Ghana’s president-elect, John Mahama, says the last eight years under the
outgoing administration have been among the darkest moments in the country’s
history, noting that Ghanaians have expressed their intolerance for bad
governance.
Mr Mahama made this statement in his victory speech on
Monday after the Electoral Commission (EC) declared him the winner of
Saturday’s presidential election.
He defeated the incumbent Vice President, Mahamudu
Bawumia, by a margin of 1.8 million votes, a result widely described as a
referendum on the current administration’s performance.
The opposition candidate secured about 6.3 million
votes, compared to Mr Bawumia’s 4.5 million.
Although Mr Mahama commended Mr Bawumia for conceding
defeat early to ease tension, he did not hold back in criticising the outgoing
administration.
He said the “misrule” of the current government would
take years to reverse.
“This mandate represents many things for political
actors. It shows that the Ghanaian people have little tolerance for bad
governance,” Mr the president-elect said, adding, “These last eight years have
been a dark period for our nation.”
Mr Mahama admitted that it would not be easy to pull
the country out of the “abyss”, noting that his government would implement
drastic measures to get the country back on track.
He also disclosed that incumbent President Nana
Akufo-Addo called him to expedite the transition process by inaugurating a
transition committee on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Mr Mahama has asked his supporters to
celebrate the victory peacefully, warning against looting or vandalising
properties.
“I will keep the door open”— VP
The Vice President-elect, Jane Opoku-Agyemang, wearing
a face mask, also addressed the crowd at the rally, promising to open more
opportunities for women.
Mrs Opoku-Agyemang, a former minister of education, is
the first female vice president-elect in Ghana’s history.
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