Accra, Sept. 23, GNA - The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor John Evans Atta Mills and his wife, Naadu, have visited the Kantamanto Market in Accra which has been gutted by fire, destroying property running into millions of Ghana cedis. Professor Atta Mills and his wife, putting off their agenda for the morning, spent some time in the market walking through the debris and the thick smoke assessing first hand, the extent of colossal loss of property and sources of sustenance.

A statement by the Atta Mills campaign office said a lot of the traders Prof. Mills and his wife interacted with did not hide their high level of hopelessness.

According to some of the affected traders, suicide is flashing on their minds because life, for them, is not worth living. This is especially so for those who said they borrowed huge sums of money to invest in their businesses and do not know how to make good their debt obligations.

Prof. Atta Mills and his wife commiserated with the unfortunate persons and called on the government to do all it can to help resuscitate the charred source of livelihood of the affected persons.

"This is the time that government must really show it cares because when people give the mandate to people to manage the affairs of state, they do so with the hope that their needs and concerns will be catered for," the NDC Leader said.

He also called on other well-meaning individuals and groups to stretch a hand of support to the unfortunate colleagues who had found themselves in such unfortunate situations.

"This is not about politics, it is about fellow Ghanaians who are suffering, and need a lot of support and comforting in this time of need," the NDC leader said.

He promised that the NDC would contribute its widow's mite, adding;

"We care that is why we are here and will contribute our widow's mite to help support you in this time of need." Prof. Atta Mills and his wife were accompanied by Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, NDC General Secretary, Mrs. Ama Benyiwa Doe, NDC National Women's Organiser, Mr. Jonathan Nii Tackie Commey, NDC MP, Odododiodioo, and some executives of the constituency.