Mills, SA visit & 2008 campaign

Ghana’s main opposition leader Professor J. E. A. Mills before flying out to South Africa for a private visit lampooned the Kufuor government for its constant claim that the NDC administration left the country in a mess.

Unhappy with what he describes as President Kufuor’s constant use of the phrases “…we inherited empty coffers…” and “…our predecessors left a mess behind…”, Professor Mills presented a tall list of the NDC government’s achievements and legacies in the road, energy, education, health and housing sectors of the economy.

He also referred to the smooth and historic transfer of political power to the NPP as proof that his government did not leave a mess behind.

Supported by the NDC’s national executive members, members of parliament, and some sympathizers, Professor Mills said President Kufuor’s claim that at the time he took office, the Nigerian government had stopped supplying crude oil to Ghana is false.

“…Ghana was still lifting crude oil from Nigeria at the time we were leaving office. As then Vice President, I was personally involved in negotiating a new deal which following our exit from office became embroiled in the infamous NPP Sahara Oil scandal.”

Professor Mills has since left for South Africa on a private visit and will also undergo a medical check-up. News about the check-up coming after weeks of writing about his rumoured health status has awakened the interest of opponents of the NDC.

But officials of his party say, the report about their candidate’s health is just propaganda. They remain insistent that Professor Mills is healthy and will defeat the NPP’s candidate in 2008.

Deputy General Secretary Elvis Afriyie Ankrah speaking to the dailyEXPRESS said the NDC’s national campaign team would be inaugurated before the end of February.

He explained that there will be a national campaign team out of which some members will be co-opted into the Presidential campaign team.

According to Mr. Afriyie Ankrah, the NDC is poised for victory in 2008, but will campaign actively and vigorously to ensure a resounding victory.

The party says, its campaign for 2008 can be said to have started after the December 2006 presidential primaries, but explains that the official campaign would be launched after the inauguration of the campaign teams.