January 07, 2010 Accra, Jan. 7, GNA -- President John Atta Mills said on Thursday he welcomed criticisms against him by former President Jerry John Rawlings and that he did not consider his former boss as a pain in the neck.

"President Rawlings is not a pain in the neck -- Let's all recognize that for 19 years he was the Head of State; he toiled very hard to bring peace, security and stability to our nation," President Mills told a press conference to mark the first anniversary of his swearing-in.

He said there was no living Ghanaian Head of State who had much more experience than ex-President Rawlings.

"So he has every right to criticize and to make suggestions and I welcome them and I'll continue to welcome them," he said, adding that he had worked with him and I knew what he was capable of.

Rather, President Mills bemoaned the content of some newspapers which also criticize him saying, the language they used was not the best.