Kumasi, July 31, GNA - Professor John Evans Atta-Mills, the Flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has pledged to restore trust and truth to governance when elected as President in the Election 2004. He said an essential ingredient in good governance was trust, which could only be earned where there was a demonstration of a proven commitment, frankness and integrity of action to the truth.

Professor Atta-Mills stated this at the launch of the NDC 2004 election manifesto in Kumasi on Saturday. The manifesto, which is entitled: "A Better Ghana" is the NDC's vision, which would govern the country if voted to power in the 2004 elections.

Prof Mills said Ghana had had enough double standards, hypocrisy and suspicion as well as deception and spin doctrine from people "who do the very things, which only a few years ago they vehemently condemned in others". He said one legacy he would like to leave, as President of Ghana "is that those of us who seek political office must honour our word to the electorate". Prof Mills said by terming its manifesto a "Better Ghana", the NDC was promising a qualitative change which would do away with politics of divide and rule and remove the current atmosphere of suspicion, mistrust and marginalisation of anyone who was assumed to be an ally of the opposition.

He said any measure whether deliberate or unintended which sought to intimidate or criminalize political opponents at the least opportunity was an affront to the country's democratic struggle. Prof Mills said even though political parties were competitors, they could stake out common positions to confront the challenges facing the nation. He said by launching the manifesto the NDC was putting out a clear message of its intention to base its campaign for the 2004 elections on issues and not on personalities and peripheral matters, adding that the new vision of the party would promote peace, good governance and accelerated socio-economic development on all aspects of national life. Prof Mills said he was looking forward to an opportunity to meet President Kufuor face-to-face to debate on national issues.

Flt-Lt Jerry John Rawlings, former President and founder of the party, said natural justice was a divine right of every citizen. He urged the party supporters to rededicate themselves to the noble cause of restoring social, economic and inter-ethnic respect to ensure justice.

Flt-Lt Rawlings said the NPP government was afraid of losing the 2004 elections and as such was employing "terrorist" tactics to rig the elections. He said Professor Mills represented the next greatest hope for Ghanaians and urged the supporters to work hard to ensure total victory for the party in the elections.

Mr Lee Ocran, chairman of the manifesto committee, said the idea of the manifesto was based on the philosophy of social democracy. He said the manifesto, which was crafted from the experiences and expertise of former government ministers and other high-ranking members of the party contained achievable targets that would help propel the country into an accelerated development.

Dr Obed Yao Asamoah, National chairman of the party, said the NPP government had deceived Ghanaians and did not deserve another term in office. He said the increasing high cost of living, coupled with massive corruption in the NPP government Ghanaians were now prepared for a new leader who would salvage them from their present woes.

Dr Asamoah said the manifesto reflected a message of new dawn for Ghanaians and urged them to vote for the party. Other speakers who highlighted various aspects of the manifesto were Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, Member of Parliament for Wenchi West, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, National Youth Organiser, Mrs Hannah Tetteh-Kponda, MP for Awutu-Senyah and Dr Tony Aidoo, former Deputy Minister of Defence. The first copy of the manifesto was auctioned for 50 million cedis.