Koforidua, April 16, GNA-The Tertiary Institutional Network (TEIN) of the Koforidua Polytechnic Chapter of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has commended Professor John Evans Atta Mills, flag bearer of the party, and the National Executive Committee on the selection of Mr. John Dramani Mahama, to the running mate position of the party.

"Indeed, we have followed Mr Dramani Mahama's political (career) very closely and know the goodwill he enjoys with the youth and floating voters of this country and we are therefore confident that his selection will bring in more fortune to the NDC", a statement signed by Mr Foli Prince Delali, President of the chapter said. The statement appealed to all parties who lobbied for other candidates to the run-up of the selection to calm down and join forces with the party to campaign effectively to be able to win the December general elections to free this country from the "incompetent hand of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)".

The statement said education was a right but not a privilege, but that seemed to be the opposite under the Kufour administration. "Since 2005, there has been an increase in academic facility user fees by not less than 30 percent each year, which has gone beyond the reach of the overwhelming majority of Ghanaian students who are already confronted with a barrage of challenges". The statement therefore called on the government to desist from the reckless dissipation of the nation's resources and channel them into funding of education instead of the "profligate expenditure currently being engaged in by government".

The statement took the opportunity to urge Ghanaian students and every well-meaning Ghanaian to vote against the NPP, come December 2008 to bring the NDC back to power to implement human centred, social democratic principles that would not distinguish between the poor and the rich to better the lots of Ghanaians for accelerated development and growth.