People in his own NDC, especially his opponents in the Konadu camp and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NDC), have already started raising issues about the massive show of wealth and power by President Mills last Thursday when he went to pick nomination forms to contest the party primary, thereby earning the President the nickname ‘Atta Cash’.
So far, the only explanation that has been proffered by close aides to the President for this lavish spending is that he is not the one financing all these but a supposed ‘Get Atta Mills Endorsed’ (GAME) group.
However, the names and identities of the individuals behind GAME are being kept under wraps, thereby raising suspicion that it was Mills himself hiding behind a pseudonym to prosecute his own agenda.
The NPP has openly criticised the level of affluence, profligacy and show of power exhibited by the man who makes claims of abhorring what he himself has always touted as ‘profligate spending.’
President Mills took the entire country by surprise when hordes of party foot-soldiers, Ministers and their deputies, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in droves were mobilized to shore up support for his bid.
Communications Director of the NPP and Member of Parliament for Okaikoi South, Nana Akomea, believes the anxiety of the country on the possible misuse of public funds and abuse of incumbency at these revelations was heightened by the opulence displayed last Thursday, emphasizing that “the NPP said it shares the disgust of many Ghanaians at the show of opulence, profligacy, disregard for public order and time that attended the occasion of President Mills picking up nomination forms.”
Albeit the fact that government business was affected, the entire capital city came to a standstill amidst heavy vehicular traffic under the scorching sun as the President paraded the streets of Accra in a snail-pace moving convertible Toyota V8 vehicle, responding to cheers.
The event was broadcast for over six hours on national television, GTV, with an estimated cost of not less than GH¢18,000 (¢180million) and radio to every Ghanaian home that wished to follow the event of the day.
Apart from accommodation which was provided for those who travelled from both far and near, each of the several party foot-soldiers who attended the event was said to have been handsomely rewarded with cash, notwithstanding subsequent promises that are being made to potential delegates in the various regions and constituencies by national officers of the party, most of who have declared open support for the President.
In a statement issued in Accra yesterday, Nana Akomea expressed dismay at the level to which such opulence and resultant suffering were visited on Accra and its residents just for President Mills to pick up nomination forms since it was not the first time he had picked nomination forms.
This, he said, was evident from the fact that Prof. Mills picked forms for the 2000, 2004 and 2008 elections.
“On none of these occasions was the country subjected to the opulent display and horrible inconvenience in Accra as witnessed last Thursday, 5th May 2011, when the so-called ‘humble’ President J.E.A Mills picked forms to contest his party’s flagbearership race”, he said, asking rhetorically, “What does this do for the admonition that political leaders have to be moderate in keeping our status as a poor developing country?”
The NPP Communications Director believes that if the amount of GH¢90million (over $60million) earmarked for President Mills’s campaign was just for internal party elections, then, according to him, “It is a better Ghana indeed.”
By Charles Takyi-Boadu
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