Accra, Aug. 28, GNA - Former Vice President Professor John Evans Atta Mills on Saturday joined scores of Ga-Dangbes to celebrate their annual Homowo festival at the Sakura Park, Riverside, New York. A statement from the Campaign Office of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Office in Accra on Tuesday said the colourful gathering comprised Ga-Dangbes from the tri-states of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

It said it was a time for the NDC Flag Bearer for Election 2008 to take a break from his hectic schedules and to break bread, have fun and share ideas on how to continue to fly high the flag of Ga-Dangbe. Prof Mills commended the people for staying close to the things that identified them as a people with a common destiny even though they were far away from home.

"It is easy for people to leave home and get trapped in the web of other cultures but you have held on to what identifies you as a people and I must commend you for holding on to your identity as Gas and your identity as Ghanaians," Prof Mills told the gathering. Touching on the chieftaincy disputes that have engulfed the Ga State, he said it was most disturbing and unfortunate but expressed the hope that things would improve to make the Ga State what it ought to be.

Prof Mills said he is always at home among Ga-Dangbes because he was married to one, and thanked the people for allowing him to be a part of their festivities.

"I am very much one of you because my wife Naadu is one of you so it is always home for me when I am in your midst. And the warmth you have shown me is the same warmth the people of Ada showed when I celebrated the Asafutufiam with them just before emplaning for America. I very much appreciate your affection," Prof Mills said. The NDC Flag Bearer took his door-to-door campaign to Bronx and visited some Ghanaian supermarkets, restaurants, and barbering shops and interacted with Ghanaians just as he did in the City of Worcester, when he was in Massachusetts.

His message was simple: "I bring you greetings from Ghana and Atta Mills can assure you that under his presidency, Ghana would belong to all Ghanaians and not belong to only a section of Ghanaians and, honesty, transparency, humility, and caring for all, would be my guiding principles".

The statement said the response that greeted the presence of Prof Mills was full of tenderness as the people appreciated his presence in The Bronx.

It said the people gave him the fullest assurance that with the way they were being compelled by the harsh conditions back at home to dig deeper into their already overstretched pockets to send remittances, they would need another government that would ease their burden and expressed the hope that Prof Mills would be that person, who would give them relief.

Prof Mills gave them the assurance that once he got the mandate, he would not forget their concerns, and would do everything humanly possible to uphold the trust and confidence that would be reposed in him.