Why obed insists Mills can never be his own man

Why do you believe Nana Akufo-Addo will be a better president than Prof. Mills in this run-off election?

ANS: Well, I think that looking at the performance of the NPP in terms of the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms, I would say that it is admirable.

 I'm not saying that its perfect, but its admirable. It is an improvement on what happened during our time.

And then also in terms of the macroeconomic management, I think again they have done creditably well. Particularly, the stability of the currency, it is something that any businessman will appreciate.

 In our time there were wild wild fluctuations and I think they have done well and therefore on that performance they deserve to continue.  And let"s face it this election is being fought on the records.

Each of the parties is saying, look at our record, look at our performance and judge who has performed better.

 It's not a question of change. Nobody is saying that they are going to do anything different than what they did before. Look we are proud of our record and when you look at our record, its good.

The use of the word change is misuse of the word because it does not really involve any change from the way they have done things before. So on that record I"m saying that I'm impressed with the performance of the NPP.

I also believe that Nana Akufo-Addo has a courage of his convictions. I would like to have as a leader a person who is not likely to be bullied by anybody. And I think on that score I think that he would be preferable.

But from the point of view of our party and the sustenance of our party and the continuation of our party, we would certainly survive better under Nana Akufo-Addo than under professor Mills. Professor Mills I'm sure would do anything possible to kill our party because the NDC cannot tolerate the existence of our party.

You are suggesting that Prof. Mills would not be his own man? A battle he has been fighting for the last so many years and his supporters think now he has won the battle.

You think there's still a bit more conviction for him to do?

ANS: Judging by my experience, I don't know if there has been such a fundamental change. Some of the things that he has done in the past were obviously done as a result of the pressure from other quarters or as a result of fear of offending some quarters and that is something I find unacceptable.

I think that a leader should have a courage of his convictions, a stand on what he believes is right and do it and not allow himself to be bullied by any other forces.

So what would you say to somebody disagreeing with you for Akufo-Addo for the presidency?

How would you convince such a person?
ANS: I can only repeat what I've said. I think that he is a man who can do a good job. I've known him for a long time.

Have you?
ANS: Yes, I knew him when he was a little boy. I worked in his father's chambers and when I came back from Britain in 1960 I went to his father's chambers to do my tutelage.

 That's how I knew him. He was a little boy then. I have over the years interacted with him. He's affable, he is ready to give in when he sees you have a good point and I think that he can provide a better leadership.