SA applauds Ghana's new leader
Bathandwa Mbola
6 January 2009
South African President Kgalema Motlanthe has congratulated John Atta Mills on his election as Ghana's president, saying it brought hope to millions of Ghanaians, West Africa and the continent as a whole.
"South Africa reaffirms its commitment to work together with you for the political unity and integration of the African continent," Motlanthe said in a statement on the weekend.
He said the election bore testimony to Ghana's respect for democracy and good governance in Africa, and congratulated the people of Ghana, "who have, through the ballot paper, showed their appreciation for democracy."
On Saturday, Ghana's electoral commission declared Mills, a former vice-president, as the winner of the presidential run-off election held on 28 December. The voter turn-out was 72.9%.
Mills, the candidate of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), obtained 4 521 032 votes, representing 50.23% of the valid votes cast, while Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), got 4 480 446 or 49.77% of the vote.
Mills won eight out of 10 regions, while Akufo-Addo won two regions. In the first round of voting, on 7 December, Nana Akufo-Addo had won three regions.
Motlanthe wished Mills good health, prosperity and a successful term of office, saying South Africa looked forward to strengthening ties with Ghana.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also congratulated the people and government of Ghana on the peaceful and organised end to their recent presidential and legislative elections.
"Ghanaians can and should take pride in this democratic achievement," Ban said in a statement issued by his spokesperson. "With their continuing show of commitment to the democratic process, Ghana and its leaders are setting an admirable example."
He noted the dedication and professionalism of the West African nation's Electoral Commission, and commended the political parties and their leadership for their "statesmanlike conduct" during the final stages of voting.
Meanwhile, President-elect Mills has named a 12-member transitional team to work with the outgoing Kufuor government to ensure a smooth handing over of the national administration, and to advise on the nomination of officebearers in the new government.
Source: BuaNews
