Cape Coast, Sept. 25, GNA- The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party Professor John Evans Atta-Mills on Friday night assured Ghanaians that his administration would focus on building a more prosperous, fair and honest nation for all Ghanaians. "My ultimate goal is to work for Ghana to be among the top 40 in the World Economic Competitiveness index by the year 2020", he stressed.

Prof. Mills who was speaking at a forum at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) as a prelude to the launch of his campaign at the Victoria Park, said truth, honesty and humility which the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government lacks, would be the cornerstone of his administration. He said the NPP government had "totally failed Ghanaians because they could not deliver" and has rather left the pockets of Ghanaians dry than ever before, while utility tariffs keep increasing.

Prof. Mills stressed that the abysmal performance and inefficient delivery in the education and health sector and the high level of corruption, especially among government officials, are all indications of the bad administration of the NPP.

He said the NPP government having no regard for the plight of the people had published a book "positive change, so far so very good" to spite them.

He urged Ghanaians to vote out of power these "mediocre politicians who only meddle in mendacity".

Prof. Mills expressed concern about a report in a national daily on Wednesday, on the 2003 Demographic and Health Survey which indicated that there has been an increase in infant mortality since the last survey in 1998 which revealed that in that year, infant mortality ratio was 57 per 1000 live births, whereas that of 2003 was 64 per 1000 live births.

He was unhappy that at a time when HIPC relief is supposed to be reducing poverty, more children are rather dying under the NPP government than died under the NDC government and said his administration would aggressively expand and improve people's access to good health care.

On poverty reduction, Prof. Mills promised to work on a programme to cut the country's poverty by half within a decade and pursue an economic policy that would create jobs

On education, he said he would work hard to ensure a progressively free education at all levels.

Dr Tony Aidoo, a leading member of the party deplored the "unlawful acquisition of health by NPP ministers" and also warned them to stop claiming for themselves what the NDC government achieved when they were in power.

He briefing party faithfuls and sympathisers of the party's manifesto, he urged them to propagate the message in their communities to win more people into their camp.

Mr Haruna Iddrisu, national youth organiser claimed the NPP could not account for 208 billion cedis of the GetFund and said the flagbearer would pursue a pragmatic educational policies that would ensure free education for all Ghanaians and also curtail the huge expenditure of the presidency.