By Ekua Kwansema

Millions of Ghanaians went to the polls on Sunday and determined who they would want to govern the country for the next four years. The results that have come out clearly speak the mind of Ghanaians. From the southern part of Ghana to the north, Ghanaians demonstrated whom they prefer as Mr. President.

It would not take a boy of 10 years to read behind the lines that even though the margin was close, the defeat of Akufo-Addo was decisive and very emphatic. Professor Mills totally dominated Akufo-Addo to the extent that if it were a boxing match all the judges would score it a unanimous decision for him. He whipped Akufo-Addo all the way from Nima in the Greater Accra Region through seven regions. Even in Brong-Ahafo where Akufo-Addo won it was by mere 70 votes. What else does the NPP then wants, one would ask..

The attempt by some of their party functionaries to try to throw dust into the eyes of Ghanaians by saying some of their agents were chased in the Volta Region, therefore, the results would not be accepted in baloney. I was so appalled by the Ghanaians Times Editorial, which only mentioned the incidents in Volta Region and Ashiaman and left what happened in certain parts of the Ashanti Region. The incident in the Ashanti Region where even some reporters were beaten was aired by most the radio stations, so one would wonder why the Times Editorial would leave such an important issue out. Who are they trying to please, I may ask.

I predicted the doom of the NPP but they did not listen. They lost in the first round and have lost again. Akufo-Addo should know that there is no way he would ever be president of Ghana, therefore, this war drums the NPP people have started beating is unacceptable. There is no way Ghanaians would sit down for the NPP to steal this election. They have lost and they lost totally. They were dominated in every regions except three. President Kufour should do one sensible thing for Ghana by asking his party people to accept the will of the people while he prepares to hand over power to Professor Mills.

When the NDC government lost power 8 years ago, many Ghanaians thought Rawlings would never hand over power. However, he did. Now why would Kufour not want to do that same thing? If NPP people think there was voter fraud in the Volta Region and the NDC people think there was voter fraud in the Ashanti Region, I suggest in the interest of the nation, they should compromise and reject the votes from the two regions and we move on. I bet you that judging from the mood of Ghanaians; if Akufo-Addo stands 50 times, he will lose 50 times. Even the strong showing of Professor Mills has set tongues wagging that he may have even won the first round.

The country is currently divided, and this is not the time to further drive the country towards the edge of the cliff. It is time opinion and church leaders step up the plate and urge Akufo-Addo to concede defeat so that Kufour can hand over peacefully to Professor Mills. The NPP has lost faith with the people of Ghana and there is no way they can stay in power. The last thing anybody wants to do is to plunge the country into civil strife.

When Professor Mills was interviewed today, I guess people who care about the country listened. He promised not to do any political witch-hunting. He would not ask people to proceed on indefinite leave as Kufour did eight years ago. He also promised to unite the country. This is the leader that Ghanaians are looking for. He was very emphatic in stressing that he was not going to send people to jail. This is the man that I would like to call my president. Therefore, for the sake of the country, I urge NPP people to accept the will of the people and concede defeat.

ekwansema@yahoo.com