Aspirants must not condone acts of lawlessness — Mills

Professor John Evans Atta Mills, the flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has called on all presidential aspirants to publicly pledge not to condone any acts of lawlessness before, during and after the elections.
"We must also not hesitate to condemn wrongdoing on the part of either our supporters or opponents, to send a clear signal that we abhor such bad behaviours, " he said.
Prof. Mills was addressing party supporters, market women and commercial drivers in various communities within the Dome-Kwabenya Constituency in Accra on Thursday. The communities include Dome, Kwabenya, Taifa, Haatso and Atomic.
In the company of Mr Eddie Annan, a former NDC presidential hopeful, Madam Ama Benyiwa Doe, NDC Women Organiser, and Mr Yaw Boateng Gyan, Deputy National Organiser of the NDC, Prof. Mills also introduced the NDC aspiring MP for the constituency, Mrs Zita Okaikoi.
At the Haatso Yam Market, the traders donated a white dove to Prof., Mills as a sign of their support for him.
Prof. Mills described the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as a party made up of arrogant people who look down on Ghanaians who were not rich or of high social standing.
He said it was for this reason that President Kufuor could describe Ghanaians who had no money in their pockets as lazy and added " but my brothers and sisters, I know that you are not lazy, but just that the opportunities are not there".
"Currently, it is only those who deal in corrupt practices and cocaine that have money in their pockets. I know that those of you who have gathered here cannot deal in such things that is why there is no money in your pockets", he said.
He said all the talk about free education would come to naught because until the bad working conditions of teachers had been improved for them, they would not offer their best and quality education would not be a reality.
He said the NDC built 258 secondary schools, compared to the 19 by the NPP and promised that when the NDC came to power in 2009 it would build 300 more secondary schools to make up for the shortfall.
Prof. Mills expressed worry that only 40 per cent of students from junior high schools could gain access to senior high schools and described the situation as worrying.
He also promised that his administration would build two technical and two vocational institutions in each district.
Prof. Mills asked Ghanaians to reject the NPP during the election and vote for a listening NDC government headed by him, adding that " if after eight years the NPP government could not do any good thing for the people, why should they be given another opportunity to worsen the plight of Ghanaians?"
He rhetorically asked "where are the jobs the NPP promised you? Where are the good living conditions and the money they promised ?"
He said all the road construction that the NPP was laying claim to were initiated and the drawing done by the NDC but the NPP had constructed some of these roads at a greater cost.
Prof. Mills said the NPP was claiming to be a better administration than the NDC but during the NDC administration, a dollar was exchanged for 68 Ghp, but currently a dollar is exchanged for GH¢1.10.
Mrs Okaikoi said Ghanaians had tried the NDC and NPP and were in better position to make the best choice during the election but advised that they must consider their standard of living when casting their votes.