He may be arguably ungrateful, slow or even lack charisma, but the modesty of President John Evans Atta Mills can be written with gold on iron as he once again demonstrated when he availed himself on Wednesday to the vetting committee of his party; in his private transport to make a historic statement to the tax-payer that their money is safe with him as a president.
Critics of President Mills were ready to undress him of his anti-profligacy and abuse of political power, but got mugged when the president entered the upper chambers of the NDC Headquarters with a low keyed entourage.
The President was driven in a green Toyota Land Cruiser vehicle with registration number GT 8938 R, the same vehicle he used in his 2000, 2004 and 2008 campaign when he lost in a fierce battle to Ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor.
He was well aware that the vetting business he had to attend is outside his constitutionally mandated lines of duty, so decided not to use official vehicle in the private assignment.
A Vice Chairman of the NDC, Dannie Annan, told The Republic newspaper in an interview that, President Mills wanted to appear at the vetting unannounced but for the media attention. He said the president was unhappy with the unexpected traffic jam caused the public, when he picked nomination forms and launched his second term campaign last month.
The size of the crowd that met the President, surprised even bystanders who were hoping to see the usual presidential fleet of convoy and discomfort that usually characterizes the presence of a sitting-president in Ghana.
A source close to the government disclosed that the president has directed his ministers and appointees to focus on their official duties, and not to abandon their offices.
President Mills touched down at the venue at exactly 10:45a.m and went straight into the vetting, which lasted for barely an hour. The President was charged by the Vetting Committee not to break away from the party in the event that he loses the Sunyani primary. President Mills expressed his appreciation at the vetting process and called for unity ahead and after the Sunyani polls.
The Law Professor�s only opponent, Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings, wife of NDC�s Founder, Jerry John Rawlings, concluded her vetting on Tuesday, June 7, 2011. Mrs. Rawlings answered questions bordering on her suitability and preparedness to lead the party into the 2012 general elections.
The process was described by the Chairman of the Vetting Committee, Alhaji Issifu Ali as cordial. He said the process was for the contestants to appreciate the need to comport themselves to prevent the party from splitting after the primaries.
Nana Konadu described the vetting process as �smooth.�
Campaigning is expected to move into a higher gear immediately after vetting.
The party has over 3,000 delegates, including foreign branch representatives, who are expected to cast their ballots during the three-day special congress.
They comprise the Founder of the Party, Leader of the Party and President of the Republic, the Vice President, National Executive Committee Members, Ministers of State, Selected Regional Executives, Committee Members, Parliamentarians and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) who are members of the party.
For the first time in the party�s internal electoral process, the Council of Elders and representatives of the Tertiary Education Institution Network (TEIN) who form a vital component of the party�s constitution have also been included in the number of delegates expected at the Congress. Their inclusion was approved by the National Congress in Tamale early this year.
Source: The Republic/Ghana
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