GNA – President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday attributed Ghana’s long political stability to maturity and patriotism that have kept the people together irrespective of whatever circumstances.
“It is a patriotism that is visible all around us: as we rally together at football matches, as we join hands at the funerals of loved ones, as we support each other – even strangers – in times of emergency and disaster”, he said:
President Mahama made these remarks in a live national broadcast hours after the verdict of the election petition challenging his mandate was pronounced in his favour by the Supreme Court.
He said history had shown that Ghanaians had always possessed a distinct political maturity, “one that has promoted stability in our own country, and has inspired it in other countries on this continent and, even, throughout the developing world.”
For the past eight months the New Patriotic Party led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo and President Mahama’s party the National Democratic Congress were embroiled in a political dispute at the country’s Supreme Court as to who was the legitimate winner of the 2012 Presidential election.
President Mahama said now that the verdict had been given, he would take bold measures that would embolden the country’s political institutions to stand the test of time. He called on all to put behind the election dispute and throw their support behind the government to perform to the expectation of all Ghanaians.
He said he had had a fruitful conversation with Nana Akuffo Addo, Presidential candidate for the NPP in the December 2012 elections, and called on all to bury their political differences and forge ahead for unity that would solidify the country’s democracy.
He added: “This afternoon Nana Akufo-Addo and I had a conversation, and I am assured that with this court case over and the verdict announced, we can now, all of us, put this behind us and turn our full attention back to building this great nation.”
President Mahama commended members of the Supreme Court for the dedication, integrity and professionalism they had exhibited in arriving at the final verdict.
He also commended the media for handling the election petition objectively and professionally, and for constantly holding government accountable to the people of Ghana..
President Mahama said Thursday’s verdict and the peaceful nature that it was done had further raised the political bar of the country among her contemporaries in Africa and beyond, adding “We once again find ourselves in a position to set a standard for the rest of Africa, to lead by practicing and perfecting.”
The President said the development of Ghana was not the sole responsibility of the President and his administration alone, but for all Ghanaians to put their hands on the wheel to uplift the image of the country in the coming years.
“It is my expectation that all Ghanaians are also prepared to work to uplift our nation, because Ghana must succeed.”
GNA
