We’ve not desecrated the body of Atta Mills, says CODA

The Coastal Development Authority (CODA) has refuted the claim that it has desecrated the body of the late former President John Evans Atta Mills.

CODA is currently embarking on renovation works at the Asomdwe Park.

According to CODA, it liaised with the relevant state institutions in charge of state monuments before embarking on the renovation works.

“The Coastal Development Authority, acting upon a directive from President Akufo-Addo, prioritised the renovation of the burial grounds of the late Professor Atta Mills, former president of the republic.”

“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,” a statement from CODA said.

The statement comes after Samuel Atta Mills, a brother of the late president, John Evans Atta Mills, accused a former aide to the late president Koku Anyidoho and the Coastal Development Authority of tampering with the tomb of the former president.

Speaking to the press on Tuesday (19 July), he said, the family does not recognise the Atta Mills Institute.

He queried what has been done to the mortal remains of the late president, whose 10th anniversary of his passing will be observed later this month.

According to the brother of the former president, the current arrangement goes against customs.

“They have removed the tomb and what they’ve done is, they claim that they are rebuilding it. Now my question is this; we have traditions, why would you go and touch somebody’s grave without informing the family?”

He added, “Now the question I want to ask is this, now that you’ve gone to touch it, is the body still in that grave? What did you put in that grave? What kind of rituals did you perform over there? Why would you go and touch the grave without informing us? Who has the body now and that is the question that I want to ask Ghanaians?”