President John Evans Atta Mills has hit hard at the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), describing their criticisms of his administration as “sanctimonious and self-serving effusions,” adding that the “country the NDC took over was certainly not a country which had seen 8 years of positive change.”

Addressing the party activists, sympathizers and members of the general public at the 8th National Delegates’ Congress of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) currently underway in the Northern Regional capital, Tamale, President Mills said the NPP lost the 2008 elections simply because God was dissatisfied with their administration.

“I want all of you to ponder over one question…Each one of us should ask ourselves where would we be today if we had lost the elections in 2008? I know where I’ll be, do you know where you will be? Let’s all count our blessings, and one by one…let us know that the good Lord gave us victory because he was not satisfied with the direction the NPP was taking us,” he posited.

He stressed that his administration is “aware of the sacred obligations thrust upon them” and the “promises they have made, but with transparency, humility and dedication, the NDC will build a better Ghana.”

The congress, which is the foremost gathering of the NDC since it assumed the reins of leadership in the 2008 December Elections, is under the theme "Fulfilling Better Ghana Agenda".

President Mills expressed concern regarding reports of inducing delegates with money at the party’s Sunyani Congress to elect National Youth Executives.

A national youth organizer aspirant, Ras Mubarak, right after the National Youth conference ended in Sunyani, accused the winner of the elections, Ludwig Hlodze of inducing the delegates with GHC 3000 and a mobile phone each to obtain their votes.

The President says he is deeply disturbed about this development and charged the in-coming Executives to as a matter of urgency, investigate the allegations.

“I’ve been very concerned and disturbed about reports of people doling out money to obtain votes. Now, so serious is my concern that I’ll like to appeal to the new Executives…to institute an inquiry into all these allegations…even as they relate to the Castle,” he said.

President Mills charged the candidates not to see the elections as a do-or-die affair and take a cue from the “serial loser” label he was tagged with by his political detractors. He was optimistic that the NDC will use this congress to bridge differences.

“These elections are not about winners and losers. Those who are not elected can have another chance. They should not regard themselves as losers. Take Atta Mills as an example, the serial loser has become a winner, and will be a serial winner,” he stressed.

"At the end of the elections, let's come out more united, more focused, more determined to build a better Ghana for our dear nation," he urged.