2012 newsletter click here - Ghana

P A G E 10
The Institute of International Education
(IIE), one of the world’s
largest and most experienced
higher education and training organisations
has posthumously
honoured Ghana’s late President,
John Evans Atta Mills for being a
truly exceptional leader.
The Fritz Redlich Alumni Award
was in recognition of his “highly
distinguished career as a Fulbright
Scholar alumnus and as the President
of Ghana. His leadership as
President opened doors for cooperation
between Ghana and other
countries, and prepared an entirely
new generation in Ghana for leadership”.
Ms. Ann Stock, US Assistant Secretary
of State for Educational and
Cultural Affairs presented the
award to Mrs. Ernestina Naadu
Mills, the widow and former First
Lady of Ghana at the Institute’s
International Awards Gala Dinner
at The Cipriani on Wall Street in
New York .
Late President Mills Honoured
Presenting the award,
Ms. Stock said
“President Mills was
driven by his enduring
vision of improving life
for all Ghanaians and
his perseverance propelled
Ghana’s developments”.
Upon his death, she
noted that “President
Mills left Ghana’s democratic institutions
strong and its economy
growing. His country is now on
track to become the first African
nation to achieve the United Nations
Millennium Development
Goal of cutting poverty and hunger
in half by 2015. That’s quite a
legacy.”
“President Mills also deepened the
relationship between the people of
United States and the people of
Ghana. Just six months after each
had taken office; he (President
Mills) welcomed President Obama
to Accra, a gesture which later
reciprocated by President Obama
to a dear friend and partner with a
visit to the White House”.
The Assistant Secretary of State
acknowledged the late Prof. Mills’
passion for education, which he
shared with all and prepared a
new generation for leadership
roles.
“Though we mourn Ghana’s untimely
loss of its leader, we’re
grateful for his highly distinguished
life and his determination
to carry his country forward. President
Mills’ legacy lives on in the
next generation of Ghanaians who
will continue to implement his
vision”, said Ms Stock.
Receiving the award, Mrs. Naadu
Mills, said the selection of her late
husband as recipient of a Fulbright
scholarship to study in the
prestigious Stanford University in
1971, was definitely one of the
major highlights of his life both as
an academician and later as a politician.
She said it was at Stanford that
President Mills began to nurture a
quiet interest for public office and
must have been deeply affected
and richly influenced by the examples
of academicians and politicians
he came across during that
eventful period.
“Nothing would have made me
happier if he were here to accept
this honour himself, having toiled
so hard for Ghana and for humanity.
Yet, you will agree with me
that, as Shakespeare said, “the
good is oft interred with their
bones’ So will it be with my husband”,
said the Former First Lady
of Ghana.