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 · John Atta Mills  · President of Ghana  · Ghana is located in Western Africa  · 238, 533 sq km land area  · Borders Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, and Togo  · Some natural resources include gold, timber, industrial diamonds, fish, silver, salt, hydropower, and petroleum  · The people of Ghana are among the world’s poorest people with average earnings of $2.32 per day  · Population of 24,339,838 people  · Life expectancy of 60.55 years  · High risk of infectious diseases  · Nationality is Ghanaian  · Official language is English  · Agriculture products include cocoa, rice, tapioca, peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas, and timber  · studied law at the University of Ghana, the London School of Economics and Political Science, and the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies  · Ph.D. on taxation and economic development,  · wrote the Report of the Tax Review Commission, Ghana <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · was acting commissioner and then substantive commissioner on the Internal Revenue Service <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · was the vice president of Ghana from 1997-2001 <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · played on national hockey team <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · Former president Jerry Rawling <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · President Barack Obama <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · Former president John Kufuor <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · anti-corruption policy is being used · represents a democratic party which believes in the maintaining of rule of law · for national security, Ghana received a 93 <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · people’s participation in Ghana’s government remains stronger than most African countries, due to the democracy <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · basic human rights are provided to all citizens is an important goal <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · been working to promote a free market and uphold workers rights while tackling poverty. <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · have recognized the problems of drug trafficking as well <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · Maybe a conference on education in the future
 * 1) <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: normal;">Identify their character.
 * 1) <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: normal;">Identify the country which their character represents - with particular attention to the state's geography, economy, population, and social structure.
 * 1) <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: normal;">Identify the character's previous occupation and other pertinent background information.
 * 1) <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: normal;">Identify 3 references that reflect your character's ideas. (Basically, who supports your positions?) These references should be chose from among the list of debate participants. Should you use someone outside the list, please see me before you submit your resume.
 * 1) <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: normal;">How does your character measure against these four benchmarks set by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation:
 * 2) <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: normal;">Safety and Rule of Law
 * 1) <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: normal;">Participation and Human Rights
 * 1) <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: normal;">Sustainable Economic Opportunity
 * 1) <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: normal;">Human Development

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Good morning ladies and gentlemen, it’s an honor to be here today. As many of you may already know, my name is John Atta Mills, and I am the President of the great Republic of Ghana. I’ve studied law at the University of Ghana, the London School of Economics and Political Science, and the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies. I have a Ph.D. on taxation and economic development, having written the Report of the Tax Review Commission, Ghana. I was acting commissioner and then substantive commissioner on the Internal Revenue Service. I was the vice president of Ghana from 1997-2001. I’ve made many contributions to Ghana and the world even before I was president. I taught law for around 25 years and contributed research papers at conferences worldwide. And, yes I even played on the national hockey team for a bit. Three references that can vouch for me are former president of Ghana Jerry Rawlings, former president John Kufuor, and president Barack Obama, who I had the pleasure of meeting in 2009. I think it is safe to say that I’m highly qualified not only to be president, but also to receive the Mo Ibrahim award. When I was campaigning to become president of the great Republic of Ghana, my slogan was “I believe in Ghana.” According to the 2010 Ibrahim Index of African Governance, Ghana is ranked 7th with a score of 65. Did you know that the people of Ghana are among the world’s poorest people with average earnings of $2.32 per day? Therefore, when I entered presidency one goal of mine was to make the socioeconomic status of the Ghanaians better. I have implemented an austerity program to help do this, making large reduces in government expenses. As far as the safety and rule of law section on the index goes, an anti-corruption policy is being used. If you find it hard to believe this, just ask the minister who was fired due to the mishandling of public money. I represent a democratic party which believes in the maintaining of rule of law, and for national security, Ghana received a 93.

Moving on to the next section: participation and human rights. The people’s participation in Ghana’s government remains stronger than most African countries, due to the democracy. Ensuring that basic human rights are provided to all citizens is an important goal of mine too. Along the lines of sustainable economic opportunity, I and my delegation have also been working to promote a free market and uphold workers rights while tackling poverty. I have recognized the problems of drug trafficking as well. However, I’ll be outright and say it: Ghana received a score of 22 for infrastructure. That is the only place where we scored less than a 50. And ladies and gentlemen, here’s a plausible solution. Let me just point out these three lines from the Mo Ibrahim website: “The money from the Ibrahim Prize will also help to ensure that Africa doesn't lose the experience and expertise of its best leaders when they leave office, by enabling them to continue in other public roles. The prize allows them to build on their achievements in office and play an active role in civil society, diplomacy or conflict resolution on the continent once they have left office. The prize money is designed to work in conjunction with billions of dollars of development spending, foreign investment and national resources.”

If I were to receive the Mo Ibrahim prize, I would definitely use that money to help the infrastructure in Ghana, helping it to become an even more stable nation. The Akosombo Dam was completed on the Volta River in 1966, but was closed in March 2007. If the money could go towards the reopening of this dam, it could work wonders in Ghana.

I am doing my best to ensure that Ghana has a president that is strong, intelligent, and compassionate. I cannot put into words how much it would mean to me and the people of Ghana if I were to receive the Mo Ibrahim award. This money could further help our country which shows so much promise, that is was the country President Obama chose to visit in 2009. With my degree, I will not let this money go to waste, in fact I will use it to better my country. As I said before, I believe in Ghana, and I trust you will believe in me too. Thank you very much.

Works Cited "2010 Ibrahim Index of African Governance." //Moibrahimfoundation.org//. Mo Ibrahim Foundation, 2010. Web. 24 Feb. 2011. <http://www.moibrahimfoundation.org/en/media/get/20101108_eng-table-iiag2010-revised.pdf>. Adam Nossiter. "Ghana Visit Highlights Scarce Stability in Africa." //NY Times//. New York Times, 2009 July 10. Web. 24 Feb. 2011. <Ghana Visit Highlights Scarce Stability in Africa>. "CIA - The World Factbook." //Welcome to the CIA Web Site — Central Intelligence Agency//. Web. 24 Feb. 2011. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gh.html>. Denzel, LaRay. "John Evans Atta Mills (president of Ghana) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia." //Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia//. Web. 24 Feb. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1508745/John-Evans-Atta-Mills>. "Ghana." //U.S. Department of State//. Web. 24 Feb. 2011. <http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2860.htm>. "The Ibrahim Prize » Mo Ibrahim Foundation." //Mo Ibrahim Foundation//. Web. 24 Feb. 2011. <http://www.moibrahimfoundation.org/en/section/the-ibrahim-prize>. "Issues concerning Education in Ghana - ModernGhana.com." //Ghana HomePage - Breaking News, Business, Sports, Entertainment and Video News//. Web. 24 Feb. 2011. <http://www.modernghana.com/news/263553/1/issues-concerning-education-in-ghana.html>.