General News of Saturday, 8 March 2008

Source: GNA

Atta Mills begins a two-day visit to Upper West Region

Wa, March 08, GNA - Professor John Evans Atta Mills, Presidential Candidate of National Democratic Congress (NDC) arrived at Wa on Friday to being a two-day visit to the Upper West Region.

The visit by Professor Mills who received a massive turn out of supporters of the Party was seen as a blessing that had rekindled the enthusiasm of supporters and sympathisers of NDC within Wa Municipality.

The supporters and sympathisers who wore party "T" shirts rode on motorbikes and bicycles, others came in buses and cars amidst brass band music to Bamahu, about two miles away from Wa to catch a glimpse of their flagbearer and ushered him to the Region.

At the business centre of the municipality, there was traffic jam while traders in the market also abandoned their goods and rushed to welcome him.

Professor Mills addressing the teaming supporters, at the Upper West Regional Office of the NDC, appealed to them to remain united and work hard for the Party's victory in the December 7 general elections. He assured Ghanaians that an NDC administration would use the country's resources judiciously for the benefit of the people.

"I would do what is right and never turn my back on you. I promise to God that I would not steal the peoples' money and work hard to improve the living conditions of all Ghanaians," he added. Professor Mills pledged to reactivate all abandoned projects in the country, including factories in the northern part of the country to create jobs for the youth.

He said education should be affordable and accessible and promised to provide free uniforms for children at the basic school level. Professor Mills said an NDC government would endeavour to reduce the prices of petroleum products and institute a competent independent body to manage operations of the oil industry, adding: "Members of an NDC Government would not enrich themselves with oil money but use the revenue judiciously for the benefit of the people".

Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, a Member of Professor Mills' Campaign Team urged supporters of the Party to work hard to return the Party to power to reduce poverty and corruption.

Professor Mills advises students to be humble

Wa, March 08, GNA - Professor John Evans Atta Mills, National Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential Candidate, has advised students to be humble, honest, patriotic and always remember that in whatever position they were representatives of the people.

He gave the advice when addressing students of University for Development Studies (UDS) in Wa as part of his two-day visit to the Upper West Region to thank supporters of the NDC for electing him as their flagbearer.

Professor Mills observed that truth had become a rare commodity among Ghanaians and given way to lies that had permeated the "rank and file of the society," a situation that needed the collective efforts of all and sundry to address.

He noted that even though education was the bedrock and a gateway to development, government had relegated it to the background and tertiary education was facing many challenges, especially with accommodation and other facilities.

Mr Johnson Asiedu-Nketia, General Secretary of NDC said "We need honest and dedicated people like Professor Mills to run affairs of the country to save us from misery". Madam Ama Benyiwa Doe, National Women's Organiser of NDC said it was not enough for government to appoint few women to ministerial positions.

She said what Ghanaian women were agitating for was total guarantee of their welfare and urged women to take into consideration the issue of neglect when casting their votes in December and vote against the NPP administration.

Mr Mahama Ayariga, Member of Parliament for Bawku Central and member of Professor Mills' Campaign Team called on people in the three Northern Regions to vote for the NDC to address the gaps in development in education, healthcare, businesses and services between the south and the north.

He said the negative development situation in the north was challenging and it was only an NDC Government that would adequately provide the needs of people in the area.

"The cotton and rice industries in the North had collapsed and no efforts were made to revive them even though they have the potential to address poverty in the area, "he added.