NDC has deepened democracy

Mr Mahama garnered 213,487 votes, representing 95.23 per cent of the 224,184 valid votes cast, while Prof. Joshua Alabi had 3,404, representing 1.52 per cent.

Mr Alban Bagbin got 2,301 votes, representing 1.03 per cent; Mr Goosie Tanoh obtained 2,091, representing 0.93 per cent; Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah had 1,447, representing 0.65 per cent; Mr Sylvester Mensah garnered 934, representing 0.42 per cent, while Alhaiji Nurideen Iddrisu had 520 votes, representing 0.23 per cent.

The successful organisation of the presidential primary is a leap in the party’s forward march towards the general election of 2020.

While it is in order for the Daily Graphic to congratulate the NDC on organising such a successful primary, it will also not be out of place to encourage both the victor and the losers to bury the hatchet for the good of the party.

The Daily Graphic finds it welcoming that already both the victor and the losers are extending goodwill messages to one another and they seem to be looking at the bigger national interest.

We note with some satisfaction that all the losing candidates have pledged their commitment to the cause of the party and its new leader. After all, there is job to be done.

Prior to the primary, there were ill feelings as a result of the contest. Political vigilantism and its related violence also hurt the good democratic image of the country.

It was, therefore, the prayer and wish of many lovers of democracy that the NDC would come out of the nationwide exercise unscathed.

Now that all is over and the party has come out of the exercise peacefully and showed clear direction, it is time to heal the wounds and reach out to all factions within the party to bring about unity, as well as position the party strongly to play its role in the good governance process.

This is an essential requirement to help deepen democracy in the country. This is because no party can make any impact if it has a divided front.

Fortunately for the NDC, the delegates have spoken with one clear voice and the party can only build on this good fortune.

We at the Daily Graphic once again congratulate the NDC on coming out of a rather tense contest peacefully and wish it well as it collaborates and cooperates constructively with the government to ensure better standards of living or improved living conditions for the citizenry.