Tamale, June 1, GNA- Mr John Mahama, running mate of Professor John Evans Atta Mills, NDC's flagbearer, on Sunday said the Tamale Teaching Hospital was in a deplorable state and did not befit a teaching hospital.

He said if the NDC wins power in December, the first priority would be to put the hospital in good shape to enable it to deliver better healthcare services and also as a referral point to people in the three northern regions.

Mr Mahama said this in Tamale on the third day of his tour of parts of the Northern region where he called on some traditional rulers. He said the revitalisation of the agriculture sector in Tamale would be another area of serious attention of an NDC government, saying that, "The agric sector in the region has collapsed giving way to the mass exodus of the youth to the south in search of non-existent jobs." He sympathised with the chiefs and people of Tamale for Saturday's accident involving NDC supporters, which claimed one life and pledged that the party would assist the victims.

Mr Mahama asked for the blessings of the chiefs and people of Tamale to guide the party to win the December polls. He said judging from the kind reception given him on Saturday, he was "assured that victory for the NDC was conclusive". He urged all eligible but unregistered voters to register when the voters' register is opened.

Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, 2004 running mate of Professor Mills, who was in Mahama"s entourage said, "John is my brother. He has my full support to win the 2008 elections."

He said, "It is only a fool who does not know that situations change."

Alhaji Ziblim Abdulai, regent of Gulkpegu (Tamale) asked politicians to impress on their supporters to gather at a place to be addressed rather than embarking on wild processions to save live and property.

He described last Saturday's accident, which claimed a life as unfortunate and urged Mr Mahama to work hard as his late father, who believed in true honesty and transparency. "Your father gave us a dam in Tamale from which we have been drawing water and had since never dried up. I see that spirit in you and that the seed your father sowed had germinated", he added.