Techiman, May 31, GNA- Mr John Dramani Mahama, running mate of Prof. John Evans Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), on Friday began a nine-day tour of the Northern part of the country.

Responding to a rousing welcome in Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region, which dragged late into the night, Mr Mahama told the people that the NDC would form the next government come 7th January 2009.

"If the overwhelming welcome you have given to me today would be translated into votes then on January 7, 2009 Prof. Mills would assume the governorship of the country."

He said, "This huge welcome is a show of love for me and Professor Mills and for the big NDC. Professor Mills and I have accepted to be your humble servants come January 2009 and we would not disappoint you when you give us the key to the Castle by voting overwhelmingly for the NDC."

He said the NDC has embarked on a campaign of "Peace and Love" and asked its followers to adopt both attributes saying, "Insults and lies would not bring the votes."

He said the campaign slogan "Greater Ghana" that the party has adopted came from the background that the NDC did a lot during its administration and that the NPP was also playing its part and that what was confronting the nation now would not be achieved through "comparing of records."

He said when the NDC privatised the telecommunication industry, it

created a boom in that industry and that he commissioned one of the first three FM stations in Techiman, when he was then the Minister of Communication.

Mr Mahama said there was the need to establish more FM stations to employ Ghanaians and not the "comparing of records".

Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary of the party said the NDC was not in government and could not have pledged any state property or the newly found oil to finance its campaign.

He alleged that the Local Government, Rural Development and Environment Minister Mr Kojo Adjei Darko had said that the NDC has pledged the newly found oil to a foreign interest to buy pick-ups for its campaign.

Mr Asiedu Nketia said if any party could do that then it would be the NPP because "The NDC is not in government and has no control over state resources and any party, which is capable of doing that, is the ruling government."

Mr Mahama also visited some Zongo communities within the Techiman Municipality where he solicited the people's support to ensure a convincing victory in the December polls. Mr Mahama was accompanied by Alhaji Hudu Yahaya, vice National

Chairman, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, National Youth Organiser and Mr Johnson

Asiedu Nketia.