Bolgatanga, Nov. 29 (Chronicle) - PROF. JOHN Evans Atta Mills, one of the contestants of National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the party’s ticket has said that Ghana appears to be “leaderless” country given the high level of poverty and other kinds of problems engulfing the country in recent times.

“There is so much poverty; the country appears leaderless; we have all kinds of problems and I think that it is important on our part as NDC with the rich experience that we have, to offer the people of this country some solace and deliverance as well as hope”, he said.

The insensitive policies of the New Patriotic Party(NPP) government, he noted, had ignited Ghanaians’ desire for a change in government, indicating that the NDC could avail itself as a vessel for that change come 2008.

Prof Mills said this at Bolgatanga when he rounded up his three-day campaign tour in the Upper East Region with a press briefing.

He maintained that for the sake of the unity of his party, he would not respond to allegations being made against him by other contestants and section of the media, emphasizing that the unity of the party was very crucial if the NDC would win the 2008 elections.

He pledged that as a matured politician and a unifier, he would not engage in any activity that could impair or destroy the unity of the party.

On his chances of becoming the flagbearer, Prof Mills confidently said “ I have no doubt whatsoever that I will win the position of flagbearership of the NDC”, indicating that as a seasoned politicians he could read the signs on the wall through the assurances given during his interactions with the delegates.

The message of ‘Get Atta Mills Elected’ (GAME) team to the delegates, according to the Spokesperson of Prof Mills, Hon Mahama Ayariga, was that in spite of being defeated twice, Prof Mills remained the best candidate for 2008.

He explained that 2000 and 2004 elections were the most difficult ones for the NDC as a party. He argued that in 2000 there was a general desire for change due to unfavorable economic environment couple with external pressures, indicating that the forces were such that the NDC was not able to hold on to power.

He argued further that in 2004 Prof mills was contesting against a sitting president, which was very tough just as Prez Kufour faced a daunting task when he contested with ex- Prez Rawlings in 1996.

Hon Ayariga who is also the MP for Bawku Central said comparatively Prof Mills did well than Prez Kufour when both of them contested against sitting presidents.

“Prof Mills should not be changed because in 1996 when Kufour contested with a sitting president he got 38% but Prof Mills got 45% in 2004 when he contested with a sitting Prez Kufour.”

“If NPP did not change Kufour why should NDC change Mills”, he quizzed, indicating that after Prez Kufour had left the scene, Prof Mills would be the most marketed politician in Ghana.

He said as the NPP would have to choose a new candidate who would not be known, it would be suicidal for the NDC to abandon that strategic advantage of maintaining an already marketed candidate and go in for a new one.

According to him, in the two previous elections NDC had suffered some disadvantage vis-à-vis the NPP because the latter in 2000 had no track record so there was nothing for Ghanaians to compare with in relation to the performance of NDC that had been in power for eight years and as a product of PNDC which was equally in government for a little over a decade.

He noted that the NDC therefore in 2000 played a defensive game because it had a track record to defend, adding that in 2004 it was difficult for NDC because NPP had been in power for only four years and the general thinking was that NPP should go for another term but 2008 Ghanaians would have the chance to assess the eight year rules of both NPP and NDC.

“We believe that considering the abysmal record of the NPP in government for the past six years and what we anticipate will even be a worst period for the next two years, Ghanaians would have had enough considering that we are offering them a better alternative, 2008 can be considered as the easiest for the NDC as a political party and under those circumstances we believe that our best material is Prof Mills”, Hon Ayariga said. The Director of Operations, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye described as warming and wonderful” the delegates’ reception throughout all the thirteen constituencies in the region.