ACTIVITIES AT STANDSTILL AS MILLS VISITS ELUBO BORDER (PAGE 16)

ECONOMIC activities came to a standstill at the Elubo Border in the Jomoro District of the Western Region when thousands of people defied the early morning downpour to welcome the flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor John Evans Atta Mills, on the Phase III of his tour of the southern part of the Western Region after Sefwi and Wassa areas.
The flag bearer was met on Monday on the outskirts of the town with brass band music and dance. He was left with no option than to join them to dance as they moved into the town.
After a call on chiefs and elders of the town and his door-to-door interaction with shop owners and other people in the town, the flag bearer addressed a rally and promised the people that his government would ensure that the dwindling fortunes of the country were reversed.
He said an NDC government would invest in the local economy, and create an enabling environment for every Ghanaian to benefit from their ventures.
"Let me tell you, the country has discovered oil in the Western Region, through the efforts of a team of devoted Ghanaians, led by Mr Tsatsu Tsikata, who has been denied fair hearing and was sadly thrown into jail, but God is in control. And I can assure you that the oil revenue will be to the benefit of all," he said.
He assured the gathering that even though the oil proceeds were to be the blessing for the whole country, the people of the Western Region would receive prime attention, since the region had given enough for the development of the country.
"Revenue from the oil find will not find its way into the pockets of party faithful, kept in the party office or kept for the benefit of the children of anybody, but rather for the people of this country, with prior attention given you the people of the Western Region," he said.
He said considering the current level of mismanagement, vindictiveness, favouritism by the government, God, through his own wisdom, at the time of the oil find, would ensure that the NDC was positioned to take over the administration of this country to ensure that the blessing was truly felt by the people of Ghana.
About the congestion at the Elubo entry point, the professor said as part of his infrastructural development, he would ensure that roads in the town were constructed to ensure that the town had painted a good picture of the country for visitors who were entering the country through Elubo.
Prof Mills assured the chiefs and elders of the town that his government would not be vindictive and acrimonious, but would be a government for the people, where justice, unity, fellow-feeling and love would overrule injustice and vindictiveness.
He urged Ghanaians not to give up hope saying that change was near and the NDC would take over the administration of the country and offer Ghanaians real motherly government that would not visit pain and hardship on them.
Professor Mills and his entourage then moved to Half-Assini, Tikobo, Benyin and Nkroful.