By Ekua Kwansema

Today marks 27 long days since Ghanaians went to the polls for the first time to elect their President. But thank God the long wait is over, and Professor John Atta Mills who has clearly won the elections would be sworn into office come Wednesday January 7. The long wait has been excruciating painful denying most peace loving Ghanaians the chance to celebrate Christmas and the New Year.

But every painful situation comes with fruitful lessons that help both individuals and governments to learn from. Therefore, the 2008 elections would go down in our history as one of the most hotly contested elections that saw the presidential elections going Three Painful Rounds. As I write, everybody in Ghana seems exhausted, especially the party operatives of both NDC and NPP. Everybody is stressed; we are all down but not yet out.

Being the Ghanaians as we are, I know we would all bounce back now that the dust has settled with the concession by the NPP. This is the time for serious reflections. Even though the NDC supporters are jubilating, I think this should also be a time for somber reflections. We have serious work ahead of us but little time to do it.

I expect Professor Mills to move faster to embrace all Ghanaians. This is the time also for ethnic healings. As he promised on Monday, he would be president of all Ghanaians no matter your tribe, background or religion. With this wise talk, I know deeply that Professor Mills would bring the deeply divided country together. We are one people no matter where you come from or your political leanings.

I also expect Professor Mills to assure the international community especially the investor community that has been worried about the unnecessary tension that has engulfed the country within the past three weeks that everybody is free to do their business. This assurance would help in keeping the flow of investments to Ghana . Professor Mills who has been Vice-President of Ghana knows his stuff very well; therefore, I know he would execute this with distinction.

Professor Mills has suffered a lot. Even at one point in time a national newspaper even stopped publishing his stories. But Professor Mills who is widely known to be very humble, wise, not petty, knowledgeable and God-Fearing does not carry any stick of vendetta. He gave that assurance that he would not sack people who have different political leanings as happened in 2000. He would rather put in place good measures that would grow the economy and create more employment opportunities for Ghanaians.

As we ponder over the future of Ghana , we Ghanaians could also help in our own small ways to bridge the ethnic gap. The attitude whereby we insult each other on radio stations and websites on strictly tribal lines should stop. We need to turn over a new leaf in 2009. I have been very sarcastic in most of my articles. Please forgive me because the anger that has built up in my stomach for all these years due to the economic mismanagement of the country showed up in most of my articles, therefore, I am sorry if my language turned off some my readers. But my facts were true.

As Professor Mills continues to receive congratulatory messages from leaders around the world, I would want to extend my own congratulations with the following hymn,

Fight the good fight with all thy might, Christ is thy strength and Christ thy right; lay hold on life, and it shall be thy joy and crown eternally.

Run the straight race, through God's good grace, lift up thine eyes and seek his face; life with its way before us lies, Christ is the path and Christ the prize.

Cast care aside, lean on thy Guide; his boundless mercy will provide; trust, and thy trusting soul shall prove Christ is its life and Christ its love.

Faint not nor fear, his arms are near; he changeth not, and thou art dear; only believe, and thou shalt see that Christ is all in all to thee.

President-Elect, Ako Abere (You Fought For Too Long), and Christ has been your strength. As you celebrate your victory, we thank the Almighty Lord for making you smile today. He who laughs last, laughs best. God bless and give you enough wisdom to rule this country in the next 8 years.

ekwansema@yahoo.com