-
People celebrate the election of John Atta Mills as Ghana's President at the Pure Fire Miracle Church in Achimota, Accra as Africa hailed the largely peaceful and credible election - Source: Reuters -
Related
Ghana's largely peaceful and credible presidential election was
a rare example of a functioning democracy in Africa and should be a
model for the continent, African leaders, voters and diplomats
said.
Much attention in Africa and elsewhere was focused on the Ghanaian
vote after a year of political crises, many of them violent,
tarnished Africa's democratic credentials.
Opposition candidate John Atta Mills was declared the winner on
Saturday after the closely fought election in the gold and cocoa
exporter was settled by a run-off.
"John Atta Mills' victory and the conduct of the people of Ghana
provides a rare example of democracy at work in Africa," Kenya's
prime minister Raila Odinga said in a statement.
While some violence was reported, international observers say the
vote was mostly peaceful, in contrast with many other African
countries, where democracy was battered in 2008.
More than 1,000 people were killed in post-election violence in
Kenya last year and in Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and
opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai have been deadlocked for months
over a power-sharing agreement after disputed elections.
"Ghanaians can and should take pride in this democratic
achievement. With their continuing show of commitment to the
democratic process, Ghana and its leaders are setting an admirable
example," UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a
statement.
Coup
Mauritania's first freely elected leader was overthrown in a
military coup in August and army officers in Guinea took power
after the death of President Lansana Conte in December.
South Africa, is likely to go to the polls in March in what
analysts expect will be its most tense vote since the end of
apartheid in 1994, after a power struggle split the ruling African
National Congress last year.
"(The Ghanaian election) bears testimony to the respect for
democracy and good governance in Africa," South African President
Kgalema Motlanthe said. "The people of Ghana ... have through the
ballot paper showed their appreciation for democracy," he said in a
statement.
Ghana's neighbour and fellow cocoa producer Ivory Coast again
postponed presidential elections last year and analysts say they
are unlikely to be held before the end of 2009 due to delays in
disarmament and voter registration.
"In this country, elections are always held in chaos, and it's the
strongest who wins," said taxi driver Alpha Kante in Abidjan. "If
Ghanaians have voted for a new president without making a fuss,
it's good, and we must try to do the same."
Nigeria, whose presidential election result was upheld last month
after a legal challenge from defeated candidates, said the Ghanaian
experience should be replicated in nearby countries.
"I hope and pray that the spirit with which the election has been
fought and won will be nurtured and promoted not only in Ghana, but
also in West Africa," said Musiliu Obanikoro, Nigeria's High
Commissioner to Ghana.
Britain's Baroness Valerie Amos, who led an election monotoring
group from the Commonwealth, which includes several African states,
said the electoral process was generally credible, while ordinary
Ghanaians also hailed the vote.£
"The election shows that Ghana is a shining example of democracy on
a continent that is struggling to get recognition," said Richard
Nunoo, a mechanic in the capital Accra.
World News Video
-
Dangerous rush to Everest summit (1:59)
-
Dozens killed in Syrian massacre (2:09)
-
'King of Romance' competes in Eurovision (1:46)
