05 07 2008
Speech By Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, At National Theater
Speech By NDC Leader, John Evans Atta Mills, At Launch Of Party’s Campaign, Wednesday, May 7, 2008, @ National Theater
In December 2006, I was entrusted with responsibility for leading the NDC to victory in this year’s general election.
Shortly thereafter, I embarked on a nationwide house- to- house tour to meet and listen to people from all walks of life.
I have spent long hours walking on the beaches interacting with our fisherfolk.
I have spent long hours with our mothers and sisters in the markets I have spent long hours interacting with mechanics, hairdressers, taxi drivers, tro-tro drivers, road-side vendors as well as lots of unemployed youth.
I have spent long hours with, teachers, nurses, students, farmers, and labourers, I have interacted with several local businessmen who have been exiled to the margins of the economy because of partisan political considerations.
I chose this style of retail campaigning tour because, a bottom/up approach to people management, is the pivot around which effective leadership revolves.
And it is in listening, that you come to learn of the real size of the economic burden majority of Ghanaians carry daily.
We have a government today that has declared itself the best in Ghana’s history and painting a picture of Ghana having reached the pinnacle of growth and so cannot do any better.
But Atta Mills and the NDC believe life is a constant struggle to better our circumstances. Only God can speak in absolute terms.
It is unimaginable that the NPP government, made up of mortals, can declare that it has Given Ghanaians the best things ever, especially considering the litany of broken promises since 2001.
What happened to the jobs promised to the youth?
What happened to the size of government which they described as too big when the NDC was in power?
What happened to the cost of living which they promised to reduce when voted into office?
What happened to their affordability theory in relation to the pricing of utilities and services?
What happened to their zero tolerance for corruption pledge? We believe Ghana can do better.
And we will do better under a caring, honest and forthright leadership.
Our agenda for a Better Ghana, which is the product of consultation with Ghanaians from all walks of life, are captured in four thematic concepts which are;
1. Investing In People
2. Job Creation And A Strong Economy
3. Expanding Infrastructure
4. An Open And Transparent Government.
These pillars represent our vision for Ghana’s future - a vision built on change that produces more educated children, jobs and employment opportunities, housing, healthier communities, food, and compassion for those who cannot compete.
Our manifesto which we will soon outdoor, will offer more specifics and Ghanaians will see for themselves how prepared the NDC is, to assume the mantle of leadership to serve this country.
And in all of these, the quality of leadership will matter.
Over the years, there has been no shortage of ideas in this country.
What has often been lacking is effective implementation.
I believe a competent, humble, down-to-earth leadership can make a difference between success and failure.
And as President, I will respond to the challenges of leading this country with the best weapon in life, which is, truth.
I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth. And I will not regard my election as President as some kind of coronation.
My father was a teacher, my mother a trader. They sacrificed for my education. I knew and still know a great deal about families whose household finances are so meager and have to struggle to make ends meet.
Through my own experiences in life, I have developed an understanding of the common man’s needs and wants.
My vision for Ghana is to create the kind of society in which all can pursue and achieve their dreams by setting the right priorities for the nation.
I will ensure that resources available to the country, including anticipated oil revenues, are geared in the direction of the four major policy areas the NDC has defined.
Our elders say ‘WOYE DZA OHIA ANSA WAYE MA OFATA’ It simply means that meeting our basic needs must be our priority.
The government of Atta mills will not engage in profligate expenditure on presidential aircrafts, palaces, lavish anniversary celebrations, and the like.
Yes it is good to celebrate anniversaries, but we will do so in modesty knowing that we must cut our cloth according to our size.
The comfort of our elected officials will never be allowed to take precedence over the welfare of the peoples.
I value public service and I will bring this principle to bear on my Presidency.
I also value truth, and believe what must define Ghana’s leadership in 2009 and beyond is a genuine and public demonstration of our own trustworthiness as leaders.
Ghanaians now think government cannot be trusted to care about their suffering. That should not be the case.
When I say I Care, I will demonstrate it in all my undertakings.
As President, I will strive to restore public faith in government.
And should any member of the Atta Mills government act in ways contrary to our purpose and character, rest assured that Atta Mills will be swift in acting. So much hangs in the balance in this election.
An economy to improve;
A national spirit to refresh;
A nation to reunite after the polarizing politics of the past seven years;
A middle class that needs a Leader who can champion their cause after seven years in the partisan whirlwind;
A damaged international image as a major drug trafficking country, to redeem;
As well as saving the Ghanaian public from the scourge of crime and armed robbery.
I am here to reassure Ghanaians who are tired of politics as usual, that we are committed to a new type of politics which will foster national unity and a new sense of purpose I will not govern according to my desires; I will govern according to the will of the people.
Instead, I make a pledge to engage with opposing points of view because in Atta Mills you will have a President who is going to be a good listener.
Today, we have an NDC party that is more united than ever before.
And I place on record, my profound respect and appreciation to the rank and file of our Great NDC party for your devotion to the cause.
It is your courage and resilience that has kept the NDC alive, and I respect your for that. We should all be proud that we belong to this great political tradition that has the welfare of the people at the core of its agenda.
From the you, the Founder, the great NDC party, former President Rawlings, through the Council Of Elders, National Executives of the party all the way down to the foot soldiers, we are united in our conviction that come December this year, we will wrest power from the NPP.
We will do so not for the sake of it, but so we can give Ghanaians a Better Ghana by investing in the people, building a strong economy and thereby create jobs for the people, expand infrastructure, and operate and open and transparent government.
We only ask the Electoral Commission to do its duty impartially and not succumb to any subtle pressures.
The NDC is wide awake, and we will open our eyes much wider in the coming days and weeks especially when the voters register is re-opened and on voting day itself. Let the ruling Party be in no doubt of the NDC’s strong determination to prevent a repeat of the electoral abuses, including abuse of incumbency, which characterised the 2004 elections.
And I am reminding all Ghanaians to hold the NPP to the same standards they held the NDC to in the run up to the 2000 elections.
Principles must be principles and not change with time.
Now, let me remind our friends in the media that the greatest moments in the history of the press came not when journalists made common cause with Governments, but when they stood fearlessly independent of it and worked for the greater good of the State. Every now and then, history gives us one big moment.
The NPP had its moment in December 2000.
They had their chance to lead but they chose a polarizing approach to governance instead of an approach that will foster national unity and cohesion.
They equated political power to a hammer and everything they saw resembled a nail. So, they have kept going at their fellow Ghanaians whose only “sin” is that they belong to the other side of the political divide.
December 2008 shall be the big moment for the NDC.
In victory, I shall always remind myself that I am here to change our politics and rally Ghanaians together around our common interests and concerns.
And in John Dramani Mahama, I have found a running mate who is earnest, thoughtful and broad-minded.
He will complement my efforts.
Of course, John Mahama understands what a privilege it is for him to be selected out of the array of talents which abound in our great NDC party. He understands the requirements of team work.
He is a running mate in whom I have great confidence.
He enjoys the support of many, and I have absolute trust and confidence that what he brings to the ticket shall get the majority of Ghanaians to look in the direction of the NDC for a Better Ghana.
I now invite John Dramani Mahama to join me for his official introduction. May God continue to bless our homeland Ghana.
In December 2006, I was entrusted with responsibility for leading the NDC to victory in this year’s general election.
Shortly thereafter, I embarked on a nationwide house- to- house tour to meet and listen to people from all walks of life.
I have spent long hours walking on the beaches interacting with our fisherfolk.
I have spent long hours with our mothers and sisters in the markets I have spent long hours interacting with mechanics, hairdressers, taxi drivers, tro-tro drivers, road-side vendors as well as lots of unemployed youth.
I have spent long hours with, teachers, nurses, students, farmers, and labourers, I have interacted with several local businessmen who have been exiled to the margins of the economy because of partisan political considerations.
I chose this style of retail campaigning tour because, a bottom/up approach to people management, is the pivot around which effective leadership revolves.
And it is in listening, that you come to learn of the real size of the economic burden majority of Ghanaians carry daily.
We have a government today that has declared itself the best in Ghana’s history and painting a picture of Ghana having reached the pinnacle of growth and so cannot do any better.
But Atta Mills and the NDC believe life is a constant struggle to better our circumstances. Only God can speak in absolute terms.
It is unimaginable that the NPP government, made up of mortals, can declare that it has Given Ghanaians the best things ever, especially considering the litany of broken promises since 2001.
What happened to the jobs promised to the youth?
What happened to the size of government which they described as too big when the NDC was in power?
What happened to the cost of living which they promised to reduce when voted into office?
What happened to their affordability theory in relation to the pricing of utilities and services?
What happened to their zero tolerance for corruption pledge? We believe Ghana can do better.
And we will do better under a caring, honest and forthright leadership.
Our agenda for a Better Ghana, which is the product of consultation with Ghanaians from all walks of life, are captured in four thematic concepts which are;
1. Investing In People
2. Job Creation And A Strong Economy
3. Expanding Infrastructure
4. An Open And Transparent Government.
These pillars represent our vision for Ghana’s future - a vision built on change that produces more educated children, jobs and employment opportunities, housing, healthier communities, food, and compassion for those who cannot compete.
Our manifesto which we will soon outdoor, will offer more specifics and Ghanaians will see for themselves how prepared the NDC is, to assume the mantle of leadership to serve this country.
And in all of these, the quality of leadership will matter.
Over the years, there has been no shortage of ideas in this country.
What has often been lacking is effective implementation.
I believe a competent, humble, down-to-earth leadership can make a difference between success and failure.
And as President, I will respond to the challenges of leading this country with the best weapon in life, which is, truth.
I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth. And I will not regard my election as President as some kind of coronation.
My father was a teacher, my mother a trader. They sacrificed for my education. I knew and still know a great deal about families whose household finances are so meager and have to struggle to make ends meet.
Through my own experiences in life, I have developed an understanding of the common man’s needs and wants.
My vision for Ghana is to create the kind of society in which all can pursue and achieve their dreams by setting the right priorities for the nation.
I will ensure that resources available to the country, including anticipated oil revenues, are geared in the direction of the four major policy areas the NDC has defined.
Our elders say ‘WOYE DZA OHIA ANSA WAYE MA OFATA’ It simply means that meeting our basic needs must be our priority.
The government of Atta mills will not engage in profligate expenditure on presidential aircrafts, palaces, lavish anniversary celebrations, and the like.
Yes it is good to celebrate anniversaries, but we will do so in modesty knowing that we must cut our cloth according to our size.
The comfort of our elected officials will never be allowed to take precedence over the welfare of the peoples.
I value public service and I will bring this principle to bear on my Presidency.
I also value truth, and believe what must define Ghana’s leadership in 2009 and beyond is a genuine and public demonstration of our own trustworthiness as leaders.
Ghanaians now think government cannot be trusted to care about their suffering. That should not be the case.
When I say I Care, I will demonstrate it in all my undertakings.
As President, I will strive to restore public faith in government.
And should any member of the Atta Mills government act in ways contrary to our purpose and character, rest assured that Atta Mills will be swift in acting. So much hangs in the balance in this election.
An economy to improve;
A national spirit to refresh;
A nation to reunite after the polarizing politics of the past seven years;
A middle class that needs a Leader who can champion their cause after seven years in the partisan whirlwind;
A damaged international image as a major drug trafficking country, to redeem;
As well as saving the Ghanaian public from the scourge of crime and armed robbery.
I am here to reassure Ghanaians who are tired of politics as usual, that we are committed to a new type of politics which will foster national unity and a new sense of purpose I will not govern according to my desires; I will govern according to the will of the people.
Instead, I make a pledge to engage with opposing points of view because in Atta Mills you will have a President who is going to be a good listener.
Today, we have an NDC party that is more united than ever before.
And I place on record, my profound respect and appreciation to the rank and file of our Great NDC party for your devotion to the cause.
It is your courage and resilience that has kept the NDC alive, and I respect your for that. We should all be proud that we belong to this great political tradition that has the welfare of the people at the core of its agenda.
From the you, the Founder, the great NDC party, former President Rawlings, through the Council Of Elders, National Executives of the party all the way down to the foot soldiers, we are united in our conviction that come December this year, we will wrest power from the NPP.
We will do so not for the sake of it, but so we can give Ghanaians a Better Ghana by investing in the people, building a strong economy and thereby create jobs for the people, expand infrastructure, and operate and open and transparent government.
We only ask the Electoral Commission to do its duty impartially and not succumb to any subtle pressures.
The NDC is wide awake, and we will open our eyes much wider in the coming days and weeks especially when the voters register is re-opened and on voting day itself. Let the ruling Party be in no doubt of the NDC’s strong determination to prevent a repeat of the electoral abuses, including abuse of incumbency, which characterised the 2004 elections.
And I am reminding all Ghanaians to hold the NPP to the same standards they held the NDC to in the run up to the 2000 elections.
Principles must be principles and not change with time.
Now, let me remind our friends in the media that the greatest moments in the history of the press came not when journalists made common cause with Governments, but when they stood fearlessly independent of it and worked for the greater good of the State. Every now and then, history gives us one big moment.
The NPP had its moment in December 2000.
They had their chance to lead but they chose a polarizing approach to governance instead of an approach that will foster national unity and cohesion.
They equated political power to a hammer and everything they saw resembled a nail. So, they have kept going at their fellow Ghanaians whose only “sin” is that they belong to the other side of the political divide.
December 2008 shall be the big moment for the NDC.
In victory, I shall always remind myself that I am here to change our politics and rally Ghanaians together around our common interests and concerns.
And in John Dramani Mahama, I have found a running mate who is earnest, thoughtful and broad-minded.
He will complement my efforts.
Of course, John Mahama understands what a privilege it is for him to be selected out of the array of talents which abound in our great NDC party. He understands the requirements of team work.
He is a running mate in whom I have great confidence.
He enjoys the support of many, and I have absolute trust and confidence that what he brings to the ticket shall get the majority of Ghanaians to look in the direction of the NDC for a Better Ghana.
I now invite John Dramani Mahama to join me for his official introduction. May God continue to bless our homeland Ghana.
