NDC Presidential Candidate ends Ashanti Region tour at Juaso.

Juaso (Ash), Oct. 4, GNA - Professor John Evans Atta Mills, National Democratic Congress (NDC) Flag Bearer, ended his five-day tour of the Ashanti Region with a courtesy call on Nana Owusu Akyeaw Prempeh II, Juasohene and his elders at Juaso.

Prof Mills said the clarion call that came out boldly throughout his tour was "Sankofa", because the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had failed to fulfil its promises that made the people to vote for President John Agyekum Kufuor during the 2000 Elections. He said NDC Government would not interfere with chieftaincy matters because the Constitution did not allow that. "The NDC government will give full recognition to all gazetted chiefs as expected by the Constitution, and will not dabble in any chieftaincy disputes."

Mr Daniel Ohene Agyekum, National Executive Member of the NDC, said the "Sankofa" talk on the lips of most people had come about because of the unfulfilled campaign promises that were showered on the electorate during the NPP campaign in 2000 elections. Mr Agyekum said interestingly, while the NDC had a lot of development project to its credit, the NPP was only paying lip service to the people. He pointed out that a total of 30 million dollars was spent on the Strategic Reserve Plant brought into the country for 21 months and was never put into use, adding that NDC questioned the Government to explain this type of waste, but no answer had been forthcoming. He accused the NPP government of hypocrisy saying, "when we talk of corruption and waste of resources, people in Government stand tall" and mentioned acquisition of property by people in government as a serious indictment.

Mr De Graft Kwaku Fokuo, NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Asante-Akim South, who was introduced to the chiefs and people by Prof. Mills, said he wanted the electorate to vote for him and Prof. Mills. The Juasohene said in, as much as the Constitution did not allow chiefs to participate in politics, it was also important that politicians should not meddle in chieftaincy disputes.

Prof. Mills had earlier visited the families of Hajia Kande, former Constituency Women's Organiser for Asante-Akim North at Konongo. Hajia Kande died on the spot in a lorry accident at Yamoransa.