ATTA MILLS IS INTELECTUALLY SMART ------ DECLARES FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY MINISTER,

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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential Candidate for the 2008 elections in Ghana, Professor John Evans Atta Mills has been described as a person who comes on top of the scale of intellectually smart national politicians of our time.

The former National Security Minister, Honorable Kofi Totobi Quakyi made the assertion in a heart pricking key note speech as the special guest of honor during the official inauguration of newly elected officers, and crystal anniversary celebration of NDC Tri-State Chapter, made up of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut on Saturday, March 15 2008 in New York , USA . According to Mr Totobi Quakyi who was also once a former Minister of Information, Professor Atta Mills is calm, reasonable, and firm with unique analytical instincts. He also said the learned Professor is intuitive and abhors arrogance, self conceit and dishonesty.

The former National Security Chief who spoke with great maturity, interposed his speech with philosophical and biblical quotes, supported by logical analysis and statistical evidence. No wonder, he won the hearts of his audience who filled the three hundred capacity Hall at 1932 Washington Avenue in the Bronx. He charged all NDC members to bury their differences and pull their resources together in order to support Professor Atta Mills and NDC to recapture political power because according to him, the good people of Ghana are willing and ready to hold the NPP to the same standard they held the NDC in 2000.

Speaking on the upcoming elections, Mr. Quakyi observed the growing concern among the electorate that despite all the talk of economic growth the reality is that Ghanaians are living through a period of untold hardships.

“Disparities in living conditions are growing wider by the day, and not narrowing. The ruling NPP has made sure the well to do and well connected thrive in leaps and bounds with millions and millions of Ghanaians falling behind economically. The GDP might be expanding but its fruits aren’t spread across more people.” he said. The long time NDC stalwart made it clear to all who were present that Ghanaians have got it in their minds that they have the power to change the government and it’s very hard to stop them from doing that on December 7, 2008 . And, to a standing ovation, the one-time security capo declared “the electorate has cogent reasons for wanting change. Basically, it is the MOKO AYA NI MOKO ABA principle. That’s all!”

On the legacy of the NDC, Mr Totobi Quakyi reminded the audience that the NDC also left a positive and a stabilized political legacy by peacefully handing over to the NPP and that most Ghanaians expect the NPP to do the same when the time for their imminent defeat arrives in the December elections.

“It is true the NDC has the burden of a long record - that is if one adds the PNDC years - but we should not be haunted by it. Under Chairman, later President Rawlings, we blazed the trail of economic and political change and set Ghana on the path of sustainable development. I am among the first to admit that because we are human we may have made some mistakes in our time and we must show we have learnt lessons from those mistakes. But, I must quickly point out that we did our best in the circumstances of the time”. He congratulated the newly elected executive officers and charged them to cut short their celebration and quickly develop thick skins for the demanding tasks ahead of them as political office holders in an election year. The signature moment of the speech came when in a very passionate tone, the ex Minister spoke of life in politics and his current state of health and declared “nothing will make me waver in my commitment to the NDC, even in death, I will remain an NDC”. His thought provoking speech charged NDC members, sympathizers and invited quests who thronged the venue and was greeted with endless claps and a standing ovation.

The event brought together a cross-section of the NDC party leadership and membership form across North America, including Mr. Cobby Boahene, chairman of the North American Co-ordinating Council of NDC, Mr. Ebby Koney esq. immediate past Chairman of the NACC-NDC, Mr. Mike Obuobi, immeadiate past chairman of NDC Maryland, Mr. Francis Ameyaw, inter-chapter co-ordinator of NACC-NDC, Mr. Dan Baiden, Vice Chairman of NDC Maryland, Mr. Twumasi-Appiah, chairman of NDC Worcester, MA, and executives, Alhaji Alhassan, the chairman of New Jersey NDC. Nii Ahuma, the Ga-Mantse of the New York area and his queen mother also graced the occasion.

The NPP in a show of inter-party solidarity was represented by a delegation led by its General Secretary for New York, Mr. Benjamin Ntim-Addae. Dr. Benjamin Dodoo, a respected leader of the Ghanaian community, and medical practitioner in the New York area, swore the newly elected executives into office.

Dr. George Lamptey, chairman of the tri-state chapter in his address called on all members to unite and work hard to unseat the NPP from power. Mr. Cobby Boahene, chairman of North-American Co-ordinating council extended warm greetings to the gathering from former President Rawlings, who is also the founder of NDC. He encouraged all members to co-operate with the North American Co-ordinating Council in its efforts to assist the party in Ghana capture political power.

The event raised funds to assist the party in Ghana.