By Iddi Yire/Christopher Arko
Accra, Dec 09, GNA – President-elect John Dramani Mahama has delivered a high pitch victory speech, rallying the nation to development and patriotism.
He called on Ghanaians to see his victory as one for every Ghanaian, expressing gratitude for offering him the opportunity once more serve them as their next leader.
He delivered his victory speech at his Cantonment Office in Accra, a few hours after the Electoral Commission declared him winner of the December 7 presidential election with 56.55 per cent of valid votes cast.
“Every victory is a victory for all of the people, the President-elect said.
“Let us be brief in our celebration, for the weight of office will be an onerous one. Expectations of Ghanaians are very high and we cannot afford to fail them. Let us maintain and even magnify this joy and positivity that we feel.”
“We have arrived at this moment because so many of you believed that change was possible. And now we know that not only is change possible, but it is also already in process.
“And let us continue to believe that we are already moving towards the Ghana we want, the Ghana of our hopes and dreams.
“And in this Ghana where we have turned a new circle and are setting a new tone, our best days are not behind us. My brothers and sisters, our best days are ahead of us. May God bless you.”
President-elect Mahama said it was with tremendous humility that he accepted the clear mandate that had given him to lead Ghanaians as their next President.
“Every vote that was cast in this election carried the same weight. Every vote also carried a hope in the future of our country,” he said.
“I promise you that I will assemble and lead a government that will carry the weight of those hopes and dreams, whether you voted for me or not, because every victory is a victory for the people, all of the people.
“Each time we have free and fair elections and then conduct a smooth transfer of power, it reaffirms that our history of leadership and trailblazing was not an aberration”.
The President-elect said it was not by accident that Ghana was the first nation in black Africa to win its independence from colonial rule.
He said it was not by accident that a Ghanaian, Kofi Annan, was the first Black person to serve as UN Secretary General.
He said it also was not by accident that so many Ghanaians out there in the world were blazing new trails and being recognised as leaders in their industry.
He said despite being a relatively small nation, Ghana had been and would continue to be a mighty force on the world stage; saying, “We’re proud people and have every reason to be”.
“When Ghana rises, we all stand tall with her and Africa rises with us too”.
GNA