Former Vice-President, Prof John Evans Atta Mills has hinted his preparedness to lead the National Democratic Congress in the 2004 elections if the party endorses his candidacy.

In a pre-departure chat with the press on Thursday, former Vice President Atta-Mills dropped a hint that he might be contesting for flagbearer of the NDC for the 2004 Presidential elections. According to the former Vice-President, the NDC’s Constitution as amended at the just-ended Congress stipulates that its flagbearer should be elected at least 24 months before the next general elections.

It also stipulates that any party member desirous of contesting for election as the party’s candidate should indicate his intention to do so within the six months preceding the delegates’ congress for the election of the flagbearer. For this reason, the ex-Vice President stated, it would be premature and inappropriate for him to make any declaration of intention at this time.

Vice President Atta-Mills was in the country to attend the 5th Biennial congress of the NDC. He returned to Canada on Thursday night to complete his contract as a Visiting Scholar at the Liu Centre for the Study of Global Issues at the University of British Columbia.

Ghana Palaver notes that given the new amendments to the NDC constitution, the latest time that a congress can be held to elect the NDC flagbearer is 7 December, this year. Ghana Palaver’s calculations also show that under the amendments, members of the party who wish to contest as the party’s Presidential candidate can begin to do so with effect from 7 June, this year.

Observers interpret ex-Vice President Atta-Mills’ cautious response to the question of his possible candidacy to mean a clear indication of an intention to contest but put in the usual politically diplomatic way to ensure that all his options are kept open.