Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, says the achievements of the Mills’ administration pales into insignificance compared to the magnitude of the job that needs to be done, and asserts that even if Jesus Christ was asked to govern Ghana, he cannot perform wonders with regards to improving the general economic outlook of the country within 18 months.

According to him, though the Mills’ administration needs to be patted on the back for having made some strides in improving the living conditions of Ghanaians and the economy, the achievements are nothing to write home about.

“There are so many things to be done. In fact, if you look at what ought to be done in our country, these achievements by the Mills’ administration are not enough; they are not sufficient. Nonetheless, they are achievements…,” he said.

Contributing to a panel discussion on Radio Gold’s Alhaji and Alhaji programme, the outspoken socialist expressed disgust at the way the country was being shortchanged by foreigners especially in the mining sector, and called on government to take steps to maximize benefits from all the extractive industries for the betterment of all.

“We need to take full control of our natural resources. I am completely disgusted by the situation in which all of us people of Ghana get only 5% of the total value of Gold that is exported out of Ghana. It is clearly an unacceptable situation. And it is important for the government to take steps to maximize our benefits as people of Ghana from the Gold industry, from the Bauxite industry, from the Diamond industry and from all the extractive industries. It is absolutely important,” he screamed.

To him, eventhough it is vital that the government re-examines “the Gold Refinery Project which Dr. Nkrumah started but was abandoned after the reckless 1966 coup”, the enormity of the country’s problems are such that Jesus Christ will be incapable of handling the situation.

“…it is important to protect the environment; it is important to do a lot more. But all of those things cannot be done in 18 months. Even if we brought down Jesus the Christ, born in a manger and made him President of the Republic of Ghana, all of these things will not happen in 18 months…And indeed, I’m not the one who is saying this. Former President Kufuor, you remember his interview in South Africa, he made the point that it is unfair to expect any government to do wonders in 18months, if I lie tell me…and he made the point that he’ll pass his judgment on this administration after its fourth year in office.

The Insight newspaper Managing Editor therefore advised NPP supporters to pick some lessons from the remarks of their former flagbearer.

“I do hope that all these our friends and brothers in the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who as the Ga’s say ‘ametsekpan’ (galloping without direction)…and all jumping over themselves in a state of insurgency and so on, will learn very very important lessons from former President John Agyekum Kufuor, who is the first person in the Danquah Busia tradition to have won free and fair democratic elections in Ghana,” Mr. Pratt counseled.