Don’t Associate Me With Illness

Former Vice President John Evans Atta Mills has advised all those who are against his Presidential bid to use the truth in achieving their ambition instead of associating him with imaginary illnesses.

"I have not had any rest in the past few weeks, yet people say I have stroke and attribute me to all manner of illnesses. You may be out to destroy Atta Mills, but use the truth to do that", he said in an interaction with newsmen at Wa.

Prof Mills, who is one of the presidential aspirants of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), made the remarks after touring eight of the 10 constituencies in the Upper West Region, to interact with members of the Party and canvass the support of delegates.

The former Vice-President also said his relationship with ex-President Jerry John Rawlings was very cordial and urged all those who had any stories about him to substantiate them.

Reacting to why he conceded early to the results of the last general elections, he alleged that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) sent several high profile people to advise him to concede defeat at a time some irregularities were being reported to them from some constituencies but he never heeded to the request.

He said he did not have the support of the whole NDC’s leadership at the time that he and his campaign team were questioning the results of the elections, adding "we would have been used as cannon fodder for the army and the police at the time, if we had gone out into the streets to protest against the results".

He warned that 2004 was the last time anybody apart from the Electoral Commission would be allowed to declare election results.

He criticized the government for inviting investors into the country but was doing very little to create the right environment for them to operate, citing the current electricity crises, as an example.

The former Vice-President alleged that the Osagyefo Power Barge was being transferred from the Western Region to Tema at the cost of 15 million dollars and described that project, together with the construction of the Presidential Palace, as wasteful ventures.

Mr Mahama Ayariga, Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, said Prof Mills and his campaign team would demonstrate good faith by restraining themselves from mudslinging and expert all other aspirants to do so.

"Some of our colleagues have fallen into the trap to destroy the NDC", Mr Ayariga said, adding that those who know they would not win the race to lead the party need not lay the foundation to create problems for the eventual winner.