We're committed to violence-free elections - Mills

Ghanaian Vice President John Atta Mills on Thursday gave the assurance that the upcoming general election would be free and fair and without any violence.

He said the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) for which he is contesting as presidential candidate would recognise and accept the verdict of the Electoral Commission on the outcome of the elections.

Professor Mills gave the assurance at a mini-durbar of the chiefs and people at Akropong as part of his tour of the Eastern Region. He restated his characteristic call for restraint by NDC activists in the face of provocation from their opponents.

He said the December 7 elections are very crucial to Ghana as they would determine whether the country would move forward or relapse. "That is the reason why you need to renew the mandate of the NDC to continue its development agenda," he added.

Supporting Prof. Mills' call for peace in the elections, Nana Addo Dankwa, Omanhene of Akuapem, cautioned leaders of political parties to abstain from intimidation, undue hatred and negative machinations during their campaign.

"After all, we are one people and we should not allow our sectional ambitions to cloud our vision for development in unity." The Omanhene said Ghana has played various mediating roles successfully and has set the pace as a country committed to peace and development, which needs to be built on.

The Vice President commissioned a 236 million-cedi Post Office for the people of Akropong and surrounding areas. It was built by the Ghana Postal Service. At Larteh, Prof. Mills spoke about the devastating effects of the deadly HIV/AIDS saying it is destroying human resource of nations.

He called on the people, especially the youth, to avoid casual sex and remain conscious of the menace being caused by the disease. Welcoming the Vice President, the chief of Larteh, Nana Asiedu Okoo Ababio II, asked the government to rehabilitate the main Aburi-Larteh road.

The Vice President addressed similar gatherings at Aburi, Mamfe, Mampong, Awukugua, Kukurantumi and Amanfrom where he commissioned a 1.5 billion-cedi electrification project. He was accompanied by Prof Amonoo Neizer, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology who is currently Ghana's ambassador to Zimbabwe, Nana Oye Mansa Yeboah, Ambassador to the European Union, Ministers of State, as well as leading members of the party.

Mr Fred Ohene-Kena, a former Mines and Energy Minister who is now the Eastern Regional campaign manager, introduced the party's approved parliamentary candidates for the respective constituencies. They included Mr Ntow Boahene, for Akwapim South, Mr Anthony Gyampoh for Akropong and Mr Fuzzy Torbay, Okere.