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Opinions of Wednesday, 31 December 2008

Columnist: Adofo, Rockson

Time for the NPP to Concede Defeat Honourably

When the die is cast, there is no turning back. The majority of the Ghanaian electorates have decided to send the elephant into its lair, the bush, from where it belongs. Eight years of the elephant escaping from the wild to aimlessly wander the streets of urban agglomeration is more than enough to warrant or incur the annoyance of many a Ghanaian. The NPP, in this case the elephant, has overstayed its welcome and hence, been shown the exit by the powerful thumbs of the electorates.

When the heart decides, there is no turning back. The NPP are therefore called upon to oblige by the only decent option left to them. They have to press upon Nana Akufo Addo to throw in the towel and concede defeat honourably. By going the extra mile to insist on staging the election in Tain, the only Constituency outstanding is an act of futile desperation. No miracle in the world can turn the results in favour of the NPP as things do stand at the moment. For clarity and fairness to the electoral process and the people of Tain, the exercise of the election is within the norms but what purpose will it serve in the end? Nothing will be achieved but a waste of time and resources.

The NDC and Professor Atta Mills have had a resounding popular success at the elections. The result is crystal. No amount of moaning or agitation can bring about the miraculous results the NPP are hoping and praying for. It is too late. Now, the tree of hope is broken but not bent. There is absolutely nothing to do about it but to give back what belongs to the NDC as per the request of the Ghanaian electorates to them. All that the NPP can do is to learn bitter lessons from their failure to perform to the expectation of the Ghanaian public. They have to reflect on their activities and see where they went wrong. Certainly, they will be in hibernation for at least twenty more years if they are lucky or else, the NDC will ensure the party's total disintegration.

Who is to blame for their plight, nobody but themselves? I pray there is a change of government for the better every eight years. There should in future be a Constitutional amendment to ensure proportional representation of political parties in government. The policy of the winner takes all where a sizable proportion of the electorates who voted for the losing party are not effectively represented is not good enough. I still believe in the "Union Government" type of government as is indirectly taking place in some African countries.

A change in the end has come to Ghana as wished by many Ghanaians. To allay the fears of Ghanaians whether founded or otherwise is the prerogative of nobody but President-elect Evans Atta Mills. Will he be weak and dictated to as the much spoken about puppet? Time will tell and time will be the best judge. Bravo to Ghanaians. Power now resides with the electorates so they need to be feared and respected accordingly.

Shalom, Shalom and Shalom. All should accord President Mills their due respect and cooperate with him to achieve the best for Ghana.

Rockson Adofo, London