Professor John Evans Atta-Mills, presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress says “the clock is ticking” for the ruling New Patriotic Party and its followers “and they know it”.

“Their only recourse would be to manipulate the outcome of the December 2008 elections as they did in 2004. At that time, I took a strategic decision to concede defeat in the interest of political stability even as we contested the blatant electoral injustices in the courts. Almost three years down the line we are still waiting on the judiciary to give us the justice we deserve. But strange things are happening in the case.”

Prof. Mills, who made the assertions in an address to followers and sympathizers of the NDC at a rally in Boston, USA, said the ruling NPP government appeared to be working well for a privileged few who were using their political connections to get rich by the day.

“Meanwhile, even the vanguard of their own party, the foot soldiers, is asking them about the electoral promises they made to reduce cost of living, provide jobs and reduce cost of education.

“The statistics may show that GDP might be expanding, but the truth is that its fruits are not spread across more people.”

According to reports posted by Prof. Mills’ office, the former Vice President told the Ghanaian community that the ruling administration was only interested in prosecuting a partisan agenda, instead of nurturing divergent expression and keeping the entire nation focused on common goals.

“Here in America, there are competing political ideologies but it cannot be lost on us how certain American interests remain constant irrespective of whether it is the Democrats or the Republicans that get the mandate of the majority of the people to govern. And that is where we need to get to as a Ghanaians; that we can, and indeed must differ in political line of thought, but at all times, focus on things that matter.”

Prof. Mills was quoted as saying that what Ghanaians needed was a “serious person with serious answers; with proven qualities; someone who understands the new challenges in detail and has the ability, competence and experience, and above all humility to deal with them.”

Those qualities, he said, were what continued to inspire his bid for the presidency, stressing that the four-year political mandate was too short a period to go chasing perceived enemies at the expense of focusing on development programmes.

Ghana needs a new direction

	A section of the Massachusetts NDC executive taking the oath of office.

“I know I will make the difference.

“After all, all well-meaning Ghanaians agree that it’s time to break the cycle of fault-finding and finger pointing. Ghanaians are tired of the constant bickering. People are tired of waking up in the morning to the insults and same old bickering. It is time to move on.

“The country needs a government that is competent and confident and is therefore able to enter into dialogue with all shades of political opinion. A competent and confident government is also one that is humble, considerate, and fair to all. We need a government of this type to inspire hope in Ghanaians.”

On Saturday, Prof. Mills and Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, one of NDC’s Vice-Chairmen, inaugurated the Massachusetts Chapter of the NDC, and urged the members to keep their faith in the party alive.

While Mills told the branch leadership to work hard to ensure the party won the next elections, Huudu Yahaya urged them to be good ambassadors and win more souls into the party.

On behalf of his colleagues, the Chairman of the Massachusetts NDC Chapter, Mr. Twumasi Appiah Ankrah, thanked Prof. Mills, the Vice-Chairman, and other NDC high-ups who were present for the inauguration.

“We are very grateful for what has happened here today and we know that we must justify our being in the NDC with hard work because it is not too many Chapters in North America that have been privileged to have the Leader of the party being present at their inauguration” Mr. Twumasi Appiah Ankrah said.

Other members of the executives of the Massachusetts Chapter of the NDC include Nii Ashiboi Armah, Vice Chairman; Ato Essel, General Secretary; Peter Nana Asiedu, Deputy General Secretary; Kojo Aggor, Organising Secretary and Simon Ocloo, Asst Secretary.

Others are Mrs. Azumah, Women’s Organiser; Jennifer Nanfuri, Deputy Women’s Organiser; Reagan Quartey, Public Relations Officer; Mrs. Stella Aggor, Treasurer; Richmond Nettey, Youth Organiser and Maxwell Danso Abraim, Deputy Youth Organiser.