Exhibit 99.1


                                  ASHLAND INC.


                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


In connection with the Quarterly  Report of Ashland Inc. (the "Company") on
Form  10-Q  for the  period  ended  December  31,  2002 as  filed  with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission on the date hereof (the  "Report"),  I,
Paul  W.  Chellgren,  Chief  Executive  Officer  of the  Company,  certify,
pursuant to 18 U.S.C.  Section 1350, as adopted  pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to the best of my knowledge, that:

(1)      The Report fully complies with the  requirements  of section 13(a)
         or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)      The information  contained in the Report fairly  presents,  in all
         material  respects,   the  financial   condition  and  results  of
         operations of the Company.



/s/ James J. O'Brien
- ---------------------------
James J. O'Brien
Chief Executive Officer
February 13, 2003