Mills re-assures justice in Dagbon Regicide

Accra, Jan. 7, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Thursday reiterated Government's commitment to ensure that justice prevailed in the Dagbon Regicide in order to redeem the ruling National Democratic Congress' promise during the 2008 electioneering campaign.

He said the promise over the Dagbon Regicide was of a major concern and that the Government was working on the quiet in order not to destroy evidence or make leads difficult to trace.

President Mills gave the assurance at a media conference held at the Castle, Osu in Accra, to mark the first anniversary of his inauguration as President of the Republic of Ghana.

He pointed out the need for thorough investigations for conclusive evidence to be assembled in order to prosecute the culprits successfully at the law courts.

Declining to award any mark for his Government's performance so far, President Mills said despite inheriting economic challenges from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government, the economy had been put on an even keel and was on the road to recovery and very soon this would be reflected in the pockets of Ghanaians.

On budget deficit, President Mills said it had in the first year been reduced from more than 20 per cent to 12 per cent, while the inflation rate had dropped from 24 per cent to 15 per cent.

He expressed confidence in his team, which some critics had labelled as "Team B" and had accused of underperformance.

"I sympathize with the other parties that judging from the performance of the 'Team B'; "Team A" would perform par excellence.

"I am proud to be associated with Team B and as the coach and captain, we shall deliver to the benefit of Ghanaians," he said.

President Mills explained that he had not yet moved into the Jubilee House because of security concerns raised by his security advisors, and said he would moved into the Presidential edifice on their advice.

He announced that the Government had "paid something to Former President Jerry John Rawlings and President John Agyekum Kufuor based on recommendations by the report of the Ishmael Yamson Committee that reviewed the Chinery-Hesse Report on the ex-gratia awards to the Executive and Legislature".

President Mills said in his view the establishment of the Ishmael Yamson Committee was constitutional.

President Mills said the ruling NDC Government would not make scapegoats of former and present Government functionaries without fully carrying out investigations for conclusive evidence.

He said the resignation of Former Sports Minister, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak was accepted on the grounds of indiscretion but not of corruption.

President Mills welcomed criticism from some members of his own Party, including Former President Rawlings, who had ruled Ghana as Head of State far longer than any other President of Ghana.

He said President Rawlings, who toiled to bring peace and stability to the nation was not a pain in his (President Mills') neck.

"It would, therefore, not be out of place (for him) to offer his suggestions and criticisms for good governance", President Mills said.

President Mills said he did not feel beleaguered by the bashing, explaining that criticisms were one of the tenets of democracy, adding that they showed the strength and depth of present democratic governance.

"We could have avoided some of the pitfalls in the past. ...I don't think that is strange. We criticized; argued; criticisms are okay. That is the price you pay for democracy," President Mills said.

On the National Health Insurance Scheme, President Mills said it was still feasible to pay a one-time premium, and that the Government had to pay huge unpaid debts to many service providers that the scheme owed before the NDC came into power in January 2009.

President Mills said it was the Government's decision to transform the Narcotics Control Board into a Commission.

He announced that consultations were underway among various religious organisations to fix a date for the proposed annual national Thanksgiving Day to enable more people to participate.