The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Ohene Ntow, says it is quite presumptuous for President Mills to say he would retain power in 2012. Over the weekend, the president broke his silence on speculations about whether he was going to seek another term in office. During a sod-cutting ceremony at Buipe, President Mills stated that he was not only going contest for the second time but would retain power coming 2012. In response to these statements by the president, Nana Ohene Ntow remarked that for the president to make such statements is “quite presumptuous.” According to him, the president would have to win the support of his party in the first place before thinking of that of the nation, thereby expressing pessimism. Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana Programme Monday, Nana Ntow noted that considering the rumours surrounding the president’s health, it would be proper for government to boldly come out and state with medical evidence the true state of his health. He stressed that the president’s health status is an issue of national interest, that it is not peculiar to Ghana alone, citing the example of Nigeria’s President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and many other presidents whose health status become a major determining factor in their mandate to lead their nations. He added however that no matter how hard government and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) try to brush the matter aside, it will stare the president in the face should he contest the next elections. Responding to Nana Ntow’s remarks, Dr Omane Boamah, the Deputy Minister for Science and Environment stated that issues about President Mills’ health are just reckless propaganda tools which the NPP employed during the 2008 general elections. “This is palpable falsehood,” he said, maintaining that since President Mills is committed to the grassroots of the NDC, he will win their support should he stand for re-election and ultimately win the hearts of Ghanaians who are keenly observing his good works. But Nana Ohene Ntow advised the president to rather focus on delivering on the many promises he made to Ghanaians for putting him at the helm of affairs. By: Dorcas Efe Mensah/Myjoyonline.com/Gnana