We didn’t know of upgrades to Atta Mills’ tomb – Family belies Anyidoho

Some members of the family of late President John Evans Atta Mills have belied a statement by Koku Anyidoho, that some members of the family were informed about upgrades at the Asomdwee Park, where the former president was buried.

Anyidoho, a former aide to Atta Mills and his Atta Mills Institute, AMI, have in conjunction with the Coastal Development Authority, CODA, carried out two years of upgrade at Asomdwee Park, where the mortal remain of Mills lay.

Two senior family members who spoke to Accra-based Citi FM’s reporter at the family house in Ekumfi-Otuam expressed grave reservations with recent events surrounding the final resting place of their loved one.

“I am worried about the issues surrounding his tomb and burial. As a family, we are demanding that the body is brought back to us at Ekumfi Otuam for burial. It will even serve as a tourist attraction,” a family head stated.

The family want their son to be relocated to Ekumfi Otuam, a town located in the Central Region.

There has recently been a brouhaha on issues surrounding the park with days to the 10th anniversary celebration of Atta Mills’ demise.

A former aide of the late president, Koku Anyidoho, has been engaged in a public exchange of words with Samuel, Atta Mills’ younger brother over some renovation around the tomb of the late Head of State.

Samuel Atta Mills, who is the Member of Parliament of Komenda Edina Aguafo Abirem expressed concerns with upgrades on the tomb, stressing that it was culturally insensitive that a state-run authority had undertaken the upgrade without informing the family.

The Coastal Development Authority, CODA, in a July 20 statement denied that the body of the late leader had been tampered with in any way.

“We wish to state that the grave was not opened and therefore no desecration of the body of the former President, H.E John Evans Atta Mills, has taken place,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, the completed facility is expected to be handed over to the president for official commissioning on July 26, to coincide with the 10th anniversary of Atta Mills’ passing.

The National Democratic Congress has the Atta Mills Memorial Heritage that was founded months back to protect the legacy of the late leader but his aide Koku Anyidoho through his Atta Mills Institute is behind the collaboration with CODA to redevelop the Asomdwee Park.