Top NPP Man Congratulates Mills

A leading member of the NPP, Mr. Kakra Essamuah has congratulated the Vice-President Professor J.E.A. Mills on his performance at his first ever media interaction held in Accra. In a letter published in the October 13, 2000 edition of the Daily Graphic, Mr. Essamuh said "Your Excellency, I listened to the last 45 minutes of your first major interaction with the Ghanaian press on Tuesday, October 10, 2000. I distinctly heard you display a masterly grasp of the issues, a wonderful facility for the quick debating thrust and a language that is clear, accessible and uplifting. I am convinced that by this magisterial performance, you have confirmed the rightness of the decision of your party in selecting you as their candidate for this year's presidential elections. It is my fervent prayer and hope that the good people of this country will convincingly affirm this choice by electing you to the office to which you are so well suited. Do please accept my warmest wishes".

In a radio interview, Mr. Essamuah said "the sort of performance put up by Mills on Tuesday distinct him as the next President of Ghana and we should seriously consider him". He said after listening to the Vice-President, he came to realize that it is important to make available to him the things that he has to say about him, hence the letter. Asked to comment on Mr. J.A. Kufuor, the NPP Presidential Candidate's performance, at the presidential forum, Mr.Essamuah simply said "no comments". He said, "if you want to compare the two programs, none of the candidates matched up to the Vice-President".

Meanwhile, Mr. Essamuah's letter has attracted a lot of comments from the NPP. Its general secretary, Dan Botwe, in his reaction said, "that is his opinion, and we have no problem about that". He said the NPP would not be distracted about this at all, adding that, "the support for the party is very encouraging". Mr. Botwe noted that Ghanaians are not interested in those who can talk but those who can solve their problems. He added that the broad mass of Ghanaians have seen through what Professor Mills can do and would vote him and the NDC out.

In his comments the Campaign manager of Mr. Kufuor, Mr. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey dismissed the letter saying Mr. Essamuah is entitled to his own opinion. He said he is not impressed about the performance of Professor Mills, adding that what would have impressed him would have be the addressing of fundamental issues. To him Professor Mills was a lecturer and he is a lawyer and so "what he did is what lecturers and lawyers do".

Mr. Kweku Baako Junior, Editor in Chief of the Crusading Guide who called into the program said Mr. Essamuah's answer of no comments when asked to comment on his party's candidate is quiet loaded. He disagreed with any form of comparison between the freedom forum program and Professor Mills' press conference. He added said the NDC candidate did "a good job" but quickly added that the program cannot be used to judge him.