Accra, April 13, GNA - A top NDC official has called on members and supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to throw their weight behind the party's presidential candidate, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, and his running mate, Mr John Dramani Mahama, to ensure a resounding victory in the December general election.

The call was made in Accra on Saturday by the Chairman of the Odododiodioo Constituency of the NDC, Mr Daniel Nii Okai, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency. He congratulated Mr Mahama, MP for Bole-Bamboi, on his selection by Prof Atta Mills as his running mate and expressed the hope that he would brighten the chances of the NDC to win the elections because of his acceptability even by those on the other side of the political divide.

Mr Okai stated that all the names that cropped up as likely running mates of Prof Atta Mills were good material and stressed the need for all members, supporters and sympathizers of the NDC to put their differences behind them and unite to win the elections to form the next government. He pointed out that the selection of a running mate was the prerogative of the flag-bearer and so once Prof Atta Mills had chosen Mr Mahama, all NDC members and supporters should come together and campaign for them to make victory double sure for the party.

Mr Samuel Armah, Constituency Organiser, said the naming of Mr Mahama by Prof Mills did not come to him as a surprise even though he was expecting Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, the running mate for the 2004 elections, to be named. He pointed out that even though Mr Martin Amidu was the running mate in the 2000 Prof Atta Mills did not assign any reasons for changing him in 2004. "Just like in 2004 when we supported the ticket we must even work harder to ensure the success of the John-John pair for victory like the John Rawlings and John Atta Mills ticket in 2000 that led to victory to the castle," Mr Armah stated.

Mr Armah said John Mahama had all the capabilities to be Vice President of Ghana and all members of the NDC should throw their weight behind them to sack the 'elephant' and New Patriotic Party (NPP) from the castle for Prof Atta Mills to occupy the new Presidential complex at Flagstaff House come January 2009. Mr Armah called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to ensure that security personnel and other officials who would be taking part in the special voting because they would be engaged during the election day to vote only in the areas they were registered. He appealed to the EC to furnish all stakeholders in the polls with the roll of such personnel to take part in the special voting in all constituencies to avoid rigging. Mr Armah also urged the EC to ensure that those engaged in the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) under the community policing module did not take part in the special voting since they were not security personnel.