The family, who came from Ekumfi Assaman, Apam, Ekumfi Ayisam, Baafikrom, Bibiani and Tarkwa, said the refurbishment had made the park “beautiful and befitting”.

The family members included the Queenmother of the Odomna Family of Ekumfi Assam, Nana Enyinfua III; Nana Akyerem Acquah, Nana Akom Ogyanda and Nana Assan.

“We appreciate your work and we say ‘ayekoo’,” the Head of the Odomna Family, Nana Kobina Biney, said on behalf of the family during a ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of the former President at the park yesterday.

Traditional rites

The family, from the maternal side of the late President, was at the park to perform customary rites for their departed kinsman.

The rites are performed on the 10th anniversary of a departed member of the family.

The solemn event was characterised by hymns, a minute’s silence observance, laying of a wreath, and both Christian and Muslim prayers for the soul of Prof. Atta Mills.

The family was joined by the Founder of the Atta Mills Institute, Koku Anyidoho, who was the spokesperson of the then President.

Prof. Atta Mills, who was born on July 21, 1944, passed away on July 24, 2012, and was buried at the Asomdwee Park.

To mark the 10th anniversary of his passing, the government held a memorial and thanksgiving service which was also used to inaugurate and consecrate the refurbished Asomdwe Park on July 24, 2022.

Appreciation to Anyidoho

Leading the family to perform the rites, Nana Kobina Biney also acknowledged the “yeoman's work done by Koku Anyidoho and his organisation, the Atta Mills Institute.

“The Odomna Family is also here this morning to assure our son that dead or alive, we still love him,” he stated.

He, however, said the family had planned to invite Mr Anyidoho to Ekumfi Otuam to thrash out some outstanding matters related to the refurbishment of the late President’s tomb without their involvement.

“We have heard his apology already in the media, and he has accepted his wrongdoing. But Mr Anyidoho should have informed the family about the refurbishment of the Asomdwee Park for us to delegate a representative,” he said.

You’re now a son

Nana Enyinfua said prior to his death, President Atta Mills introduced Mr Anyidoho to the family at Ekumfi Otuam, leading to he being accepted as a member of the family.

“I want to reiterate that Mr Anyidoho should not turn his back on the Odomna Family, much the same way we will not turn our backs on him since he is now a son of our family,” she said.

Apology

Earlier, Mr Anyidoho apologised to the late President’s family for facilitating the refurbishment of his tomb without their involvement.

He said he never touched the remains, stressing that with the 24-hour presence of the National Security at the park, nobody could dare exhume the remains of the former President.

He, however, assured the family that he would personally do whatever it would take to bring honour to Ekumfi Otuam and the Odomna Family.

“I will do everything to support this family now that you have endorsed me as a son of the family, and I accept it,” he said.