Takoradi, Nov. 28, GNA - Professor John Evans. Atta Mills, Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has described the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government as an "arrogant government".
He said the Government had on many occasions deceived Ghanaians with vague promises but "in all these deceits, it is not prepared to apologise or say I am sorry to Ghanaians".
Prof. Mills was addressing a rally organised by the Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan branches of the NDC at the PWD Park in Takoradi at the weekend.
He cited the CTNTI and other foreign loans, which the NPP Government promised it was bringing to develop the country, which never came and had not apologised to Ghanaians for dampening their hopes.
Prof. Mills said the Government was not submissive and had no sympathy for the suffering masses of this country, adding: "They are running the country with falsehood and ignoring the truth."
He said his administration, which would come to power in January 2005, would bequeath to Ghanaians the sense of discipline and respect for fellow human beings.
Prof Mills challenged President John Agyekum Kufuor to tell Ghanaians what had come out of the investigations into malpractices in the distribution of premix fuel to fishermen, adding that, the fishing industry was about to collapse as a result of the improper handling of premix fuel distribution.
Prof. Mills pledged that the NDC would never involve its members in any form of violence to disrupt the election because "we in the NDC cherish peace and we must be mindful that all Ghanaians are one people". He urged supporters of the Party to comport themselves on Election Day and to vote massively for him to enable the NDC to rescue Ghanaians from their economic hardships.
Dr. Obed Yaw Asamoah, National Chairman of the NDC, noted that the NPP Government had brought so much hardship on Ghanaians than any government since independence.
He said the country's economy was not moving or expanding resulting in many businesses collapsing thereby creating mass unemployment. Dr Asamoah said the four-year bad rule of the current Government was enough evidence for Ghanaians to anticipate the extra hardship they would go through if they voted the NPP back to power.
He urged Ghanaians to vote massively for Prof. Mills, adding, "if you vote out the NPP, you will be removing HIPC from your way".
Dr Asamoah expressed regret that people in the Western Region failed the NDC in the 2000 General Election and expressed the hope that this time round, they would vote massively for Prof. Mills.
Mr Kofi Totobi Quakyi, Former National Security Adviser under the NDC Government, commended the followers of the Party for their steadfastness despite "several false charges levelled against some leading members of the Party".
He said: "If the NDC is alive today, it is not the making of any leading member of the Party but that of yours - the followers." Mr Quakyi advised the supporter's of the Party to be extra vigilant on the Election Day because "the victory of the NDC is your victory". Nana Alex Asamoah, Western Regional Chairman of the Party, said a Government under Prof Mills would reverse the bad policies of the current Government.
He said Prof Mills had already taken his seat at the Castle and stated that "the December 7, 2004 Election is only a mere formality". Prof. Mills later introduced NDC Parliamentary Candidates for the area to the gathering.