The presidency of John Atta Mills began on 7 January 2009 and ended on 24 July 2012. John Atta Mills, an NDC candidate, became the 3rd President of the Ghanaian Fourth Republic after he defeated NPP opponent Nana Akufo-Addo in the 2008 Ghanaian general election. After his death on 24 July 2012, John Atta Mills was succeeded by his vice president, John Mahama in accordance to the 1992 Constitution. He was the first Ghanaian Head of State to die in office.
From 1997 to 2001, Atta Mills served as Vice-President of Ghana under the Rawlings government. He was unsuccessful in his bid for presidency in the 2000 and 2004 Ghanaian general election. During his 2008 campaign he began the Better Ghana Agenda policy. Amongst his accomplishments as president was presiding over and initiating Ghana's first ever foray into oil production, after oil was discovered in commercial quantities under his predecessor, John Kufuor. In his second year, the president enabled a GDP rebasement which adjusted the growth figures for the Ghanaian economy upwards. Atta Mills also signed the Data Protection Act in May 2012.
General election and inauguration
On 21 December 2006, he became the NDC's candidate for the 2008 presidential election, winning his party's ticket by an 81.4% result (1,362 votes), far ahead of his opponents, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, and Eddie Annan. In the 2008 election, John Agyekum Kufuor was no longer eligible to run as president, having served two terms. It was during this time that the term Better Ghana Agenda was coined.
Mills' main opponent from the New Patriotic Party was now Nana Akufo-Addo. Mills ran under the campaign slogan of "A Better Man for a Better Ghana," on a platform of change. He said: "People are complaining. They're saying that their standard of living has deteriorated these past eight years. So if Ghana is a model of growth, it's not translating into something people can feel." The result of the first ballot had Akufo-Addo in front with 49.13% of the vote to Mills' 47.92%, however, a run-off second round of voting was needed. The second round of voting took place on 28 December 2008. The result was a slim lead held by Mills, but due to problems with the distribution of ballots, the Tain constituency, located in the Brong-Ahafo Region, was forced to vote again on 2 January 2009. Mills was certified as the victor in the run-off election on January 3, 2009, by a margin of less than one percent. It is to date the closest election in Ghanaian history. Self-described as a social democrat who believed in the concept of social welfare espoused by Kwame Nkrumah Mills embraced a political platform that was more comprehensive and less divisive than that of either Nkrumah or Rawlings. John Atta Mills was sworn in as president on 7 January 2009 in a peaceful transition after Akufo-Addo was narrowly defeated.Emmanuel Gyimah-Boadi, "The 2008 Freedom House Survey: Another Step Forward for Ghana." Journal of Democracy 20.2 (2009): 138-152 excerpt.
Personnel
Office(s) Officeholder TermPresidentJohn Atta Mills2009 to 2012Vice PresidentJohn Dramani Mahama2009–2012Cabinet MinistersOffice(s) Officeholder TermMinister for Foreign Affairs and Regional IntegrationMuhammad Mumuni2009 – 2012Minister for the Interior Cletus Avoka (MP)Martin A. B. K. AmiduBenjamin KunbuorWilliam Kwasi Aboah2009 – 20102010 – 20112011 – 20122012Minister for Finance and Economic Planning Kwabena Dufuor2009 – 2012Minister for DefenceLt. Gen. Joseph Henry Smith2009 – 2012Attorney General and Minister for Justice Mrs. Betty Mould-IddrisuMartin AmiduBenjamin Kunbuor2009 – 20112011 – 20122012Minister for EducationAlex Tettey-Enyo (MP) Mrs. Betty Mould-IddrisuLee Ocran2009 – 20112011 – 20122012Minister for Food and AgricultureKwesi Ahwoi2009 – 2012 Minister for Trade and Industry Hanna Tetteh2009 – 2012Minister for HealthGeorge Sipa-Adjah YankeyBenjamin KunbuorJoseph Yieleh Chireh (MP)Alban Bagbin (MP)2009 – 20092009 – 20112011 – 20122012Minister for Local Government and Rural DevelopmentJoseph Yieleh Chireh (MP)Samuel Kwame Ofosu-Ampofo2009 – 20112011 – 2012Minister for TourismJuliana Azumah-Mensah (MP)Zita OkaikoiAkua Sena Dansua (MP) 2009 – 20102010 – 20112011 – 2012Minister for EnergyJoe Oteng-Adjei2009 – 2012Minister for TransportMike Allen Hammah (MP)Collins Dauda (MP)2009 – 20112011 – 2012Minister for Roads and HighwaysJoe Kwashie Gidisu (MP)2009 – 2012Minister for Lands and Natural ResourcesCollins Dauda (MP)Mike Allen Hammah (MP)2009 – 20112011 – 2012Minister for Women and Children's AffairsAkua Sena Dansua (MP)Juliana Azumah-Mensah (MP)2009 – 20102010 – 2012Minister for CommunicationsHaruna Iddrisu2009 – 2012Minister for Environment, Science and TechnologySherry Ayitey2009 – 2012Minister for InformationZita OkaikoiJohn Tia (MP)Fritz Baffour (MP)2009 – 20102010 – 20122012Minister for Employment and Social WelfareStephen Amoanor Kwao (MP)Enoch Teye Mensah (MP)Moses Asaga (MP)2009 – 20102010 – 20122012Minister for Water Resources, Works and HousingAlbert Abongo (MP)Alban Bagbin (MP)Enoch Teye Mensah (MP)2009 – 20102010 – 20122012Minister for Youth and SportsMuntaka Mohammed Mubarak (MP)Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo (MP)Akua Sena Dansua (MP)Clement Kofi Humado (MP) 2009 – 20092009 – 20102010 – 20112011 – 2012Minister for Chieftaincy and CultureAlexander Asum-Ahensah (MP)2009 – 2012Regional MinistersRegion Officeholder TermAshanti Regional MinisterKofi Opoku-ManuDr. Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah2009 – 20112011 – 2012Brong Ahafo RegionKwadwo Nyamekye Marfo2009 – 2012Central RegionAma Benyiwa-Doe2009 – 2012Eastern RegionSamuel Kwame Ofosu-AmpofoDr Kwasi Akyem Apea-KubiVictor Emmanuel Smith2009 – 20112011 – 20122012Greater Accra Regional MinisterNii Armah Ashitey2009 –2012Northern RegionS.S. NanyinaMoses Bukari Mabengba2009 – 20102010 – 2012Upper East RegionMark Woyongo2009 – 2012Upper West RegionMahmud KhalidIssaku SaliahAmin Amidu Sulemana2009 – 20102010 – 20122012Volta Regional MinisterJoseph Amenowode (MP)Henry Ford Kamel (MP)2009 – 20122012Western RegionPaul Evans Aidoo (MP)2009 – 2012Ministers of StateOffice(s) Officeholder TermMinister at the PresidencyAlhassan Azong2009 – 2012Mrs Hautie Dubie Alhassan2009 – 2012Amadu Seidu2009 – 2009Stephen Amoanor Kwao (MP) 2010 – 2012Rafatu Halutie A. Dubie? – 2012Dominic Azimbe Azumah (MP) 2012
government changes 2009 The first batch of ministers in the NDC government were sworn in on 13 January 2009. Betty Mould-Iddrisu who was initially out of the country was later sworn in as Ghana's first female Attorney General and Minister for Justice. Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, the Minister for Sports, resigned on 25 June 2009 following findings of financial impropriety against him by a committee set up by government. Two additional ministers, Dr. George Yankey, Minister for Health and Ahmed Seidu, Minister at the Presidency tended their resignations on 10 October 2009, following allegations of having accepted bribes from a United Kingdom company many years prior to the formation of this government.
In October 2009, when Ghana U-20 won that year's FIFA U-20 World Cup after defeating Brazil U-20 in the final match, Mills promised each player a cheque of GHS 10,000, which was invested until their release and cashing in 2025.
2010 On 25 January 2010, President Mills conducted his first cabinet reshuffle. There were changes of ministers in 7 ministries and one change of regional minister. In all, four new ministers came into government including Alban Bagbin, the Majority Leader in parliament and his deputy, John Tia. Also in were Enoch T. Mensah, a former minister in the Rawlings NDC government and Martin Amidu, the new Interior minister. On 11 May 2010, Mahmud Khalid, the Upper West Regional Minister was dismissed by President Mills. Khalid suggested members of his party lobbied for his dismissal. Alhaji Issaku Saliah, a former MP for Wa West was nominated as his replacement and approved by parliament on 23 July 2010.
2011 The second cabinet reshuffle by President Mills was in January 2011. 9 ministries were affected in all. One Regional minister was also changed. Notable changes including replacing Betty Mould-Iddrisu with Martin Amidu as Attorney-General. Zita Okaikoi and Alex Tettey-Enyo were dropped from government.
2012 In January 2012, Martin Amidu was sacked by President Mills. This followed allegations he made suggesting some members of the ruling party may be corrupt. He was asked to substantiate his allegations by Mills and subsequently sacked ostensibly because he was unable to do so. A few days later, Betty Mould-Iddrissu, Minister for Education who was the Attorney-General before Amidu tended her resignation as Minister for Education. This was accepted by President Mills who appointed Enoch Mensah to replace her as Minister for Education temporarily. A cabinet reshuffle was announced a few days later via a press release from the Office of the President. There were new ministers nominated for approval by parliament. These include William Kwasi Aboah for Interior, Lee Ocran for Education, Fritz Baffour MP for Ablekuma South for Information, Moses Asaga for Employment and Social Welfare, Dominic Azimbe Azumah, MP for Garu - Timpane – Minister of State and Amin Amidu Sulemani, Upper West Regional Minister designate. They were all sworn in on 24 February 2012 by President Mills after having been approved by the Parliament of Ghana. On 26 March 2012, President Mills appointed two new regional ministers. The former ambassador to the Czech Republic, Victor Emmanuel Smith became the new Eastern Region Minister and the MP for Buem, Henry Kamel Ford became the new Volta Region Minister.
Policy
Economy Under Mills, Ghana's stable economy experienced sustained reduced inflation leading to the attainment of single digit inflation of about 8.4% (one of the lowest inflation rates Ghana had attained in 42 years i.e. period between 1970 and 2012 as well as the lowest since June 1992 just before the start of Ghana's Fourth Republic) from a high of 18.1% in December 2008. This is indicative of prudent fiscal, monetary and other austerity policy measures that characterised his presidency to put the economy in healthy shape. The Ghanaian currency, the Cedi also stabilised as a result of these policies. In 2011, Ghana was the fastest growing economy in the world at 20.15% for the first half of the year and 14.4% at the end of the financial year according to the International Monetary Fund and EconomyWatch.com. Moreover, Ghana's budget deficit was reduced to 2% of the Gross Domestic Product during his tenure compared to 14.5% of GDP in 2008, just before he was elected as the President of Ghana. There was also a huge improvement in Ghana's gross international reserves and foreign direct investments (FDI) highlighting exceptional macroeconomic performance. The Mills government also implemented the Single Spine Salary system which increased compensation levels of all public sector workers. In a bid to improve the efficiency in revenue collection, Mills established the Ghana Revenue Authority which integrated Value Added Tax (VAT), Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Under his governance, Ghana met three out of the four primary convergence criteria for the proposed common currency, Eco of the West African Monetary Zone. These accomplishments led to renewed domestic and foreign investor confidence in Ghana's economy. During Mills' time in office, Ghana was adjudged the best place for doing business in West Africa and best West African performer in access to credit according to the 2011 World Bank Doing Business global rankings.
GDP rebasing