Hagan Concedes Defeat

Professor George Panyin Hagan, presidential candidate of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), Friday conceded defeat in Thursday's elections.

In a telephone interview with the GNA, he said the results released so far indicate that "the CPP lost in all the areas we consider as our strongholds, namely, Northern Ghana, the Central and Western regions." "At the moment we have not won even a single parliamentary seat and there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel." Prof. Hagan said.

"We are however not dispirited about our defeat," he said. "We take consolation from the fact that our participation has brought the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) down in several areas."

He said the trend of the results so far indicate the Mr. John Kufuor and New Patriotic Party will win the election.

"The people are voting for a better party this time, and this will get the NDC off our back and ensure the needed change in government for the progress of the nation," Prof. Hagan said.

Prof. Hagan described the electoral process as a free and fair one, saying that he and the CPP consider the few reported abuses as insignificant. "Even in the United States elections there were some abuses," he said.

"I think the Electoral Commission did a yeoman's job," he said. "They deserve to be congratulated."

He said these elections have revealed the weaknesses of the CPP and posed a challenge for the leadership of the party to re-organise to ensure victory in the next elections.

Prof. urged his supporters and party members to take consolation in the fact that there is going to be a change of government.

"The party survives - this is the time to stand firm to re-organise and revive the CPP," he said. "We must realise that we have not achieved our purpose - there is work to do."

He said the CPP expects the next government to usher in economic reconstruction, transparency in governance and create a conducive atmosphere for all Ghanaians to carve their own destiny.

"The next government has the responsibility to ensure economic revival and a system that eschews 'the winner takes all attitude', devoid of arrogance, embraces all and allows all to make a contribution toward the development of the nation."

He assured the next government of the support of the CPP in every way.