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It's over -
Akufo-Addo concedes
Accra, Jan. 3, Ghanadot/GNA - Nana Addo
Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Presidential candidate of the New
Patriotic Party (NPP) on Saturday conceded victory to
President-elect Prof. John Evans Atta Mills of the National
Democratic Congress (NDC), saying, “I acknowledge the
Electoral Commission’s declaration and congratulate Prof.
Mills”.
He, however, reiterated concerns raised by the NPP on the
conduct of the elections particularly in the Volta Region,
where it claimed its party agents were barred from parts of
that area during the elections because of violence meted to
them by NDC supporters, questioning the impression created
by the Electoral Commission in announcing the poll’s
results.
“By stating that there is criminal conduct in some
constituencies of the Volta Region and yet announcing the
results, the Electoral Commission has given the unfortunate
impression that it does not matter how votes are being
obtained as long as they are duly recorded”, he told
reporters in Accra.
“The use of violence for electoral advantage is unacceptable
in all circumstances” he said, adding that, the courts would
have to resolve the “illegalities”.
Whilst appealing to his supporters to show restraint in the
face of provocations by NDC supporters, Nana Akufo-Addo
urged Prof. Mills to condemn publicly, acts of violence and
intimidation by his sympathisers and to take concrete steps
to restrain them in order not to undermine the peace and
stability of the nation.
He also called on President J.A. Kufuor, the security forces
and the law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety and
security of the party’s supporters, because “I am concerned
that if positive steps are not taken to protect and to
reassure them, they will be compelled to defend themselves.
“This is a divided country and these times call for
leadership, from all of us so that we can both continue to
build this country.
“Both Prof. Mills and I have an obligation to foster
conciliation and consensus and I pledge to do my part…Our
nation is at the crossroads and we must work together, to
build it peacefully”, he said.
Nana Akufo-Addo urged all members of the party to “remain
steadfast, united and ready to confront the new challenges
that we face in our efforts to build Ghana as a democracy,
where human rights and the rule of law are respected”,
adding, “I believe in Ghana, and God willing, we shall be
back”.
The Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr Kwadwo
Afari-Gyan on Saturday declared Prof. Mills, candidate of
the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the winner of the
Presidential Election Runoff held on December 28 2008 and
January 3, 2009.
Prof. Mills polled 4,521,032 votes or 50.23 per cent while
Nana Akufo-Addo of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) had
4,480,446 votes or 49.77 per cent.
Total valid vote cast was 9,001,478; rejected ballots were
92,886; and total vote cast was 9,094,364 with a voter
turnout of 72.91 per cent.
GNA
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