The Opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has dared the presidency to make known to Ghanaians the very purpose of President Mills' visit to South Africa.

According to a statement issued by the party on Friday June 25, the President's visit to South Africa appears to be for a different purpose, other than his purported talks with the South African President Jacob Zumah, following the issues that arose from the visit of Angolan President Eduardo Dos Santos to Ghana few days ago.

President Mills left the country on Thursday evening, to meet South African President Jacob Zumah on Saturday June 26, and return to Ghana on Monday.

However, the NPP says it has information that Mr. Zumah would be at the AU Summit in Addis-Ababa within that period. The party therefore believes that the trip has a hidden agenda.

In effect, the party suspects that President Mills is in South Africa to seek medical attention. It says Ghanaians deserve to know an end to speculations about the President's health.

The Following is the full Statement:

PRESIDENT MILLS SHOULD TELL GHANAIANS THE TRUTH

On Thursday, the 24th June 2010, the Office of the President issued a statement announcing the visit of President Mills to South Africa to hold talks with the South African government. We believe the President is hiding something.

We quote from the statement signed by Communications Director, Koku Anyidoho:"Following from [sic] the visit of President Eduardo Dos Santos, Head of State of Angola, and matters that have arisen out of the visit, and also leading up to the AU summit to be held in Kampala, Uganda, between the 24th and 27th of July, 2010, His Excellency President John Evans Atta Mills leaves for South Africa tonight [Thursday, 24th June, 2010] to hold talks with the South African Government."

Strangely, on the preceding Tuesday, 22nd of June, 2010, the South African Government issued the following statement on its official website:

"The President of the Republic, H E Mr Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, accompanied by Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan and a contingent of senior officials, will depart South Africa tomorrow for Toronto, Canada. The President will participate in the Group of Twenty (G20) Summit on 26 to 27 June."

It is obvious that the true reason for President Mills' visit to South African is not to hold discussions with the Zuma Government. President Mills cannot hold meetings with President Zuma in South Africa when President Zuma and his top officials are in Canada, along with other African leaders who were invited to attend the G-20 Summit.

This is a matter of public interest: Why should the Mills Government lie about the true reason for the President's visit to South Africa? What is there to hide?

We are not questioning the President visiting South Africa, but Ghanaians deserve to know what has taken him to South Africa. We are told that whilst in South Africa, he will take the opportunity to visit the Black Stars and watch the Ghana vs USA match on Saturday. Therefore, he is not in South Africa purposely to watch the match.

We find it strange that after sending his Vice President, John Mahama, to represent him at the all-important AU's 14th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of States and Governments in Addis Ababa in January 2010, with the excuse that he had important domestic duties to attend to, President Mills has suddenly find it very important to personally go to South Africa to hold talks with the South African Government on matters arising out of a visit to Ghana from the President of another country (Angola) and matters to do with next month's AU meeting in another country, Uganda. And, the purported discussions in South Africa will take place at the time when his host, President Zuma and his top officials are in Canada.

We believe the President is not being truthful to Ghanaians. As has been the case in the past, is President Mills in South Africa for medical attention? Ghanaians deserve an end to speculations about the President's health, and only the Presidency can do so.

Kwaku Kwarteng Communications Director