The Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, has called for a thorough investigation into the death of President John Evans Fiifi Atta-Mills in 2012.
This, according to him, will put to an end to all the controversies surrounding the death, for the country to move forward.
Addressing a news conference in Accra yesterday, on matters involving the Ekumfi Traditional Council, Mr Asamoah Boateng also contended that the controversial autopsy report must also be made public.
“As the Minister for Chieftaincy, holding firm our tradition and custom, religion and faith, as we all die and where we will go, I will support that we solve the controversies surrounding the death of the former president, John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills, for the records to be set straight”, he stated.
“We have to know where he died, the doctor who attended to him, where he was taken to? I am told the body was taken to the funeral home, who authorised that the body should be moved to that end? We heard it was in the custody of 37 Hospital, why did he end up in a private hospital?
“Is there something in the autopsy report they don’t want us to know? Why are they hiding it? If the public wants it, why not make it available? It should be available for public record,” he said.
The Chieftaincy Minister did not understand why those who have the power to release the autopsy report are still holding on to the information and that, the former president isn’t sleeping peaceful, because of the controversies surrounding his death.
Touching on comments President Akufo-Addo made when the family of the former President Atta Mills visited him at Jubilee House, that his government has neglected development in Ekumfi due to the latter’s decision to vote Francis Ato Cudjoe out of Parliament in 2020, he said the statement of the president was misinterpreted.
The minister stated emphatically that Ekumfi Constituency has never been neglected by the government saying, “They have twisted what the president said for their political agenda – the president has done very well for the people of Ekumfi.
“The President only meant that because his appointee was voted out of power, the contact was lost in a way, but don’t worry, you have come to tell me, why not, we will do it, so I think the twist was from here.
“This is because his appointee at the time was the one he was constantly in communication with, concerning the needs of the people, but because he was no more a member of parliament, things changed”, he explained.
The minister complained that few days after this meeting with the president, where he was present, he heard in the public domain that some traditional leaders where complaining about the family’s visit to the president.
He emphasised that the meeting the family had with the president was in the right direction and they had the right to be there as well.
He said it was an appreciation visit for what the president has done for them and their son (former President Atta Mills) and, therefore, appealed to the president for more development to enhance the living standards of their people.