Atta Mills’ story should be a guidepost for leadership grounded in truth – Julius Debrah 

Chief of Staff and Chairman of the 13th John Evans Atta Mills Commemorative Lecture, Julius Debrah, has called on the youth of Ghana to uphold the values and leadership ideals of the late President, describing his legacy as a moral compass for the country’s democratic journey.

Speaking at the lecture held in Accra, Mr. Debrah urged young people to draw lessons from the personal and political life of the late President Mills, whom he described as a leader defined by integrity, humility, and discipline.

He said the youth must not view the legacy of Prof. Mills as a matter of remembrance alone, but as a living example of what ethical and visionary leadership should look like in Ghana’s political space.

“His story must not be remembered as nostalgia. It must be understood as a guidepost for leadership grounded in truth, service, and respect for institutions,” he said.

Mr. Debrah noted that throughout his public life, Mills consistently demonstrated that power could be exercised with calmness, modesty, and respect for all. He said the former president believed in service over self-interest and sought transformation through peaceful means.

“Professor Mills showed that leadership does not have to be loud to be effective,” he added. “He led by example, he spoke softly, and yet his words carried weight because they were grounded in conviction and principle.”

He urged the youth to rise above partisanship and ambition and instead prepare themselves to lead with integrity, vision, and respect for democratic values.

“As we commemorate his life today,” he said, “we must also ignite a national consciousness among our youth—not to simply inherit positions of power, but to earn the trust of the people by walking the path of honesty, humility, and human dignity.”

The lecture, organised annually to honour the memory of the late president, was held under the theme “The Man, The Teacher, and The President.” The keynote presentation reflected on Mills’ unique contribution to Ghana’s democracy and his role in nurturing a culture of tolerance, justice, and responsible leadership.

This year marks 13 years since the passing of Prof. Mills, who served as Ghana’s President from 2009 until his death in 2012.