We will hold you to your word, Mr President-Elect

The 2016 General election is now a thing of the past and Ghanaians have scored another point for conducting peaceful and fair elections.

The people’s apprehension before the December 7 elections has now given way to relief, especially after the incumbent President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, conceded with a phone call to the winner of the presidential election, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

After gracefully accepting defeat, President Mahama has, together with President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo, proceeded with the inauguration of a transitional team to see to a smooth transition from one government to another on January 7, 2017.

At this moment, all seems to be going well, with many leaders, both local and international, hailing Ghana for once again showing the way as the beacon of democracy in a troubled sub-region.

This ‘honeymoon’ will, however, be over soon after the handover of power to an NPP government on January 7, next year.

When that happens, Ghanaians who voted for the incoming government and even those who did not will look up to the new government to fulfil to the letter its campaign promises.

Apart from looking forward to changes in their circumstances promised on the campaign platforms, Ghanaians expect a dam in every village and a factory in each district, as trumpeted on the NPP presidential candidate’s campaign trail.

Ghanaians also expect to see if the current progressively free senior high school (SHS) in which day students are bailed out will metamorphose into the free SHS he championed in the 2012 elections and during the just-ended elections.

President-elect Akufo-Addo has also pledged to fight corruption with the setting up of an independent prosecutor’s office and anti-corruption crusaders are waiting with bated breath to see that come into fruition.

These and all the pledges made in the NPP manifesto are what the average Ghanaian is looking forward to from the incoming government.

The Daily Graphic congratulates President-elect Akufo-Addo on his victory in the December 7 elections and would like to remind him of his promise made in his acceptance speech on the night of December 9 when President Mahama conceded.

“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.

“Fellow Ghanaians, you have not elected me to serve one party but to serve the entire nation. The President of Ghana is President for every single Ghanaian, without discrimination, malice or ill-will towards any ethnic group or political or religious affiliation.

“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,” he said.

We will hold you, Mr President-elect, to these words and all the promises you made during the electioneering.

Once again we say congratulations on a well-fought contest and pray that you succeed in making Ghana great and strong.

The Daily Graphic also salutes President Mahama for conceding defeat to pave the way for the third peaceful transition of power from a ruling government to an opposition party and enhancing Ghana’s democratic credentials.