Minority parties urged to vote for Atta Mills

Accra, Dec. 15, GNA - Members and supporters of political parties not taking part in the Presidential Election Run-off on the 28 of December 2008, have been urged to throw their weight behind the Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor John Evans Atta-Mills.

Speaking to newsmen in Accra on Sunday, the Chairman of the Odododiodioo Constituency of the NDC, Mr Daniel Okai stated that since most of them campaigned for change just like the NDC, they should support Prof Atta-Mills to complete the "Mission to change governance" to end the suffering of the masses.

He noted that a second round would not have been necessary if the third of the electorate that did not vote on December 7 had turned out to exercise their franchise.

Mr Okai attributed the voter apathy to people who had become disillusioned with what he called "The system" and had given up hope, which he said was an indication of the failure of the government to ensure the positive change it promised in their lives. He called on such people to vote for the NDC candidate in the run-off to ensure a change in the administration of the country and improvement of their lives, Mr Okai said NDC was a social democratic party seeking the welfare of the people unlike the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that was based on "Property owning democracy".

He urged NDC polling agents to withstand all forms of intimidation and to be abreast with the electoral laws, rules and regulations to enable them to challenge all questionable procedures and actions on the voting day to avoiding rigging.

Mr Okai called on NDC executives to encourage supporters of the party to vote massively for Prof. Mills in the run-off. Mr Samuel Armah, Constituency Organiser, described Prof Atta Mills as the "Better man" of the two contestants and said he had been tried and tested as a law Professor, Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service and Vice President.

He stated that Prof Atta Mills was the Head of the National Economic Team that initiated the Value Added Tax, GETFund and the National Health Insurance Scheme, achievements, which the NPP was now claiming in spite of the fact that it opposed it when the party was in the opposition.

Mr Armah said the NDC candidate had been called "A man of peace" and was humble and God fearing who could get along with all manner of persons.

He wondered why the government had not reduced the prices of fuel products to reflect the world market condition until the recent one after Prof Atta mills had assured Ghanaians that he would reduce the prices if elected as President.

Mr Armah said if it was meant to get votes then it had "Backfired" since it had shown how insensitive the NPP government was to the suffering of the people and "Thirsty they are for power". 15 Dec. 08