Joseph Robinette Biden Jr and Donald Trump
The five-day nail biting results of the United States presidential election saw Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., 77, of the Democrats ousting his Republican contender and incumbent Donald Trump, 74, from the White House.
The whole world’s attention, Ghana not an exception, was transfixed on America for the five-day session of roller coasting.
Questions were posed as to how a country representing quintessential democratic values would be in the kind of quandary the US found itself in when a cloud of confusion appeared to cover the whole process.
Orders for stoppage of counting in some states because Mr. Trump suspected electoral fraud added to the confusion.
In the end when the final whistle was blown as it were on Saturday, the man Trump loved to tease ‘Sleepy Joe’ snatched the seat with a 290-214 of majority of the Electoral College votes.
As the suspense lasted and the key swing states results remained outstanding, Pennsylvania and others, both candidates said they were victorious.
It was the postal votes about which Mr. Trump had earlier expressed apprehension that turned the tables in favour Mr. Biden.
There was a global ecstasy when the verdict was announced on major international news networks as haters of Mr. Trump partied in celebration.
Mr. Trump has dismissed the results as fraudulent, announcing that his campaign team will commence legal proceedings today.
He has not provided any evidence of such electoral fraud anyway, and Americans, especially his opponents, await the contents of his challenge.
Both President Akufo-Addo and the opposition NDC flag bearer, John Mahama, have congratulated the President-elect for his triumph.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Chief has congratulated Mr. Biden, describing the former Vice-President under Barack Obama as a strong supporter of the alliance.
The work ahead of the President-elect who will be sworn in next year January 20 is enormous and as his former boss, Barack Obama, said “he faces a series of extraordinary challenges no incoming President has ever faced.”
Mr. Biden is coming into the White House with the first woman of colour to hold the position of Vice-President. The daughter of an immigrant, Kamila Harris, has said that “although I am the first woman of colour to hold this position, I would not be the last. It is not about Biden or me; it is about the soul of America.”
In a speech which elated many across the world, Mr. Biden said “let us end the grim era of dehumanisation.” To the supporters of Mr. Trump, he said “give us a chance.”
He told his teeming supporters as he was joined by his extended families and Ms. Harris’ during his maiden speech after winning the presidency that it was time to listen to each other again. “This is a time for healing,” he added.
As the second Catholic to be elected President of the US, Mr. Biden’s Biblical quotation from Ecclesiastics underscored the importance the man attached to the scriptures.
His speech, unlike the divisive ones the US has been used to in the past four years, was conciliatory. “Americans have spoken. Let us be a country we know we can be,” he said.
At the time of his speech on Saturday after midnight, Ghana time, he did not mention receiving a call from Mr. Trump. It is normal for calls to be made to the winner by the loser, an unwritten convention in US politics.
One of the priorities he has announced is the fight against Covid-19, about which he has already set up a committee to manage.
Mr. Biden appears to have hit the ground running even before swearing his oath of office.
By A.R. Gomda