We'll re-package Prof. Mills for 2004

Commodore Steve Obimpeh (Rtd), the former campaign manager for Professor John Evans Atta-Mills in the 2000 general elections has hinted that the Professor will be very well re-packaged for the 2004 Presidential election should he emerge the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

“We are coming out with new strategies taking into account the mistakes of the past,” Commodore Obimpeh said in an interview moments after Prof. Mills declared his intention to contest the flagbearership of the NDC.

According to him, the party has two clear years to contest the next general elections and would therefore have enough time to plan its strategies. He said the first mistake that the party committed during the last elections was that Professor Mills was not available to start an early campaign.

“We went to congress in April 2000 and soon afterwards the former President was out of the country for about a month. Also Professor Mills, the then Vice President had to remain in office and act as President” he said.

He noted that while the former Vice President started late his other contestants took the lead about two years earlier. Asked whether he thought Professor Mills was his own man, he said he believed he was.

Commodore Obimpeh explained that the former Vice President had on several occasions tried to correct the misrepresentation of his statement made at Ho, two years ago. Professor Mills himself had stated during the news conference that he was seeking for the NDC’s nomination as its Presidential candidate with a distinct mind of his own.

Flanked by some leading party men such as Kwame Peprah, Clend Sowu, Lee Ocran, Totobi Quakyi, Kwamena Ahwoi, Ohene Agyekum, Ohene Kena and Joshua Alabi, the former Vice President said “once I am elected flagbearer, and ultimately the President, the buck stops with me”.

“I will make the decisions and I will take responsibility for them,” he added. Mrs Magaret Clarke-Kwesie, a former Minister of State also told “The Evening News” that she personally thought people knew Professor Mills more than the other contestants.

She said this made the chances of the former Vice President brighter, but cautioned that victory for any of the contestants depends on how well they conducted their campaigns. This was because the party had created an even playing field for all contestants.

She however stated that she did not belong to the Atta Mills campaign team. Mrs Clarke-Kwesie said the NDC was mobilizing resources to contest the 2004 general elections.

According to her, whatever programmes that the party would develop, there would be enough money and resources to carry it through successfully. “What we cannot make in cash we will be able to make in kind by providing labour and other things,” she said.