.. To pep Prof. Mills up till Dec.

Credible but unconfirmed reports reaching the Gye Nyame Concord newspaper suggests the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has flown in a specialist from a reputable German health facility to manage the NDC's presidential candidate, John Evans Atta Mills' medical headache till the December 7 elections. The decision follows fears on the part of the party that the NDC flagbearer may not survive the turbulence of the current political campaign that has seen the older NPP candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo beating the younger and athletic Mills to the game in terms of pace and poise. The German physician (name withheld), who is currently holed up in one of Accra's plush hotels, is expected to give the NDC candidate and former Vice president periodic checks to ensure that his energies do not unduly sap away in the excruciating exercise of electoral campaigning, particularly between the NDC and the rival NPP.

Sources at Kuku Hill, Prof Mills' campaign headquarters say the medical expert was flown in by a Lufthansa airline three weeks ago, creating fresh anxiety about his true state of health. The physician, who handles cardiac and other related ailments at his faculty in Germany, is expected to handle Mills' physio and other physical fitness needs, as well as advice on the NDC flag bearer's diet and campaign schedule.The source told the Gye Nyame Concord newspaper that the party's hierarchy also took this decision in order to curtail Professor Mills' frequent trips abroad for medical check-ups in these "last days", moves that have always been misconstrued by their (NDC) nemesis as though the NDC leader is not fit to contest December's elections.

This appears to be the latest in the series of political puzzles out of the body of the NDC about the health status of its flag bearer. The health issue of Prof. Mills has refused to go away with opinions divided on whether it should be an issue at all. While some insist that Prof. Mills' health issue cannot be swept under the carpet because he is seeking the highest office of the land, others have said it is a private affair and should be left at that, because his report ailments are not life-threatening at the moment.

His own party folks have sought to use the health issue against him, beginning with Dr. Ekow Spio Garbrah, who sought to replace Mills as the NDC flag bearer for this years election. During the NDC primaries, Spio Garbrah, who remained a strong ally of Mills when the NDC went into initial opposition between 2001- 2004, said Mills had told him on his sick bed in South Africa that he would not run as flag bearer for the NDC for the 2008 elections because of his health status; an allegation the latter confirmed by the party's founder and former Mills' boss ex-president Jerry John Rawlings, but strongly denied by Mills. The NDC MP for Lower Manya Krobo, Michael Teye Nyaunu, not too long ago also stirred debate within his party when he openly called for the replacement of the flag bearer on the basis of his health status in order to re-energise the NDC campaign. "Whether we like it or not, we are going into the race like wounded tigers, and we cannot allow a sheep to lead lions into such a battle. I'm afraid for my party," he told the media in parliament in the full glare of colleagues, incurring the wrath of other NDC parliamentarians, including Enoch Tei Mensah (Ningo/Prampram), Moses Asaga (Nabdam) and Abukari Sumani (Tamale North), who virtually traded insults with Nyaunu for daring to speak his mind.

Mills has visited South Africa and China for medical check-ups previously and has always insisted that he has only been treated for sinusitis and cataract. "Yes, Atta Mills is suffering from the nose, Yes, Atta Mills is receiving medical attention for his eyes,' the flag bearer once said to critics, reminding many that everyone gets sick at some point in time. What is however a fact is that Mill's health, age and treatment status have dimmed the power of his eyes, making it difficult for him to identify people sometimes close to him. Meanwhile, this paper gathered that the new move by the NDC should not cause any alarm. Sources say it is only a pre-emptive measure against any eventuality, pointing out that the twist people in the NPP spin about Prof. Mills' health was mere propaganda.