President Mills used his fourth State of the Nation Address to deliver subtle blows to his detractors and political opponents. Without mentioning names, the president apparently referring to NPP flag-bearer Nana Akufo-Addo who has frequently been cited by government spokespersons for delivering incendiary speeches, said he was happy that leaders of some political parties had now heeded his persistent calls for peace. President Mills said he had always preached peace because he believes in peace and it was gratifying that others were now following his example. President Mills said he was also happy that other political party leader were now seeing the need to pray and seek peace. “We have to hold in check those who want to hold this country to ransom. If we are not circumspect, the peace of the country will be jeopadised,” he stated amidst jeers and boos from the Minority who clad in black. Re-stating his government's commitment to ensuring peaceful elections in December this year, the president said the Electoral Commission will be adequately resourced to conduct a free, fair poll. He said he had no intention of bringing about violence in the Ashanti Region neither did he know of anybody seeking to use his name to perpetrate such act. But the NPP MP for Wenchi, Prof. George Gyan Baffour said those comments were unfortunate and regrettable. He said the president, instead of using the opportunity to heal a deeply divided nation, rather deepened the divisions by making ethnic-laden comments. Prof. Baffour said he was disappointed that rather than present a conciliatory statement, stoked old partisan commentaries that have threatened the security. He was particularly disappointed that President Mills did not address concerns that he is not in charge of the country's affairs. The NDC MP for Ketu North Mr James Avedzi however disagreed. He insisted the president was spot on in his delivery and that it was important he addressed the scurrilous suggestions that the government is hatching plans to disrupt voting in the NPP stronghold of Ashanti Region.