
                                                        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 Annual  Report of Ashland Inc.  (the  "Company") on
Form 10-K/A 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
-----------------------
Chief Executive Officer
March 20, 2003


