Mills' Health Saga: Rawlings Responds To Allegations Over His Involvement

Former President Jerry Rawlings has responded to allegations making rounds in the media about his involvement in news about Prof. Mills’ health status. In a statement issued from his office Monday evening , February 4, 2008 and signed by his Special Assistant and Public Affairs Director, Mr. Victor Smith, he said his attention has been drawn to a series of media reports and commentaries on the health of the National Democratic Congress (NDC’s) Presidential Candidate, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills. He referred to the stories as ‘insinuations’ that he, is behind a ‘Bring Mills Down’ campaign. Former President Rawlings says he views the media reports as ‘very disturbing’ because Prof. Mills has come out on two occasions to say he is well and undergoing routine medical check ups in South Africa. According to the statement, Former President Rawlings even finds as more disturbing the extremely disgraceful story on the internet which said Prof. Mills had died. In the statement Rawlings said, he has at all times maintained close contact with Prof. Mills and he is aware of his condition and “ability to help rid this country of opportunists who are now convinced they own our country.” He described as very mischievous the way some persons who claim to love “our dear party” are casting aspersions that he and his wife are behind the myriad of media reports on Prof. Mills’ health. Former President Rawlings asserts in the statement that a few personalities in the NDC have become intoxicated with the smell of (personal) power and hate for him and his wife to the extent that they are unable to see how their greed, selfishness and lust are becoming an obstacle to the NDC’s victory and Ghana’s redemption. The statement further said Ghana is at the precipice of a political disaster because of the mismanagement of every aspect of Ghana’s social fabric by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) led by President Kufuor, and which now has Nana Akufo-Addo as its Presidential candidate. Former President Rawlings claims in the statement that because the NPP has recognised how formidable the opposition has become, because of the gross disenchantment of Ghanaians, and realising that a clean campaign will lead to an embarrassing loss in December, the NPP, supported by sections of the media who lack ethics and balance in their reportage have resorted to mudslinging and below-the-belt tactics to win the election. He called on all NDC members to be united and lead the party to victory in December.