Election results reflect collective will of the people - HC

Accra, Dec. 24, GNA - Ghana's High Commissioner to The United Kingdom (UK) has said the outcome of Election 2004 was a tacit expression of the confidence of the broad mass of the people of Ghana in the Government of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The High Commissioner, Mr Isaac Osei said apart from serving as the collective expression of the will of Ghanaians, the elections had helped to put Ghana on the high pedestal within the international arena as matured people, who would not like the onward march to progress of the nation to be disturbed by adventurers.
He said the decisive victory of the NPP was the people's way of showing appreciation for the good performance of the Government since it assumed office in 2001.
A statement from the Ghana High Commission in London received in Accra on Friday said the Mr Osei was speaking in an interview with Original Black Entertainment Television owned by Ghanaians.
Mr Osei conceded that ethnicity might have played "a minute part" in the outcome of the results in certain parts of the country. He, however, pointed out that the vast majority of the people voted on issues, which the NPP eloquently espoused.
He said that the decisive verdict of Ghanaians showed that the policies of the NPP had been embraced.
Answering a question on the goals of Positive Change Chapter Two, Mr Osei said it would build upon the successes so far attained among other things, the restoration of solid macro-economic fundamentals, freedom of speech, the rule of law, peace and stability.
He pointed out that under Positive Change Chapter Two, the GDP growth rate would be moved from five per cent to seven per cent in order to ensure that the benefits of higher growth would be felt in the pockets of Ghanaians.
To a question on the lessons of the elections for Africa, Mr Osei said the overwhelming success should convince Africans that democracy was a panacea to the advancement of countries. He added that governments elected through competitive elections won acceptability of the world community and the respect of their own people.
Mr Osei said all Ghanaians, whether in government or in opposition, had a role to play in nation building and stressed that it was imperative for the opposition to be seen as not only keeping the Government on its toes but also more importantly offering viable alternatives to its policies and issues.
He said the outcome of the election should convince investors, especially those sitting on the fence, to take advantage of the favourable investment climate and opportunities in Ghana.