Professor Atta-Mills calls for support

Sekondi October 19, -GNA-Professor John Evans Atta-Mills, a former vice-president and an aspiring Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2008 elections, on Thursday said the party lost the 2000 and 2004 elections not because he was the flagbearer.

Speaking at a press conference in Sekondi, he said the party failed to capture the Presidential seat in both elections because of internal party problems that were not his doing.

Professor Atta-Mills said one of the problems in 2004 was the difficulty in deciding on a running mate and intimidation by the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

He said the NPP began a systematic attempt to dismember the NDC after the 2000 and 2004 election by "Criminalizing everything". Professor Atta-Mills said he led the party in the two elections under very difficult circumstances than now.

He said the flagbearership requires loyalty, hardwork, dedication and ability to lead the party and when given the mandate for the 2008 elections, he would live up to expectation.

Professor Atta-Mills said he would give back hope to the NDC when he is given the mandate and this time, the party would not give in to intimidation.

He said the NDC has many talented people who could lead the party but party delegates would give the mandate to only one person while the rest wait for their turn.

Professor Atta-Mills said he is proud that he has won the party's flagbearership twice and this has strengthened him for the task ahead. Mr Mahama Ayariga, Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central and spokesman for Professor Atta-Mills 2008 campaign team, urged the people to have confidence in the Electoral Commission (EC) to enable it perform its duties effectively.

He said the 2008 election results should be declared by EC and not by any political party as it was done by NPP at a press conference after the 2004 elections.

Mr Ayariga said the EC must be clean, reliable and perform its duties according to laid-down rules adding that in 2008, the NDC would not tolerate institutional lapses of the EC.