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Thank you, people of Ghana; ordinary citizens who voted in that West African nation's recent Presidential elections.
Ghana has lived up to its legacy as The Black Star once again.
Ghanaians deserve our congratulations; our encouragement; and, our endorsement, as they consolidate durable institutions of state that will enhance their country's remarkable economic recovery.
Next week, Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th president of the United States of America; the first African American to win that office -- moreover a man whose father was a Kenyan.
There is great symbolism here.
Obama, if he so chooses next week during his inauguration speech, could mention Ghana's achievements and what it portends for the rest of the African continent.
Ghanaians did a remarkable thing; they showed the whole world that given the opportunity, African people can conduct free, fair, and open elections in a mature manner.
There was no chaos; no intimidation by the armed forces and the police; and no political murders on the streets. There were no state-sponsored militia kidnapping or killing opposition candidates.
Voters went to the polls and cast their votes; they exercised their preference for presidency freely -- a rarity in much of Africa. Ghanaians elected John Atta Mills, the opposition candidate, over Nana Akufo Addo, candidate of the ruling party.
Akufo Addo had won the majority in the first round; but the margin did not exceed what was required in order to avoid a runoff. Again, the runoff was close and the final result hinged on the outcome in one constituency where polling material had not arrived on time; in one voting district, with 53,000 registered voters.
Akufo Addo grumbled slightly; he asked that the poll be delayed. Yet, his own party "the ruling party of then incumbent president John Kuffuor?" told him in no uncertain terms that the vote would proceed.
Ghanaians voted; and Atta Mills won, narrowly.
Akufo Addo did not demand for a recount; he did not reject the outcome; and, he did not tell his supporters to take to the streets. He called the victor and congratulated him.
All Ghanaians were winners; all Africans were winners; and, all supporters for elected governance and accountability around the world took heed.
Contrast Ghana's mature and shining conduct with the recent string of sham and stolen elections on the continent: in Zimbabwe, in Kenya, in Nigeria, in Ethiopia, and in Uganda.
Readers Comments:
Jan 14 2009
1.
RK,
Indeed, Ghananians have demonstrated that Africa is not totally full of vice. How did these brothers and sisters manage it? I think the rest of us have a lot of homework to learn what to do before, during and after elections. Every Ugandan should take it upon himself/herself to ensure that the next elections will not be a mokery of democracy: let us educate our people to desist from and reject rigging tedencies, use of bribes, intimidation of opponents. If the country gets support from within and without, there is more to gain.
As an example,the electorate would refuse to participate in any form of election mal-practices, even if someone brought money in sacks just to but a vote, let whoever is approached refuse the money. Your vote is more important than that money. It is more democratic to cast your vote for the candidate of your choice, even if he loses as long as there is no mal-practice, you remain satisfied but with open rigging in place, people are forced to make noice about rigging and the concerned are dragged to court.
The Electoral Commission, the police, the army, the candidates and the electorate, please letus join the Ghananians in conducting fair elections, let us make Africa a proud continent it deserves to be; we have everything on this earth, why should we be a laughing stock when we are able to shine as demonstrated by Ghana?
My heart bleeds with pain when we continue to shed blood in order to keep the seats in parliament, is it bad to lose?
Mo Tata
2.
Dear RK,
what happened in Ghana is historical for African countries just as election of Obama is historical for the whole world. When we talk of democracy, it seems Ghana is having the western type of democracy which is the real democracy. But it seems to me the other African countries have developed their own way of understanding democracy to suit their egoistic selfish goals. When I saw what happened in eletcions in Kenya, Uganda, etc then I knew these leaaders are dictators even if some people would oppose what im saying.
I think when you compare open dictatorship with the so-called democracy of Uganda, then I better go for open dictator like that of Ghaddafi of Libya where all are treated well and are given all the services free like medical, education, better infrastructure, etc they need and even given money monthly even if you do not work, just because it is the national resources which need to be shared by all the citizens even if not shared equally.Now i know when you talk of dictatorship, you already get bad connotation of the term, but let me tell you the democracy of those of M7 is worse than the dictatorship of Gadaffi.
Uganda can only escape from this poor dictatorship of M7 if the next president does not see Uganda in terms of tribes but as a nation of a people. M7 has created ill-feelings against each tribe in Uganda and this can in turn develop spirit of revenge which is bad for a unity government. Now it is westerners against the rest of Ugandans, next may be central against the westerners or the rest of Uganda. This is my personal opinion from my research, I think from all the presidents of Uganda, it is only Amin and Obote 1, who had the national interests at heart. The rest have only their families and friends or in-laws at heart. Please if you want to dispute what im saying, do not base your argument on what the western world has said but from the facts on the ground like the economy, corporations, infrastructure, health, etc.
I have also come to study the western world and I have no trust in some of them. Therefore, I still feel the western world has a big role in what is happening in Zimbabwe although many of our readers think the problem is Mugabe which I'm starting to doubt very much after doing my own research.
Anyway, I pray that what happened in Ghana may start spreading to other parts of africa. we should see Ghana as our father of democracy just as they were the first country on the continent to gain independence, so they are also for me the first country on the continent to give us good example of democracy where opposition leader can win without much complains from the ruling party. Of course I can not forget Tanzania of Julius Nyerere, although it was mostly the ruling party candidate who wins in Tanzania. It's my pray and should be everyone's pray that the rest of Africans change to see the good example set so that we may always follow. Otherwise if you make your citizens poor so that you come to buy votes from them during elections as it has been happening in Uganda or Kenya, then your're really a dictator who should be removed with lethal power. Thank you once again RK,
Benoit - ARIWARA (DRC)
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