By Francis Quamina Farrier
“Yes, we do have a new president in waiting to take office in January 2017. “It’s the opposition NPP. “Everybody is excited and hopeful things will change for the better.” So wrote my journalist colleague and friend in Ghana, Efam Dovi, to me, after the recent Presidential Election in Ghana.

And today, Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party, is being sworn in as the new President of the Republic of Ghana. This was the third attempt by Nana Akufo-Addo to become the President of Ghana, in his father’s footsteps. He has previously served as Ghana’s Attorney General as well as the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. He was also the Leader of the Opposition in Ghana for two four-year terms. Nana Akufo-Addo is a hero of mine, even though I have never met the gentleman. Let me tell you why that is so.

When he was defeated in the December 2012 Presidential election, Nana Akufo-Addo claimed that he was cheated, and challenged the results which was as close as roughly 50.7 percent to 47.3 percent. In the face of that defeat, he instructed his party members and his supporters not to demonstrate with any protests, and not to engage in any violence. They followed his instructions to the man. Akufo-Addo’s challenge was based on what he claimed, was that those responsible for the registration of voters, did not go to one of his strongholds in the north east region of the country, until it was too late. He claimed that many of those who would have voted for him were effectively disenfranchised.

Nana Akufo-Addo took the matter to the Ghana High Court, but his effort was not successful. On exiting the court after losing the case, he told the Media, “I do not agree with the decision of the court, but I will abide with it.” He then repeated his instructions to his party members and supporters not to protest and not to engage in any violence. For such a selfless and heroic and patriotic act, I am of the view that this Ghanaian politician and patriot should have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. That is something which I’ve told many of my friends and acquaintances here in Guyana, over the past four years.

Just imagine how many lives have been saved by the new Ghanaian president, four years ago, in taking such a stance in the face of losing that 2012 Presidential Election, at which he claimed the was cheated. Nana Akufo-Addo took his seat on the Opposition side of the Ghana Parliament in 2013, and worked as hard as he could with his focus on the 2016 Presidential Election; his patient wait and diligent work has paid off. He gained 5,716,026 votes which was 54 percent of the popular votes. The incumbent, President John Dramani Mahama, secured 4,713,277 which was 44 percent of the votes. Out-going President John Dramani Mahama is the first president in recent Ghana history, to serve just one term. The new president, Nana Akufo-Addo, is the son of a previous president of Ghana.

It is apt to mention that Ghana which is slightly larger than Guyana with 95,000 square miles, and with a population of 25 million, of which 15.7 million are of voting age. Yet the result of that December 2016 Presidential Elections was announced by the Electoral Commissioner, Charlotte Osei, the very next day. Defeated President John Dramani Mahama immediately made a phone call to the victorious Nana Akufo-Addo, conceding defeat and congratulating the newly-elected president. In addressing the Ghanaian people after his victory, the New President praised his predecessor saying, “I think all of us in Ghana have to be thankful that we have in him, a man who is also devoted to peace and stability of our country. “He has comported himself in a manner to ensure a smooth transition.”

Most adult Ghanaians are very involved with their country’s politics. When on a visit to that West African country in 2012, which was an elections year, I saw that for myself. There were scores of large campaign posters all over the place. While travelling on a bus from Kumasi to Tachiman, which is located in the heartland of the country, a heated argument broke out between most of the thirty or more passengers.
Although it was in their native language, I realised that it was about the then up-coming Presidential Elections, since I recognized the names of the principal contestants being mentioned. Even the driver became involved in the argument and was waving his arms all over the place, sometimes both arms were off the steering wheel as the bus was travelling at about 55 mph.

That chaotic situation all ended when a grim-faced woman who was in the seat in front of me, shouted in the local language, what certainly was: “Stop the damn nonsense before the bus crashes and kills all of us.” Because after her out-burst, everyone became quiet and the driver did what he was supposed to do; drive the bus with due care and attention.
In recent years, Ghana set itself a national objective; that is to be regarded as the most peaceful country on the continent in Africa. For the better part, Ghana is making their democracy work. Travelling around most of the country, I saw lots of infrastructural work in progress; highways in particular.

The result of that 2012 Presidential Election, and the patriotic stance of the now-President, Nana Akufo-Addo, was a test of how well such an objective of making Ghana the most peaceful country in Africa, and that it is working well in that West African country. So those here in Guyana who celebrate Ghana Day every year, can do so this year with even greater pride. For those who do not know, in recent years, Ghana Day is celebrated here in Guyana on March 6; the day Ghana celebrates its Independence anniversary, which they gained in 1957. Ghana’s new president is marred to First lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo. They have five daughters and five grand-children.