Ghana emerges victorious again

On December 9, Ghana's democracy received another boost when President John Dramani Mahama conceded defeat to the President-elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

By that concession, President Mahama has become the first sitting president of the republic to lose an election and subsequently concede defeat to his contender.

Much as the concession was mandatory, given that it is a constitutional requirement, it must be noted that it is very rare in our part of the world, where majority of losing parties often fail to step down.

For us at the Graphic Business, the ability of Nana Akufo-Addo's New Patriotic Party (NPP) to peacefully wrest power from President Mahama's National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the polls makes Ghana the ultimate winner, which will go a long way to cement the enviable reputation the country has in the comity of nations.

After being the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to achieve independence in 1957, Ghana has continued to be a trail blazer in a region where political and social conflicts are rife.

Since 1992, the country has successfully and peacefully changed governments between the two main parties -- the NDC and the NPP -- without resorting to the gun, which is not the case in most neighbouring countries.

While this is good for the image of the country, we see it as a good starting point for a strong economic takeoff under the new president and the team that he will be assembling shortly.

Like money, investors are cowards who will quickly flee from places that are prone to conflict. The reverse happens in countries and economies that have earned a name and reputation for peaceful and transparent change in governments.

This explains why both the losers and the winners of the December 7 general election will have to take the outcome of the election in good fate.

Instead of antagonising each other or themselves for the results (in the case of the winners or blaming one another for the loss in the case of the losers), it is advisable that President Mahama and the NDC do some stocktaking devoid of acrimony in a manner that will ensure that the country has a credible and strong opposition ready to constructively criticise the government and offer alternative policy suggestions.

For the NPP, there is no need belabouring the point that expectations from the citizenry on their ability to turn their fortunes around are rife and volatile.

This requires that the party puts together a competent set of leaders to steer the affairs of the country in a manner that will ensure that every Ghanaian, especially their supporters, are better off.

This way, we would have been ensuring that our beloved Ghana, not individuals, emerges winner from the historic December 7 general election that successfully ousted a sitting president.

That said, the Graphic Business also wishes to congratulate the President-elect for leading his team to victory.

With the election gone and the dust of acrimony from campaigning settled, it is imperative for both President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo and President Mahama to put their heads together to help soothe the wounds for nation building to continue in earnest.

Once again, the Graphic Business will like to say ‘ayekoo’ to President-elect and Vice-President-elect, Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.— GB