Koforidua, Dec. 24, GNA - The Eastern Regional Youth Wing of the People's National Convention (PNC) have declared their support for the presidential bid of Professor John Evans Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Reverend Samuel Adjei, National Executive Member of the PNC, said on Wednesday that their declaration was premised on the fact that Professor Mills and the NDC had a better programme for the youth of the country than the New Patriotic party (NPP) had.

He said Ghana was in need of a leader who would offer sterling leadership and create a trajectory for all the citizens to participate in the development of the country and the youth wing felt that Professor Mills had those qualities.

According to him, the youth were among the strata of the population that had suffered most under the NPP's rule and as a such, it was incumbent on them to support a well-meaning candidate to come to power to effect policies that could turn round the plight of the youth in the country.

Mr Zakaria Adams, the 2004 PNC parliamentary candidate for the New Juaben South Constituency, denied allegations that the youth's declaration of support for Professor Mills was the result of pressure being put on them by the NDC.

He said the decision of the youth was based on the fact that Professor Mills had demonstrated a rare understanding to the problems confronting ordinary people.

The Deputy National Treasurer of the PNC, Mr David Nibi, charged all Ghanaians who truly believed in the welfare of ordinary persons, who he said are hardest hit by the NPP's economic policies, to rally round Prof Mills to effect a change.

Mr Anthony Gyampoh, Eastern Regional Secretary of the NDC, said the party was not surprised at the support it was receiving from the PNC because the two parties operated along similar ideological lines.