Atta Mills Pledges To Set Up University
The flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor John Evans Atta Mills has pledged that he will establish a University of Renewable Resources and Energy at Sunyani, the capital of the Brong Ahafo Region, when given the mandate by the people to form the government in the 2008 elections.
He said the university to be set up by the NDC for the region would focus on training graduates who would be experts in renewable energy resources to meet the energy requirements of the nation.
Prof. Mills, who was on a campaign tour of the Brong Ahafo Region and also to prove to the people that he was not dead as reported by a section of the media in the country, made the pledge at a meeting with the regional and constituency executives of the party at the party's regional office in Sunyani on Thursday.
He said an NDC government led by him would make the Capitation Grant available for both public and private basic schools, adding that children in private and public schools are all Ghanaian children.
Prof. Mills who was accompanied on his tour by his running mate for the 2004 election, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni; Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, General Secretary; Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, National Organiser; Madam Ama Benyiwa Doe, Women Organiser; Mr Mahama Ayiriga, MP for Bawku Central; Mr J.H. Owusu Acheampong, former Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, and Mr John Owusu Agyeman, NDC Regional Chairman, also said he would extend the School Feeding Programme to all schools.
Prof. Mills who described himself as the next President-in-waiting also pledged to provide free school uniforms to all basic school pupils in the country.
He said the NDC party was humane and, therefore, when elected it would not discriminate among Ghanaians and enrich a few people in the country as the NPP government had done, while majority of Ghanaians were wallowing in poverty and deprivation.
Prof. Atta Mills also called on the Omanhene of Sunyani Traditional Area, Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri 11, at his palace in Sunyani and pledged that he would be a President for all Ghanaians when elected, adding that he would not practise the politics of exclusion being done by the Kufuor-led administration, since the NDC was a social democratic party.
He stated that many people believed the rumour that he had died in South Africa, but that was not true since he was the next president and asked for the prayers of Sunyanihene and his elders to ensure his victory at the polls.
Prof. Mills stated that the NPP continued to lie and to throw dust into the eyes of Ghanaians, but he represented the truth and would rule when elected into office as the President of Ghana, with truth. He added that he would pursue human-centred policies and programmes for the welfare of all.
Mr J. H. Owusu Acheampong, a leading member of the party, stated that it was under the NDC regime that the Brong Ahafo Region, especially Sunyani, the regional capital, experienced massive infrastructural development ranging from the longest dual carriage, street lighting and the construction of a modern regional hospital and urged the people to look at the harsh living conditions prevailing in the country under the NPP and return the NDC to power in the 2008 election to enable it continue with its good works.
The Sunyanihene, Nana Nkrawiri, urged Ghanaians to critically examine the programmes and policies of all the contesting parties in the 2008 elections and vote for the best and wished Prof. Mills the best in his endeavours.
Prof. Mills later paid a courtesy call on Zongo Chiefs at the Sunyani Zongo to interact with the chiefs and their people.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah, the NDC General Secretary, pledged that the NDC would extend diplomatic passports to all Regional Chief Imams in the country to make their travelling abroad easy for them.
He debunked the assertion by the party's opponents that they were the true Zongo party and stated that it was rather the NDC party that was the true Zongo party which instituted Muslim holidays and made the Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca) an easier one for Muslims in the country.