The National Democratic Congress (NDC) says it has noted the attempts of the Communications Director of the NPP's Presidential Campaign to divert public attention from the problems and challenges confronting the majority of Ghanaians. A statement signed by Mrs. Hannah Tetteh, Director of Communications of the party, stated that the NPP was desperately trying to continue their propaganda efforts of characterising former President Rawlings as the sole expression of everything NDC. "it is very troubling, that at a time when the average Ghanaian can barely make ends meet the NPP campaign committee can only focus on the past" it stated. According to the statement, it was regrettable that the NPP only finds it useful to spend time and effort to vilify one man - President Rawlings - in an effort to avoid having to offer solutions to the problems that they have inflicted on the people of this country. "This is NPP politics as usual, and we believe that the good people of Ghana will not allow themselves to be hoodwinked by these propaganda gimmicks and distractions" it stated. Having said that, it is time for our compatriots to tell our colleagues in the NPP that while spin and propaganda may make for good newspaper headlines it does not address the issues that most Ghanaians have to face on a daily basis. According to the statement, a public sector worker today earns an average income of GHC 200.00 a month, according to the Ghana Living Standards Survey, and spends about 80 per cent of his/her income on food and has 20 per cent left to take care of all other costs. Over the last two years fuel and transport costs have soared to crippling heights. There have also been astronomical increases in the cost of water and electricity, and when you add to the spiralling cost of obtaining accommodation in our towns and cities then it is not surprising that the average Ghanaian public sector worker and most Ghanaian workers are constantly in debt. According to the statement, living standards for most of us in this era of "property owning democracy" have not improved despite the much-touted "wonderful economic management" that we have had. The statement therefore assured Ghanaians that as the political party that successfully brought the country back to democratic rule, and presided over a government that allowed ordinary Ghanaians to confidently participate at all levels of society and governance, NDC would always act to empower people. The Leader and Presidential Candidate of the NDC, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, had given the assurance that a government under his leadership would have at the top of its agenda, "investing in people, jobs and the economy" and overseeing a transparent and accountable government. "The Leader of the NDC and our party once again reaffirm our faith in the Ghanaian people, and our belief that together we can chart a course for, "A Better Ghana", it stated. We already know that this nation "will move forward". The much-vilified President Rawlings proclaimed that at a rally in 1992 before the Presidential and Parliamentary elections that took place then, and made that concept the focus of this first term of the NDC government.