjaho said a message sent to him by Mr. Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress on the demise of late President Mills was not understood as it said “ Doe, President is gone. Crisis meeting at Castle. You are requested to be present at Veeps office urgently,” which he thought Mr. Nketia meant that the President had gone to Lagos as stated in the communication the Speaker read from the President earlier in the morning on that same day.

Mr. Adjaho said that he was however informed by one Minister that the President was actually dead, as he was approaching the Castle.

He said “our hearts are with his widow, his son and the family.**