Former Vice Chairman of CPP Council of Elders Joins NDC

... says President Mills deserves another four years for his wonderful performance

A leading member of the Convention People's Party (CPP) in London has joined the National Democratic Congress (NDC), siting national interest and the wonderful performance of His Excellency Professor John Evans Atta Mills in "just three years"as one of the reasons.

Alhaji Mohammed Abass Mensah until joining the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was the Vice Chairman of the Council of Elders of the Convention People's Party (CPP) UK and Ireland branch.

In an exclusive interview with GFM radio, Alhaji Abass stated that his decision to join the NDC and to help President Mills win the 2012 elections was informed by the level of development he saw when he lived in Ghana in the last two years. Roy Hattersley said in the Observer in 1999 that "politicians are entitled to change their minds. But when they adjust their principles some explanation is necessary".

Alhaji Abass explained that the achievements of the President Mills led government in three years is unprecedented and therefore the president and his team deserve another four years to continue the infrastructural development he is bringing to Ghana.

He mentioned specifically the railways, water, roads, health and schools as some of the sectors that have received massive development including many social interventions.

Alhaji Abass, owner of the defunct Abass Transport Servises (ATS), also stated that he has read the NDC manifesto and with the evidence on the ground, the government is fulfilling the manifesto promises one after the other.

The elder statesman also spoke passionately about the unfair criticism and apparent attacks the President receives from the main opposition party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP): "if they love Ghana they will have to commend Atta Mills. You left uncompleted roads, uncompleted school duildings, uncompleted health centres. Lets say whatever Atta Mills is doing you started it, but you were not able to do anything about that to complete them in 8 years. This man has come to power only 3 years now, he has been able to complete so many of your left overs, school buildings, roads... what do you want him to do again? If all the past governments had done as Atta Mills is doing, do you think Ghana will be in this position?" He posited.

He further observed that the president has done wonders in "just three years" and it is only the NPP who will not agree that the president is fulfilling his promises: "The president has done wonders from day one of his administration. Up to now, three years, the man has done well, NDC has done well. Only NPP, because they want to come to power so they will not commend him. They will never agree that actually he is fulfilling his promises".

The former Vice Chairman also told GFM radio that he does not hold any grudge against former president Rawlings and his wife Nana Konadu. And that any wrong done to him in the past has been forgiven for the sake of the development of Ghana. Prince Metternich stated in 1852 that "the greatest gift of any statesman rests not in knowing what concessions to make, but recognising when to make them."

Ghana's High Commissioner to the UK, His Excellency Professor Kwaku Danso-Boafo presented Alhaji Abass with his NDC membership card witnessed by the branch Chairman, Nii Horace Ankrah at the executive meeting of the NDC UK & Ireland branch.

The full interview will be serialised on GFM radio (London) starting from Monday the 21st November at 9pm: www.gfmradio.com and on DAB.