President-Elect Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo addressing and wife, Rebecca
President-elect Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says his aim is not to pursue his political opponents, assuring Ghanaians that he is to restore hope to the country.
Nana Akufo-Addo, who was declared winner of last Wednesday’s presidential election by the chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Charlotte Osei, with 53.85% as against incumbent President John Mahama’s 44.40%, declared, “I make this solemn pledge to you today. I will not let you down and will do all in my power to live up to your hopes and expectations.”
The president-elect indicated that he would head an anti-corruption regime to rid the country of graft saying, “I am fully committed to pursuing an anti-corruption drive across board.”
For him, that would be the best form of security for every citizen of the country under his leadership.
This was in response to a congratulatory message from former President Rawlings in which the former leader charged him to pursue a leadership that unifies the people so that members of the losing party would have no reason to feel insecure.
President Mahama’s government has been accused of condoning corrupt acts with several cases of alleged corruption being swept under the carpet uninvestigated.
“The onus is on you to pursue a leadership that unifies the people so members of the losing side have no reason to feel insecure,” Rawlings said, stressing the belief that Nana Addo’s victory is a manifestation of the people’s desire for new leadership which comes with enormous responsibilities, including a commitment to pursue an anti-corruption drive across board.
Rawlings further charged Nana Akufo-Addo to tackle the numerous challenges facing Ghana as promised by him during his campaign.
“Ghana faces huge challenges, many of which you promised to tackle during your campaign tours. You have been elected as president because the electorate believe you have the ability to confront these challenges and lead the country with fearlessness, humility and honesty,” the former president noted.
In a statement acknowledging receipt of Mr Rawlings’s message, Nana Akufo-Addo emphasized, “There can be no room in such an undertaking for witch-hunting or acts of political vendetta or harassment.”
He assured, “No member of the NDC has anything to fear from my future government.”
Commitment
The man said, “I am fully committed to pursuing an anti-corruption drive across board as you put it, which will be fully anchored in the rule of law and strict respect for due process.”
The president-elect believes “That is the best form of security for every citizen of the country because our people, as clearly expressed in your letter, are confronted with huge challenges – unprecedented levels of joblessness, high cost of living, widespread and rampant cases of corruption and deterioration in governance and in the quality of our health and education services – which they want addressed.”
According to Nana Addo, “My goal is to provide effective leadership, which is honest, competent and determined to deliver, and address these challenges, so that we can put our nation onto the path of progress and prosperity, and, thereby, improve rapidly the standard of living of Ghanaians.”
For this to happen, the Nana said, “I would need the unalloyed support of every Ghanaian, irrespective of their ethnic group or religious or political affiliation.”
Assurance
Earlier, Nana Akufo-Addo had expressed profound gratitude to Ghanaians in general for the overwhelming support they gave him in the course of his campaign and for voting for him, singling out certain individuals and interest groups for mention, whiles paying glowing tribute to the memories of the party faithful who fell in the course of the campaign, including Adams Mahama, Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, J.B Danquah-Adu, Peter Wiafe Peprah, Abubakar Saddique, Kwabena Boadu, among others.
Akufo-Addo also entreated the rank and file of his party [the NPP] to respect the peace, the property and lives of everybody, especially their political opponents, saying, “We are the party of the rule of law, and we should act accordingly with magnanimity in our moment of victory.”
He said, “Whether you supported me or not, whether you campaigned for me or not, whether you voted for me or not, I can promise you one thing. I will do my best to serve your interests, and put our country back on the path of progress and prosperity.
“I am confident, and I have faith that with God’s guidance and your active help and hard work, we will move our country forward. Together, we will change Ghana, and use all the blessings that the Almighty has bestowed on us to bring prosperity to our people and nation in our time. Together we will fulfill the destiny of Ghana, the destiny of freedom, justice and prosperity that the ancestors and founders of our nation defined for us,” were his exact words.
Mahama’s Concession
Even before the Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) could come out to declare the results of the presidential poll, President John Dramani Mahama had called Akufo-Addo to concede defeat.
“I have decided at this stage to congratulate the President-elect,” he said during a national broadcast from his home.
He therefore assured the people of Ghana of his commitment to help sustain the country’s democracy, with a promise to work to ensure a smooth and peaceful transition to the incoming administration.
“As president, I have done my bit and made a contribution to the political, social and economic development of our country. I would have cherished an opportunity to do even more, but I respect the will of the Ghanaian people,” he said with an almost trembling voice.
He thanked all who made his term of office a success.
“To all of the people who cheered us on, who gathered at rallies to show their support, and who queued in long lines to vote for me, I know that this is not the outcome that we wanted and hoped for, but I say to you that this day should not mark the defeat of your role in this nation’s political process,” Mahama underscored on Sunday.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu