The flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and former Vice-President, Prof. John Evans Atta-Mills, has challenged the Electoral Commission (EC) to conduct this year's crucial elections without fear or favour. He said the commission must work independently, free from interference, to ensure that the collective will and ultimate interest of Ghanaians were attained. Prof Atta-Mills who granted the Daily Graphic an interview on his party's impression with the work of the commission said "over the years the NDC had expressed strong reservations about some of the shortcomings in the 2004 elections". He said that the NDC as a party was not happy with the performance of the EC during the registration and election process in the last election. Prof Atta-Mills drew attention to the fact that it was an EC official, who for the fear of his life, inflated the Pru Constituency results by as many as 10,000 votes. He therefore called on the Commission to take its work seriously, be independent and learn from what was happening elsewhere, particularly Kenya. Prof. Mills said that there were so many instances where the EC did not live up to expectation in the last election and now that the country was in another critical election year, everything must be done to ensure and guarantee free, fair, transparent, peaceful and independent elections. He reminded Ghanaians that the country was their only safe abode so they could not mess it up with the hope of running to another country. He said that the elections should bring into office a government that was genuinely supported by the majority of Ghanaians. He said that in making choices, Ghanaians should consider the ability of the government they want to put in power. This, Prof Atta-Mills explained, would ensure security and transparency, improve the lot of Ghanaians, as well as strengthen the moral fibre of the country, promote selflessness, honesty and regard for fellow Ghanaians. He called on Ghanaians not to allow themselves to be influenced by money but be influenced only by what they perceived as the ability of the government to promote their interest as Ghanaians. He said that the NDC was doing everything possible to maintain a united front for Election 2008. He, however, said that the NDC, as a microcosm of the larger Ghanaian society would not get everybody agreeing on all issues at any time. He said that reports of frictions within the NDC in the media were grossly exaggerated and gave the assurance that he had no problems with the founder of the party, former President J.J. Rawlings, and added that the NDC founder had so far been very supportive and had the interest of the party at heart. He said that he was comfortable with his door-to-door campaign strategy which he pointed out was yielding positive results. He said that it was not his intention to visit every nook and cranny of this country, the choice had always been strategic and "I can assure you that wherever I have been, it has been effective" Source: Daily Graphic