Vice President Mills To Contest Top Party Post

Accra, Ghana (PANA) - Ghana's Vice-President John Evans Atta Mills Saturday declared his intention to contest the presidential slot of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

His declaration at Tamale, some 650 km north of Accra, many months after he was endorsed by President Jerry Rawlings, came as no surprise as he was seen as the heir of the president whose second four-year term ends in December.

Rawlings, who brought Mills from outside the main party hierarchy in 1992 to be his running mate, endorsed him many months ago when he said he would give his vice president his blessings if he decided to contest.

But Mills refused to give an immediate open answer only saying that his mission at the time was to serve the president and would make his decision at the appropriate time.

On Saturday, he told a party rally: "I have decided to take up the challenge. I shall seek the nomination for the presidential candidate of the great NDC in this year's presidential elections."

Mills' choice as running mate surprised political observers and activists who saw him as an outsider. A group of cadres who had been with Rawlings since the early 1980s criticised what they regarded as "lack of transparency" in the NDC and broke away to form the National Reform Party.

Vice President Mills, whose declaration was greeted with a standing ovation and prolonged applause Saturday, said he took the decision after reflecting deeply on the numerous calls on him by the rank and file of the party, including President Rawlings' declaration of support for him.

A deeply religious Mills said: "I prayed and sought the guidance and direction of my Lord, so that I might come to the right decision, a decision which would be to the good of our great NDC party and in the supreme interest of our dear nation."

He recalled Rawlings' support for him earlier, saying Rawlings placed enormous faith in him.

Mills said many people have since been asking him to respond but all he could say at that time was the time had not come.

"(Now) The time has finally come for me to make an unequivocal statement of my intentions, now that the NDC has decided the place and time for its congress to select a candidate for the presidential elections."

Mills said with the support and nomination from the party, he would work hard to seek the mandate of the entire Ghanaian people.

Mills thanked Rawlings and his wife for showing tremendous confidence in him and their support over the last 11 years, saying there is no way he can fail them and the party if given the chance.

Born on 21 July, 1944, Mills is an academic. He was educated at the University of Ghana in Accra, the London School of Economics and Political Science and the School of Oriental African Studies, University of London. He is also a Fulbright Scholar.

He is a tax expert who has many publications to his credit. He has been a visiting professor in many universities in the world.