The President-elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, continues to receive congratulatory messages from foreign and local dignitaries following his election as the President of Ghana at the December 7 presidential polls.

    A former United Nations Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, former President Jerry John Rawlings, the suspended National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Paul Afoko, and a former Attorney-General under the former President Mills administration, Mr Martin Amidu, have all extended congratulatory messages to Nana Akufo-Addo.

Kofi Annan

The former United Nations Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, congratulated Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the people of Ghana on the way they handled what he called “a tense election”.

“I congratulate our new President-elect wholeheartedly, and I also commend President Mahama for graciously conceding defeat,” said Mr Annan.

He said Nana Akufo-Addo would be taking over at a time of economic difficulties but believed that he has the skills and experience to help the country face up to that challenge.

Mr Annan, who is also the chairman of the Kofi Annan Foundation and a Nobel Peace Laureate, praised the people and authorities of Ghana for ensuring a peaceful campaign and for their calm while awaiting the announcement of the results by the Electoral Commission.

“The people of Ghana have proved worthy of our democratic tradition,” he stated.

The Electoral Commission announced late last Friday that Nana Akufo-Addo had secured 53.85 per cent of votes, against his chief rival, incumbent President John Mahama, who received 44.4 per cent.

Local and international observers called the election free and fair.

Mr Annan noted that at a time when democratic traditions were being challenged in some countries in Africa and beyond, a peaceful transition of political power in Ghana “makes me feel proud to be a Ghanaian”.

Dr Ibn Chambas

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, congratulated the people of Ghana on the peaceful, orderly and successful Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

He said the political maturity and sense of responsibility demonstrated by all stakeholders and the commitment of all the leaders of political parties to ensuring that peace and security prevailed during the entire electoral process, constituted one more significant step towards consolidating the country’s democratic achievements.

“I commend President John Dramani Mahama for his exemplary and gracious concession and call on Ghanaians to unite behind the President-elect, Nana Akufo-Addo, as Ghana continues to serve as an inspiration for the rising tide of democracy throughout the African continent,” he said.

Dr Chambas said the United Nations, in coordination with regional partners, would continue to stand in solidarity with the institutions, the leaders and the people of Ghana.

Former President Rawlings

Former President Jerry Rawlings has congratulated New Patriotic Party (NPP) President-elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on his victory in the 2016 general election.

The former President said Nana Akufo-Addo's victory showed that the Ghanaian electorate believed he was an honest leader who could fight corruption.

“Your victory is a manifestation of the people’s desire for new leadership and comes with enormous responsibilities including a commitment to pursue an anti-corruption drive across the board. Ghana faces huge challenges, many of which you promised to tackle during your campaign tours,” he said.

Former President Rawlings said Nana Akufo-Addo had been elected as President because the electorate believed he had the ability to confront those challenges and lead the country with fearlessness, humility and honesty.

“I commend you for committing to be a leader for all Ghanaians in your acceptance address. The onus is on you to pursue a leadership that unifies the people so members of the losing side have no reason to feel insecure,” he added.

Paul Afoko

The suspended National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Paul A. Afoko, has congratulated Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on his election to the high office of the President of the Republic of Ghana.

“The resounding victory you and the NPP chalked up in last Wednesday's Presidential and Parliamentary elections is ample testimony of the fact that, indeed, Ghanaians were really yearning for a change in the governance of our nation, and they believed in your ability to bring that change which would ultimately impact positively on our lives,” he said.

In a statement issued on his behalf by his spokesperson, Nana Yaw Osei, he said it was indeed heart-warming to have listened to the President-elect in his victory speech, promising to be the President for "every single Ghanaian without discrimination, malice or ill will to any ethnic group or political or religious affiliation. “Whether you supported me or not, whether you campaigned for me or not, I can promise you one thing; I will do my best to serve your interests and put our country back on the path of progress and prosperity."

Mr Afoko also commended His Excellency John Dramani Mahama for graciously conceding defeat and promptly calling Nana Akufo-Addo to congratulate him.

Mr Afoko further commended President Mahama and his team for putting up such a spirited fight to maintain power, adding that “but time was simply up”.

“What has transpired so far is victory for democracy and all Ghanaians are to be commended for it.”

“Those of us who are celebrating the victory of the President-elect and the NPP, must surely do so but let us be measured in our celebrations and reach out to those who have not had the result they campaigned for,” he said.

He added that it was now time to show unity and work together in the task of nation-building.

Martin Amidu

Former Attorney General, Mr Martin Amidu, has congratulated Nana Akufo-Addo on his resounding victory.

Mr Amidu, a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), in the build-up to the election, urged the Ghanaian electorate to vote out the John Mahama-led NDC government on account of its inability to retrieve a GH¢51.2 million owed the state by businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome.

 He, has, therefore, urged the incoming NPP government to ensure that the money, with interest, was retrieved.

“Changing a government under which the mass of ordinary people were unnecessarily and needlessly burdened over the years under the yoke of massive and pervasive corruption, deliberate oligarchic mismanagement of abundant natural resources, party political and ethnic cronyism and abject ineptitude peacefully through the ballot box is a feat worthy of emulation by other citizens of the West African subcontinent in particular and Africa in general,” he said.

 Mr Amidu added that he had no doubt that with the wise decision of the Ghanaian people in electing Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as President of the Republic of Ghana, integrity, incorruptibility, probity and accountability in the Ghana body polity would soon be restored.