Accra — One of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) stalwarts, whose name has come up as a strong contender for the running mate slot of the party, has called on media speculators to leave the party's leader, Professor John Atta Mills alone to make that decision.

Reacting to recent publications in the Ghanaian media, which she said had been brought to her attention, Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu, the Director at the Commonwealth Secretariat, said she still stood by statements she made to sections of the Ghanaian press during her last visit to Ghana.

"During that visit to the country in July, I was interviewed by some sections of the press as to these rumors and I stated categorically that I have not been approached by Professor Mills or the party Founder, H. E. Jerry John Rawlings in respect of the running mate position," she emphasized.

Mrs. Mould Iddrisu continued that it was the prerogative of the professor to select his running mate and that it was unfair to try and tie his hands by baseless speculation.

According to her she follows the activities of the NDC with great interest and that of the nation passionately, and hopes to return to serve her dear nation in the near future when her tenure at the Commonwealth Secretariat comes to an end.

Her statement comes few days after Mr. Victor Emmanuel Smith (Special Aide and Director of Public Affairs) of the office of former president Rawlings had issued a statement debunking a recent publication by The Point newspaper titled 'Rawlings okays Betty Mould as Mills' running mate', which he described as "absolutely false and should be disregarded".

Mr. Victor Smith's statement, titled: Re-NDC Running Mate, concluded that "the leadership is not unaware of the overwhelming choice of the masses and wish to assure all party faithful that the flag-bearer will at the opportune time, in consultation with the party's council of elders and other appropriate organs of the party, announce a running mate who will reflect the desire of the masses across the length and breadth of the nation.'

Below is Betty Mould-Iddrisu's full statement

Recent publications in the Ghanaian media have been brought to my attention in regard to the choice of the NDC running mate. These publications have speculated on my being offered the position of running mate by the NDC Leader, Professor John Atta Mills.

For the record I wish to state that I have not been to Ghana since my trip there in July this year and therefore I am at a complete loss as to these speculative publications. During that visit in July I was interviewed by some sections of the Press as to these rumors and I stated categorically that I had not been approached by Professor Mills or the party founder H. E. Jerry John Rawlings in respect of the running mate position.

I further stated that it was the prerogative of the Leader to select his running mate and that it was unfair to try and tie his hands by baseless speculation. These statements remain true today.

I follow the activities of the NDC with great interest as indeed I follow all our national activities passionately. I hope to return to serve my dear nation, Ghana, again in the near future, when my spell at the Commonwealth Secretariat comes to an end.