Accra, Jan. 9, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Monday said the recent increase in fuel prices was not an easy decision since he was aware that its impact on the ordinary Ghanaian would be great.

He added that but as a leader he had to take certain painful decisions at certain times.

Answering questions from Senior Journalists and Editors on the third encounter with the media at the Castle, Osu, President Mills said although his administration had encountered many challenges and difficulties over the years, the Government had made visible successes, which all Ghanaians could attest to.

He thanked Ghanaians for their patience, understanding and willingness to continue to support the Better Ghana Agenda.

Issues raised include, the Alfred Agbesi Woyome payment of judgment debt, corruption, relationship with former President Jerry John Rawlings, increase in fuel prices, and the cocaine turning into sodium bicarbonate.

The encounter was in line with President Mills' pledge to manage affairs of the State in an open, honest, and transparent manner.

The President said 2011 was an Action Year in which much achievement was recorded with inflation being maintained at a single digit and a record attainment of economic growth.

President Mills denied participating in the payment of the judgment debt to Mr Woyome and said he was patiently waiting for the report on the matter for action to be taken.

He said the Judiciary had submitted its report on the missing cocaine while the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) had submitted an interim report with investigations still in progress to get a valid report on the issue.

On corruption, President Mills emphasized that structures had been put in place over the years to combat the menace, saying there was an urgent need for a concerted effort by all Ghanaians to stop corruption in the country.

He expressed appreciation to journalists in the country for their work over the past three years and urged all Ghanaians including his team to watch their language on radio and television, since no insults could turn falsehood into truth.