Sharm El Sheikh, July 17, GNA - President John Atta Mills has said Ghanaians were justified in their high expectations and called for hard work and team spirit to realise those expectations.

He said his experience as a former Vice President is an asset to his administration but the greatest challenge so far is to ensure economic stability since what it inherited from the previous administration was not the real picture of what was presented..

President Mills said this in a chat with journalists on his impressions on the just ended 15th Summit of the Heads of States and Government of the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) in Sharma El Sheikh, Egypt. His participation in the Summit was the first time since his inauguration as President in January and he said NAM is still a potent force in world affairs.

President Mills said there were challenges posed by the global financial crises, effects of climate change, human and illicit drug trafficking and unfair trade terms and some nations have problems establishing the rule of law, due process and sound democratic structures. He said the 118 nations constituting membership of NAM are at different stages of development and the Summit provided a platform for an interchange of experiences and ideas.

President Mills described his participation in the Summit as a major boost for both his government and Ghanaians, adding "I can see doors opening at the end of this Summit that gives us fillip to move forward in the right direction."

President Mills, who turns 65 next Tuesday, July 21, supported a declaration by the Summit to observe July 18, as Nelson Mandela International Day.

This is in recognition of the former President's contribution to Africa's struggle for liberation, self determination and unity. President Mills said July 18 falls on a week-end and called on Ghanaians to use the day to do something good, suggesting a nationwide clean up exercise in the interest of humanity. As part of the Summit's declaration of July 18 as Nelson Mandela Day, the Heads of State and Government called on NAM member states and peoples to contribute 67 minutes of their time in service of their communities in "recognition of Madiba's 67 years contribution in service to humanity."