Accra, Nov 16, GNA - The Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2008 General Elections, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, on Thursday noted that the sheer number of contestants for the flag bearer position of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is an indication of what he called "the gains" in power.

Addressing displaced traders out of the decongestion exercise and the recent fire outbreak at the Makola Market in Accra, he appealed to the electorate to vote for him and the NDC in the elections to enable him share the gains in power with all Ghanaians.

Speaking at the site of the fire, Prof Atta Mills expressed his profound sympathy to those who lost their wares in the outbreak and assured the traders that he would create an environment that would enable them to go about their businesses to earn a decent income to look after themselves and their families in peace and with security. The NDC flag bearer urged the teaming crowd to consider their socio-economic well being since 2000 when the NPP assumed office to see if they were better or worse off in deciding, who to give their mandate to in the 2008 election.

Prof Atta Mills stated that when he assumed the seat at the Castle, he would ensure an equitable distribution of national resources instead of a selected few based on their various affiliations.

Addressing mini rallies at the various markets and lorry parks within the Odododiodoo constituency and the Central Business district of the capital as part of his "door to door" campaign, the National Women's Organiser of the NDC, Mrs Ama Benyiwa Doe, told the victims of the fire that Prof Mills could not visit them earlier to express his sympathy because he was in the middle of his campaign in the Central Region. She dispelled rumours in the media that the NDC Presidential Candidate was not in good health and asked them to judge for themselves if someone dying could walk throughout the programme that started at the Salaga Market through the lorry station to WATO round about and the Opera lane through the Business centre to Makola Market, the site of the fire and the Central lorry station.

She pointed out that the NDC was not bankrupt of "Presidential Material" but was presenting Prof Atta Mills for the third time because of his track record as a former University Lecturer for 25 years, Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service for eight years and a Vice President for four years.

Mrs Ama Benyiwa Doe described the NDC Presidential Candidate as a "God fearing and peace loving" person who could turn around the suffering of the people.

The MP for Odododiodoo, Mr Jonathan Nii Tackie Komme, told the market women and traders that Prof Atta Mills was humble and had a lot of compassion for people and said the programme was to enable him to see the extent of demolition of stores and stalls in the city by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly under the guise of beautifying and decongesting the capital.

He noted that many people depended on markets either for their livelihood or to do their purchases and said such places should be well developed to befit the important role they play in the lives of people irrespective of their political and other affiliations. The Constituency Chairman of the NDC, Mr Daniel Nii Okai, urged the people to stand solidly behind the party to retain the seat and for Prof Atta Mills to win the 2008 elections.

He commended the electorate in the area for rallying behind the NDC but urged them to step up their efforts to win more supporters to ensure that the party formed the next government for them to benefit from the "good plans of the NDC for the people".

Mr Okai described Prof Atta Mills as "the best material around to occupy the Presidency" to save the people from the "mismanagement and misrule" of the NPP and called on members and supporters of the NDC to unite and forge ahead now more than ever.

Singing and drumming members and supporters of the NDC paraded the streets of the constituency and the business district as part of the programme.