JAM Strikes Today

The Chronicle has gathered that Prof. Mills, poised to assume the Presidency after December 2004, would unfold the strategies for the race between him and President John Agyekum Kufuor and answer critics who say it is between President Kufuor and ex-President J.J Rawlings.

Dubbed ?Our State of the Nation: The way Forward? the forum, under the chairmanship of the former speaker of parliament, Mr. Justice D.F. Annan, will see Prof. Atta Mills deal with these critics whom he describes as spin-doctors who have sought to create the false impression that it is the ex-President who is challenging President Kufuor and not he.

The flag-bearer would also express concern about the ruling NPP?s policies of divisiveness, harassment, intimidation and prosecution of supporters of the NDC and other opposition parties, which he said had increased tension in the country.

Of particular concern to Prof Mills, The Chronicle has learnt, is what he describes as ?the atrocious harassment and treatment? that the NPP administration has visited on the former President, ?a man whose credentials are acknowledged internationally and especially in Africa?.

The God-fearing former Vice President, will expectedly, also dismiss the widely held notion that the NDC has an agenda to pay NPP officials back in their own coin when it re-captures power, for which reason NDC top officials insist that the law of causing financial loss to the state be maintained.

The Chronicle has learnt that the Professor would be making a personal political pledge not to engage in any political vengeance, vendetta and vindictiveness but apply himself to finding solutions to the problems confronting the nation to bring not only peace but also hope and smiles back on the faces of Ghanaians.

He will be calling on all and sundry to remove barriers to the opportunity of ensuring a caring society in which there will be full partnership to economic progress.

He will ensure this by creating a diversified and a balanced economy that will be quick to adapt to challenging industrial and manufacturing patterns.

?The NDC in 1996/2000 was committed to the social democratic agenda. To this end, Prof. Mills will give a serious human face to the policies and manifesto of the party to support the poor and the vulnerable in society,? one party guru said.

He described the flagbearer as a compassionate, sincere and a credible person in terms of what he would do to better the lives of the ordinary citizens. He is the only alternative to take over power after this year?s election.

He said Prof. Mills would pledge the NDC?s commitment to free and fair elections stressing that it would be in the paramount interest of Ghana because the people will not countenance any attempt to do otherwise.