Mills: I accept the challenge; I'll be president for all

Accra, Jan. 3, GNA - The President-Elect, Prof. John Evans Ata Mills on Saturday said he had accepted the challenge to be the President and gave the assurance that he would be the President for all Ghanaians. "There will be no discrimination. Atta Mills will be father to everybody," he said, as he delivered his victory speech to thousands of supporters, who thronged the Osu Kuku Hill Campaign Office of the Mills Campaign.

President-Elect Mills expressed his appreciation to God for brining Ghana so far and said he was also grateful to outgoing President John Agyekum Kufuor for declaring his intention to hand over power to him on January 7 2009.

Sporting a white shirt, a black pair of trousers and black pair of shoes, and standing on a dais adorned by Ghana national colours of red, gold and green, he also expressed appreciation to the people of Ghana for the mandate given to him to be President for the next four years. President-Elect Mills said it had been a long struggle with sacrifices and with the elections over, there was only one Ghana.

"With the elections over, there is only one Ghana. There is no NDC Ghana; there is no NPP Ghana; there is no CPP Ghana. There is one Ghana," he said to the roar of the milling supporters. He congratulated his main contender, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Leaders of the other political parties that contested the December 7 elections.

President-Elect Mills said he hoped that together with all Ghanaians, he would be able to work to build a better Ghana. He also expressed his appreciation to the Electoral Commission, security agencies and the media for helping to keep politicians and the parties on their toes during the electioneering process. The President-Elect advised supporters of the NDC to be moderate in their celebrations and not to do anything that would provoke others. "We have to be preparing for the task ahead. This is just one step of a journey of a million miles." He said he would pray for wisdom and humility to steer the affairs of Ghana, adding "May we pray to God to continue to shower his blessings on Ghana".

Soon after the President-Elect left the dais, a huge bottle of champagne was popped to the enthusiastic crowd to welcome the President-Elect. The Chairman of the EC on Saturday declared Prof. Mills, 64, as the President-Elect. He polled 50.23 per cent (4,521,032 votes) as against 49.77 per cent (4,480,446) by Nana Akufo-Addo, who is yet to concede. Leaders of the NPP are still locked in a National Executive Committee meeting for the second day running. The GNA has been informed that they are discussing the contents of a speech to be delivered by Nana Akufo-Addo.