By Edmund Mingle
Friday, May 5, 2011
President John Evans Atta Mills yesterday kicked started his campaign for Presidential slot of ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) high confidence of victory, as he picked nomination forms.
Promising a clean campaign devoid of insults, acrimony, mudslinging and fabrications, President Mills said he was sure of victory at the party’s July 8 congress, and another victory in the 2012 presidential elections.
“Victory shall be ours,” he told a mammoth crowd of jubilant supporters during a mini rally, which was held at party’s Kuku Hill Campaign office at Osu in Accra, where he launched the campaign, after picking his nomination forms.
“You don’t need to worry because I am going to win by a landslide victory,” he said, attracting thunderous cheers from the thousands of enthusiastic supporters gathered at the event.
According to the President, who was clad on white and waving a white piece of cloth to signify victory, he was confident of victory at the July 8 Congress because of a number of factors. These, he said, included the fact that God is on his side, and the fact that the delegates were very discerning and believes they would make a good choice.
President Mills, whose main contender for the presidential slot is former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, in his usual peaceful character, called for a clean campaign devoid of insults.
“The NDC should come out of this exercise fully united,” he said, adding that all would be needed to work for another electoral victory in 2012.
“Let us learn to cooperate with one another,” he said, adding that “the contest is not about who can hurl insults the fastest at others, but who can lift the people out of the quagmire of poverty,” he stressed.
According to him, winning was not the end of the road, adding that the essence of power was to serve the good people of Ghana by improving their welfare. Overwhelmed by the magnitude of the support, President Mills thanked those at the rally, including Ministers, high ranking members of the party, delegates and supporters, saying their sacrifices and contributions were what have built the party to its present status.
He promised to continue executing the better Ghana Agenda, and assured the supporters that he and his team would not disappoint them.
“You know what I am capable of doing,” he said, assuring that his focus would continue to be how to improve the welfare of Ghanaians.
He asked the delegates preparing for the July 8 congress and the supporters of the party not to be swayed by deceit and lies perpetuated by the opposition.
“We should always strive for the truth,” he advised, and promised that he would show his opponents maximum respect.
“I will always pursue values that will unite us as one people, with a common destiny,” he added.
President Mills reminded people who think they are powerful being should be ware that they are only humans, and that the only powerful one, is God almighty.
As part of the campaign launch, President Mills outdoored his National Campaign Team, which is headed by J.H. Acheampong, a former Majority leader in 1993, as well as Regional campaign teams.
As early as 6am, the teaming supporters, clad in party T-shirts and white head bands, converged at the premises of the party office to give moral support to the President, as picked his form, and followed him to the campaign office, where another massive crowd had gathered.
Some of the supporters wielded placards some of which read, “Mills is Ghana’s savior,” “Atta Mills will deliver cadres,” “No challenger,” “You are the best driver,” We are marching forward,” “Atta, a man of integrity,” and “Double, Double,” “ We trust our driver,” and “Cadres declare Atta Mills for 2012.”
Vice President John Dramani Mahami, who chaired the rally, described President Mills as “a gift from God,” and expressed optimism that the party would show appreciation for the gift by renewing his mandate to lead the party to victory in 2012.
Touching on the implication of the internal party competition on the progress of the party, the Vice President noted that the NDC was at the cross roads.
He said because the party belonged to all members, and not the property of any individual, the future of the party would have to be decided by the larger support base of the party through the delegates who would be attending the July 8 congress.
“It is for all of us to decide whether we should open up the party to accommodate more members for the expansion of the party, or whether we should let it remain a small party that is tied to the apron strings of a few individuals,” he said.
The Vice President John Mahama there was no need to prematurely change the driver of a bus in a middle of a journey.
He said in the past, the party had supported, encouraged, its drivers even when the journey appeared to be difficult, insisting calls for his (Mills) change is unacceptable.
Apparently responding to claims by a member of the Konadu campaign team and MP for Lower Manya Krobo that the NDC vehicle is good but the driver has to be changed before 2012, Vice President Mahama said President Mills is a good driver who would surely drive the party to a successful destination.
He said the driver knows the condition of the vehicle, and so he alone could determine the pace of the vehicle, irrespective of the insults hurled at him by the passengers.
“The driver of the bus should be allowed to drive us safely to our destination,” he adding that a trusted driver is not changed in the middle of a journey for an untested driver.
The rally, which gave an indication of the contest between contenders for the NDC presidential slot, attracted many top members of the NDC, who are thought to be been either groomed by former President Rawlings and allies of the Rawlingses.
Notable among them were Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Environment & Science, and Cecelia Johnson, both leaders of the 31st December Women’s Movement, Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Education Minister and E.T. Mensah, Employment Minister.
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