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 March 31, 2003 as filed with the  Securities
and  Exchange  Commission  on the date hereof (the  "Report"),  I, James J.
O'Brien,  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
May 13, 2003