Toronto, Canada -- Described by his admirers as intelligent, eloquent and mature politician, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, the former Vice President of the 4th Republic of Ghana and now the flag bearer of Ghana’s main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) promised to take Toronto by storm next time he visits the city to bring his presidential campaign to Ghanaians living in that city. The presidential hopeful for Ghana’s 2004 elections was speaking at a fundraising dinner in his honor organized by the Toronto Chapter of the NDC at the Al Curuba Banquet Hall in Toronto on Saturday, November 29, 2003.
Prof. Atta Mills took the opportunity to thank all those who are supporting him in one way or the other to seek the presidency of Ghana in the forthcoming 2004 elections. He assured Ghanaians that all those who seek political offices in Ghana are guarded by one factor-the desire to serve our nation. He said further, “those of us who have been privileged and through the generosity of the good people of this country to be involved in the governance of our country realize that there is more than we need to do.
“There may be divergence of opinions but at least we must preserve unity; we must preserve right and respect for one another’s views. We in Africa in general, and in Ghana in particular, are going through a process, which calls for transparency, commitment and dedication.” He then posed the question: “Why is Africa still underdeveloped?” And lamented that whenever the name of Africa is mentioned the mental picture that is conjured is one of poverty, AIDS, bad forms of governance, dictatorship, and famine. Prof. Atta Mills therefore stressed the need for all Africans anywhere, to bear the responsibility of correcting this unfortunate image, which is largely true. For, as he put it, “ we have the resources, both natural and human, to be able to do so.”
Prof Atta Mills pointed out that his brief visit to Toronto was in fulfillment of a promise he made to visit the Ghanaian community in that wonderful city of Canada before the end of the year 2003. He promised to return to Toronto in full vigor to present his vision for Ghana as a presidential hopeful before the next elections in Ghana.
The chairman for the function was Dr. Sam, a Ghanaian Canadian physician based in Toronto. He advised Ghanaians to stop cherishing individualism and move forward together as one people of one nation. Dr. Sam blamed the lack of progress in national development on selfishness, greed, ethnicity, nepotism and individualism. He said, “Knowledge is not unique to any ethnic group or any race. We all have it but the way we use it.
And that, “knowledge is there in Ghana in abundance. We have educated people in this country since Dr. Aggrey. We have lawyers, intelligencia galore! But what happened to our knowledge? It is the way we use it.” He said if we coordinate the knowledge we have and stop being individualistic there would be progress in our country.
Among the dignitaries present at the fundraising dinner were Mr. Rojo Mettle Nunoo of Prof. Atta Mills’ entourage from Ghana, Mr. Ofosu Boateng, a former minister in NDC government, executives of the North America Co-ordinating Council (NACC) and the Toronto Chapter of NDC as well as Prof. George Sefa Dei of the University of Toronto.
Earlier during the day Prof. Atta Mills answered questions from the Ghanaian community in Toronto on a local FM Radio Station, CHRY Akwaaba Afrique hosted by George Fynn and Elizzy. Questions covered areas ranging from leadership in the NDC, education system in Ghana, car loans for MPs, the presidential jet to the delicate issue of tribal politics/alliance in Ghana multi-party democracy. Prof. Atta Mills demonstrated intelligence, deep knowledge and eloquence in answers he gave to most of the questions raised. For example, on the issue of the repayment of the car loans by MPs, the Professor underscored the point that governments succeed government and must be prepared to deal with situations as they come to meet them, both good and bad. He said therefore that if he becomes the next President of Ghana after the 2004 elections he would go by the agreement reached between Kufour’s government and the MPs to retrieve the car loans from the MPs. He refrained from criticizing the NPP government on their handling of the car loans since, as he put it, “Kufour would be the best to answer questions on the issue, since I cannot claim to know everything about the modalities on the loans.”
The former Vice President was, however, categorical and emphatic in his assertion that our education system has become worse under the NPP government. He accused Kufour’s administration of misapplying over 200 billion cedis meant for education and questioned, “Are you expecting the school to remain stagnant? Are you expecting the conditions to deteriorate while you wait for five years to repay the money you have taken from education?” He asserted that even if the education system you came to meet is defect you don’t take away the merge resource for it.
The former Vice President agreed that not everything that the NDC did was perfect. That was why his government was reviewing its policies. On the sensitive issue of tribal politics, Prof. Atta Mills conceded that there is some element of polarization in our politics back home. He promised to remedy this situation by working across tribal lines should he become the next President of Ghana. And stressed, “I am prepared to work with anybody. It doesn’t matter where they come from. It is important to base everything on quality and loyalty. The person must share in your vision. I welcome everybody.”
An interesting question from a caller to the radio interview on NDC already having had its chance to rule Ghana and therefore doesn’t deserve another chance to govern Ghana was met with a frank answer from the Professor that, “in politics there is nothing like somebody has had the chance. You are toying with the destiny of the people. People are suffering. People cannot make ends meet so it is not just a question of saying that it is like a football game. Your team have played and lost so they should not be fielded. There may not be people for you in the end.”
Prof. Atta Mills was of the opinion that we want those who are prepared to help the people to take their destiny into their hands to see to the improvement in the lives of the people. So leave it to the people to decide at any particular time. And that politics is not like lottery or musical chairs. It is the question of performance and competence.
Toronto, Canada -- Described by his admirers as intelligent, eloquent and mature politician, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, the former Vice President of the 4th Republic of Ghana and now the flag bearer of Ghana’s main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) promised to take Toronto by storm next time he visits the city to bring his presidential campaign to Ghanaians living in that city. The presidential hopeful for Ghana’s 2004 elections was speaking at a fundraising dinner in his honor organized by the Toronto Chapter of the NDC at the Al Curuba Banquet Hall in Toronto on Saturday, November 29, 2003.
Prof. Atta Mills took the opportunity to thank all those who are supporting him in one way or the other to seek the presidency of Ghana in the forthcoming 2004 elections. He assured Ghanaians that all those who seek political offices in Ghana are guarded by one factor-the desire to serve our nation. He said further, “those of us who have been privileged and through the generosity of the good people of this country to be involved in the governance of our country realize that there is more than we need to do.
“There may be divergence of opinions but at least we must preserve unity; we must preserve right and respect for one another’s views. We in Africa in general, and in Ghana in particular, are going through a process, which calls for transparency, commitment and dedication.” He then posed the question: “Why is Africa still underdeveloped?” And lamented that whenever the name of Africa is mentioned the mental picture that is conjured is one of poverty, AIDS, bad forms of governance, dictatorship, and famine. Prof. Atta Mills therefore stressed the need for all Africans anywhere, to bear the responsibility of correcting this unfortunate image, which is largely true. For, as he put it, “ we have the resources, both natural and human, to be able to do so.”
Prof Atta Mills pointed out that his brief visit to Toronto was in fulfillment of a promise he made to visit the Ghanaian community in that wonderful city of Canada before the end of the year 2003. He promised to return to Toronto in full vigor to present his vision for Ghana as a presidential hopeful before the next elections in Ghana.
The chairman for the function was Dr. Sam, a Ghanaian Canadian physician based in Toronto. He advised Ghanaians to stop cherishing individualism and move forward together as one people of one nation. Dr. Sam blamed the lack of progress in national development on selfishness, greed, ethnicity, nepotism and individualism. He said, “Knowledge is not unique to any ethnic group or any race. We all have it but the way we use it.
And that, “knowledge is there in Ghana in abundance. We have educated people in this country since Dr. Aggrey. We have lawyers, intelligencia galore! But what happened to our knowledge? It is the way we use it.” He said if we coordinate the knowledge we have and stop being individualistic there would be progress in our country.
Among the dignitaries present at the fundraising dinner were Mr. Rojo Mettle Nunoo of Prof. Atta Mills’ entourage from Ghana, Mr. Ofosu Boateng, a former minister in NDC government, executives of the North America Co-ordinating Council (NACC) and the Toronto Chapter of NDC as well as Prof. George Sefa Dei of the University of Toronto.
Earlier during the day Prof. Atta Mills answered questions from the Ghanaian community in Toronto on a local FM Radio Station, CHRY Akwaaba Afrique hosted by George Fynn and Elizzy. Questions covered areas ranging from leadership in the NDC, education system in Ghana, car loans for MPs, the presidential jet to the delicate issue of tribal politics/alliance in Ghana multi-party democracy. Prof. Atta Mills demonstrated intelligence, deep knowledge and eloquence in answers he gave to most of the questions raised. For example, on the issue of the repayment of the car loans by MPs, the Professor underscored the point that governments succeed government and must be prepared to deal with situations as they come to meet them, both good and bad. He said therefore that if he becomes the next President of Ghana after the 2004 elections he would go by the agreement reached between Kufour’s government and the MPs to retrieve the car loans from the MPs. He refrained from criticizing the NPP government on their handling of the car loans since, as he put it, “Kufour would be the best to answer questions on the issue, since I cannot claim to know everything about the modalities on the loans.”
The former Vice President was, however, categorical and emphatic in his assertion that our education system has become worse under the NPP government. He accused Kufour’s administration of misapplying over 200 billion cedis meant for education and questioned, “Are you expecting the school to remain stagnant? Are you expecting the conditions to deteriorate while you wait for five years to repay the money you have taken from education?” He asserted that even if the education system you came to meet is defect you don’t take away the merge resource for it.
The former Vice President agreed that not everything that the NDC did was perfect. That was why his government was reviewing its policies. On the sensitive issue of tribal politics, Prof. Atta Mills conceded that there is some element of polarization in our politics back home. He promised to remedy this situation by working across tribal lines should he become the next President of Ghana. And stressed, “I am prepared to work with anybody. It doesn’t matter where they come from. It is important to base everything on quality and loyalty. The person must share in your vision. I welcome everybody.”
An interesting question from a caller to the radio interview on NDC already having had its chance to rule Ghana and therefore doesn’t deserve another chance to govern Ghana was met with a frank answer from the Professor that, “in politics there is nothing like somebody has had the chance. You are toying with the destiny of the people. People are suffering. People cannot make ends meet so it is not just a question of saying that it is like a football game. Your team have played and lost so they should not be fielded. There may not be people for you in the end.”
Prof. Atta Mills was of the opinion that we want those who are prepared to help the people to take their destiny into their hands to see to the improvement in the lives of the people. So leave it to the people to decide at any particular time. And that politics is not like lottery or musical chairs. It is the question of performance and competence.
