“Atta Mills Was a Silent Superpower” – Charlotte Osei
By: Nana Kwasi Roka
In a world of noise and political grandstanding, the late President John Evans Atta Mills stood out as a “silent superpower,” former NCCE boss Charlotte Osei declared at the 13th J.E.A. Mills Memorial Lecture in Accra.
Delivering a deeply moving speech titled “Prof John Evans Atta Mills: The Man, The Teacher and The President – Reflections of a Mentee,” Charlotte Osei described the late leader as a man of unwavering humility and unshakable integrity.
“Prof Mills’ humility was not weakness. It was strength under control,” she said, referencing his famous quote: “I will be President for all Ghanaians, whether they voted for me or not.”
She recounted moments when she had disagreed with him – as a mentee and legal mind – yet found him always receptive. “I told him a decision he took was unfair. He calmly debated and months later, I received a message: ‘You were right, I was wrong.’ That was such an emotional moment for me,” she recalled.
To Charlotte, such humility in leadership was rare – a sharp contrast to the defensiveness often associated with political power. “Power that fears criticism is already bankrupt,” she added pointedly.
Mills’ incorruptible nature, she noted, also set him apart. She cited Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s remarks: “There was no seam dividing the public official from the private man.”
In her words, Mills lived a life of consistent values: “You can’t fake legacy – time always tells.”
Charlotte concluded by urging public servants and leaders to emulate Prof. Mills’ quiet strength, inclusive leadership and moral clarity. “He was the same person – in the classroom, in the tax office and at the Castle. Prof Mills’ superpower was his character.”
