Mills: I accept the challenge; I'll be president
for all
Accra, Jan. 3, Ghanadot/GNA – The President-Elect, Prof.
John Evans Ata Mills on Saturday said he had accepted the
challenge to be the President and gave the assurance that he
would be the President for all Ghanaians.
"There will be no discrimination. Atta Mills will be father
to everybody," he said, as he delivered his victory speech
to thousands of supporters, who thronged the Osu Kuku Hill
Campaign Office of the Mills Campaign.
President-Elect Mills expressed his appreciation to God for
bringing Ghana so far and said he was also grateful to
outgoing President John Agyekum Kufuor for declaring his
intention to hand over power to him on January 7 2009.
Sporting a white shirt, a black pair of trousers and black
pair of shoes, and standing on a dais adorned by Ghana
national colours of red, gold and green, he also expressed
appreciation to the people of Ghana for the mandate given to
him to be President for the next four years.
President-Elect Mills said it had been a long struggle with
sacrifices and with the elections over, there was only one
Ghana.
"With the elections over, there is only one Ghana. There is
no NDC Ghana; there is no NPP Ghana; there is no CPP Ghana.
There is one Ghana," he said to the roar of the milling
supporters.
He congratulated his main contender, Nana Addo Dankwa
Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Leaders of
the other political parties that contested the December 7
elections.
President-Elect Mills said he hoped that together with all
Ghanaians, he would be able to work to build a better Ghana.
He also expressed his appreciation to the Electoral
Commission, security agencies and the media for helping to
keep politicians and the parties on their toes during the
electioneering process.
The President-Elect advised supporters of the NDC to be
moderate in their celebrations and not to do anything that
would provoke others.
"We have to be preparing for the task ahead. This is just
one step of a journey of a million miles."
He said he would pray for wisdom and humility to steer the
affairs of Ghana, adding "May we pray to God to continue to
shower his blessings on Ghana".
Soon after the President-Elect left the dais, a huge bottle
of champagne was popped to the enthusiastic crowd to welcome
the President-Elect.
The Chairman of the EC on Saturday declared Prof. Mills, 64,
as the President-Elect. He polled 50.23 per cent (4,521,032
votes) as against 49.77 per cent (4,480,446) by Nana
Akufo-Addo, who is yet to concede.
Leaders of the NPP are still locked in a National Executive
Committee meeting for the second day running. The GNA has
been informed that they are discussing the contents of a
speech to be delivered by Nana Akufo-Addo.
GNA
