‘Mills paid the ultimate price to rejuvenate NDC’

By Phyllis D. Osabutey

 

THE PRESIDENTIAL candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), President John Dramani Mahama has said that the late President John Evans Atta Mills paid the ultimate price of sacrifice to rejuvenate the NDC.

He said “the spirit of our people are high and I know that by the grace of God, come December 7, 2012, the NDC shall win another term to lead this nation to pursue a decent and dignified life for people.”

President Mahama said this in Accra yesterday, at the out-dooring of his running mate, Mr. Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur, for the 2012 elections.

According to him, the sacrifice of the late President, whom he described as “one of the greatest people I have ever known” has left the party rejuvenated and on track for a gargantuan victory in the December 7 elections.

He said in accordance with the party’s constitution, he, the presidential candidate, met with the Council of Elders of the party on Monday, September 17, 2012, to announce to them his choice of running mate.

“The council unanimously endorsed his choice as a running mate”, he noted.  Following that meeting, he also consulted the National Executive Committee (NEC) the next morning, (Tuesday, September 18, 2012) on the same matter, and said: “Fellow Akatamansonians, I am happy to announce that the NEC overwhelmingly endorsed him.” These events, he noted, had completed the ticket of the party for the December 2012 elections.

According to him, Mr. Arthur would be a critical anchor for the NDC government in terms of anchoring “our economic policy and our economic decisions going forward. He has already taken control of the Economic Management Team and his insight and contributions on that team are invaluable.”

He further expressed confidence in Mr. Arthur by saying: “I know that as Vice President of this country currently, and Vice President as he is going to be after December 2012, he is going to give me the kind of support that we need to continue the transformation of this country from a lower middle income country to a full middle income country.”

In response, the nominated running mate said: “Let me thank his Excellency the President for this honour that he has done me, and let me quickly accept his offer before he changes his mind because in the NDC, there are many qualified people.”

He added that “I accept this in all humility.” He thanked the Presidential candidate and related how he was surprised at the President Mahama’s energy that he applied to his job, saying, “It will definitely be an honour to serve with you Mr. President.”

He pointed out that his generation had benefitted from the bounties of this country and, therefore, has to put something back for the generations that were yet to come.

Additionally, he pointed out that the problem of this country has been one of the economy, saying, “We manage the economy not by theory but by the fact that for the last twenty five years, we have practiced the management of this economy.”

He said in many aspects, plans drawn did not materialize because the “world changes and we have to change with it. So at various points, we had to modify our plans in order to achieve our objectives.”

According to him, the NDC differed fundamentally from its opponents such that the NDC’s proposals were more realistic than that of its opponents such as in the case of education.

In his view, the NDC was increasing access to education, improving quality and reducing cost at the same time.

Also, he said cocoa farmers were now earning more of the foreign exchange price of cocoa than any time in the history of this country, while “civil servants and public servants through the Single Spine have gained more than any time in the history of this country.”

He enumerated some achievements of the NDC government, especially in the provision of infrastructure and said, “The NDC seeks to provide opportunities for people to excel.”

He assured party members that he was committed to engage in an active campaign, adding that he did not expect to be in the position of a Vice President but “once, I am in it, I will give it my best effort.”

 

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