Mills: I can trot from Axim to Paga

The 2008 presidential candidate of the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Prof. John Evans Ana Mills, has slammed his political opponents for making false statements about his health as though he was not healthy enough to become the next president of Ghana.

He, in fact, indicated that he was as fit as a fiddle and could trot the whole country.

"Atta Mills is not dead, I am here and you can judge for yourselves," he stated in the Fante language, dismissing claims from some political quarters that he was not in the best of conditions to continue his newly discovered house-to-house campaign.

Prof. Mills’ comments came months after his health condition had become the topic of debate on most radio and television talk shows coupled with some false publications about his health condition.

Speaking to members in the fishing community at Komenda on Monday as part of activities preceding his house-to-house campaign exercise, Prof. Mills advised the people to treat such statements with the necessary contempt that they deserved and judge him by what they saw when he was around with them.

The law and economic professor, who appeared very fit and strong in a white cap and shirt over a pair of black trousers, confirmed his assertion when he interacted with members in the Komenda community for close to four hours on his feet in the scorching sun, which compelled some media practitioners who covered the campaign to seek solace under trees and wooden shelters in the town.

He bemoaned the high cost of premix fuel as well as increased corruption in its sale and distribution, saying it was the bane of the suffering of the fishermen in the country.

He promised to revamp the fishing industry to make life meaningful for them.

This was after he had paid a courtesy call on the Omanhen of the Komenda Traditional Area, Nana Kwodwo Kru II, to inform him of his intention to campaign and talk to the people in the town.

Prof. Mills indicated that he had his early formal education at Komenda, where his father resided as a teacher at the Komenda Training College and described the place as his cradle, where his victory to the Flag Staff House, the next seat of government must begin.

Overwhelmed by the number of people who mobbed him in the course of his exercise, Prof. Mills expressed gratitude to the people for giving him their support and promised to implement policies that would redeem them from the current hardships they were going through in the country.

He also took time to listen to complaints from the people, who were all over him.

Prof. Mills waded into corruption among public officials and commended the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament for taking a bold initiative through donor support to expose the rot at the various ministries.

Prof. Mills argued that ministers at the various state departments should take the blame for the rot at their various places of work, explaining that ministers had over the years taken credit for achievements by the public officers and must do same for corrupt acts.

He also shared his sentiments on the Anloga violence that broke out of a chieftaincy dispute and called for peace and truth to prevail in that area to help restore calm.

Prof, Mills was accompanied by Madam Ama Benyiwa Doe, National Women's Organiser, Patrick Aniagyei, Regional Organiser, Allotey Jacobs, Regional Propaganda Secretary and other members of his campaign team from Accra.