Ashanti NDC back Mills

Ghana's former Vice President and two-time flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, is considered, among all presidential hopefuls in the party, to be the best candidate to lead NDC in the 2008 battle by some delegates in the Ashanti region.

Mills' support is rooted on his commitment for the party and its activities, being the most marketable person in terms of popularity and a man of principle who stood behind the NDC during the bad times.

The current frontliners for the NDC's presidential slot are said to be Alhaji Mahama Idrisu, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, Dr. Ekow Spio Gagbrah and Prof. John Evans Atta Mills.

According to the Chronicle many of the party's activists who on condition of anonymity said Prof. Mills would be the obvious choice because of his unquestionable attitude towards the aspirations of the NDC, even though it has to be conferred on him by the national delegates.

“In politics, we deal with visibility- thus, someone who is always seen in the limelight, championing the cause of our great party, and Prof. Atta Mills has this under his collection,” one of the respondents, who holds a key position in the Ashanti NDC executive, stated.

He continued by saying that when the NDC lost political power in 2000, some key members of the party who now desire to contest for the flagbearership, deserted the party and joined forces with both local and international governments, neglecting the party during those “difficult moments.”

The Ashanti NDC members said they had information to suggest that there is great support from the grassroots of the party in the region for the former vice President to lead the NDC in 2008.

When Prof. Mills' two consecutive defeats as of as flagbearer of the NDC's was mentioned the determined supporters of the man gave instances to justify why he (Mills) must be given a third chance to win back power for the NDC.

According to the NDC members, President Watara of the Republic of Guinea as well as President Kufuor of Ghana had lost two times in elections before finally wining power on the third attempt.

They indicated that the Professor did not lose the 2004 elections but that the NPP had rigged it to disgrace him, especially, in the Central region where he hails from.

Each expressed optimism that their party would take up the mantle of leadership of this country in the next general elections during the paper's opinion sampling survey.