Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has urged Ghanaians to renew their dedication to the values and vision championed by the late President John Evans Atta Mills, particularly the Better Ghana Agenda.

Speaking at the 13th John Evans Atta Mills Anniversary Commemorative Lecture held in Accra on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, Professor Opoku-Agyemang said the late President’s ideals of inclusivity, peace, and good governance remain relevant in shaping the country’s development path.

“Professor Mills was a gift to Ghana,” she said, describing him as a leader defined not by spectacle but by “quiet strength, deep compassion, and an unshakable belief in the potential of every Ghanaian.”

She added that the Better Ghana Agenda was more than a government policy. In her view, it represented a national vision in which every citizen, regardless of background, could have a fair chance to succeed.

She said that vision prioritised education, youth development, and gender inclusion; areas that, according to her, still require deliberate attention today.

Professor Opoku-Agyemang noted that the current administration was building on the foundation laid by the late president.

She encouraged both leaders and citizens to reflect on how they could carry forward his values through their work and actions in everyday life.

The event, held under the theme “Atta Mills: A Case Study for the Fourth Republic”, also featured a keynote address by former Electoral Commission Chairperson Mrs Charlotte Osei. Attendees included the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Bagbin; National Democratic Congress Chairman, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah; the General Secretary of the NDC, Mr Fifi Kwetey; members of the diplomatic corps, traditional rulers, and religious leaders.

Professor Opoku-Agyemang acknowledged the role of the John Evans Atta Mills Memorial Heritage, led by Mr Alex Segbefia, in preserving the legacy of the late president. She also recognised the contribution of the Mills family in keeping his memory alive.

“As we move forward as a nation,” she said, “let us hold fast to the principles of the Asomdweehene. Let us build a Ghana where peace prevails, where integrity is non-negotiable, and where service to the people is the highest calling.”

President John Evans Atta Mills died in office on July 24, 2012.

He was the first sitting head of state in Ghana’s history to pass away while serving, and is remembered for his calm disposition, democratic values, and commitment to fairness and social inclusion.