Wofa Yaw Boateng Gyan, former National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Organiser, has shared a touching story about the late President John Evans Atta Mills‘ humility and compassion.
According to Wofa Yaw Boateng Gyan, the late Atta Mills was uncomfortable with gifts that appeared excessive and always questioned the gifts he received.
The former NDC organiser recounted an incident where Atta Mills was shown a magnificent house that had been arranged for him to occupy, adding that despite the grandeur of the building, the late president declined the offer.
He revealed that the late president insisted that such a gift was inappropriate and should instead benefit the less privileged.
Speaking in an interview with Accra-based Neat FM and sighted by GhanaWeb on X on August 13, 2026, he recounted, “Anytime you give him something, he begins to question why that particular thing is being offered to him. One Sunday, he called me and asked that we go somewhere. It was just a few of us: myself, him, his driver, and his bodyguard, with another car. When we arrived at the place, which I will not disclose, the person we went to see said it was great that I was part of the group”.
“He then told me he had arranged a place for the President, where he could live after retirement or even stay while in office whenever he felt overwhelmed. In fact, the building was indeed very beautiful, but immediately he saw it, he asked me if he should take it. I was even expecting him to tell me to accept the house since I was renting at the time, but instead he questioned why the person was giving it to him”, he added.
“He even remarked that if he were not president but rather a lecturer at the time, would such a magnificent house have been handed to him? He concluded that he would not take it and suggested it should rather be given to children and others struggling on the streets,” he said.
In related news, President John Dramani Mahama narrated how he received the news of the death of the late President John Evans Atta Mills.
In the video, which has resurfaced on X, President Mahama narrated the emotional moment he learned about the passing of Atta Mills.
According to John Mahama, he collapsed in his chair and broke down crying like a baby after receiving the devastating news that the president had died.
Speaking to KSM in the resurfaced video, John Mahama narrated, “If I remember properly, it was about 2:30 pm when I got a call from the Chief of Staff. He asked where I was, and I told him I was just leaving to come and join them at the hospital. He then told me to wait in my office and that there was no need to come because the president had just passed away. This was about 2:30 or shortly before that.
“It was a very sad day. I just collapsed in my chair, broke down, and wept like a baby. It’s not something I like to recall. That same evening, here you are, having to be sworn in as president,” he said.
Mahama further narrated, “My ADC locked up my office, so I was there by myself, just trying to gather my thoughts. I stayed there for about an hour when the Speaker, the Attorney General, and some other officials came to see me. My ADC called me on the intercom and said they wanted to see me, so I went into the washroom, washed my face, and tried to compose myself.
“They came in and said they had referred to the Constitution and that the swearing-in had to take place immediately. I protested because I thought we could do it the next day. I didn’t see how I could bring myself to go through a ceremony like that after receiving such tragic news. But they insisted and explained that, by the provisions of the Constitution, there could not be a vacuum in leadership,” he added.
Watch the video below:
“The late President Atta Mills once rejected a huge mansion offered to him as a gift during his presidency and asked that it be sold, with the proceeds used to build homes for the homeless.”
— 𝐀𝐒𝐊 (@askghmedia) August 12, 2026
— Wofa Yaw Boateng Gyan, former NDC National Organiser, shares a touching story about… pic.twitter.com/emXieZqiAd
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