President John Mills’ declaration to handover power peacefully in 2017 has been described at best as wishful thinking. Campaign Manager of the New Patriotic Party, Boakye Agyarko believes the president must rather assure and guarantee a peaceful election in 2012 than to concern himself with an imaginary 2017 election. President Atta Mills who was addressing the 3rd General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EP) in Ho on Thursday said he took over from his predecessor, former President Kufuor, peacefully and will ensure nothing is done to disturb the peace in the country. “I want to assure the people of Ghana that come January 7, 2017, I will hand over a peaceful nation,” he said. His statement, ambitious as it may be, has been construed by the NPP as usurping the rights and powers of the Ghanaian electorate. Boakye Agyarko told Joy News’ Dzifa Bampoh the verdict of election 2012 is the exclusive preserve of the Ghanaian, and Mills must not “arrogantly dismiss that verdict which justifiably rest in the hands of the people of Ghana.” Given the statement by the president, is it fair to deduce that he will not handover peacefully if he loses in 2012, Agyarko quizzed. He challenged the president to make a firm declaration that there will be a peaceful election in 2012. Asked if the president had no right to think of winning a second term, especially after his two predecessors were retained in power after their first term, Mr. Agyarko retorted, nowhere in the constitution is a president assured of a second term. He argued a second term is earned after four years of hard work; it is not a right. But a deputy Information Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa maintains the concerns of the NPP are only a “storm in a tea cup”. He said just as candidate Akufo-Addo believes he can win the 2012 general elections, so too can his competitors. He said if the NPP wants to be taken seriously, they need to address more serious issues than mere political declarations.