Ghana Celebrates Obama's Victory

Accra, Nov. 5, GNA - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Wednesday congratulated US president elect, Barak Obama, on his historical electoral victory in Tuesday's elections, describing it as a "watershed event that would change the world".

In a statement signed by the Director of Communication, Ms Hannah Tetteh in Accra, the NDC also congratulated the people of the United States of America, who it said, had "demonstrated in clear and uncertain terms the strength, resilience, dynamism and legitimacy of the democratic process in expressing the will of the people". It said the election of Senator Obama "is a change for the better and is most certainly a change in the right direction".

The NDC noted that Ghana was a country that suffered the scars of the slave trade, and the forts and castles along the coast were a reminder of the links with the United States of America, especially the African American population.

"We can therefore legitimately take pride in his victory even though it is a uniquely American event, and perhaps only possible today in a country as great as the United States of America." The NDC said it appreciated the significance and symbolism of the victory and offer the president-elect "our heartfelt congratulations, prayers and goodwill, but also wish to express our appreciation of his success and his campaign efforts".

The NDC said though all of this was focused on the advancement of the United States of America, it also provided inspiration for Ghanaians, Africans and people of colour all over the world. "The Democratic Party of the United States of America like the National Democratic Congress is a party that believes in a progressive platform, and even though they may not describe it in those terms, they believe in the key tenets of Social Democracy.

"The Democratic Party recognizes the need to ensure equality of opportunity, and that Government has an important activist role to play in the development of a country, while accepting and promoting the private sector as the engine of growth.

"We of the NDC, share with the Democratic Party the belief that the welfare of the people in our respective countries should be pre-eminent. We believe that it is the responsibility of Government to provide the leadership, in creating a society that is fair, just and provides equality of opportunity for its entire people.

"We believe this is irrespective of gender, ethnicity, religion, political and any other differences they may have." The NDC said it had a representative in Denver at the invitation of the Democratic Party when now President-Elect Obama accepted the nomination of his Party as its Presidential candidate, adding that, they looked forward to continuing to build on the relationship with the Democratic Party.

The NDC noted that the Reverend Martin Luther King was present at Ghana's independence celebrations and after that memorable event, he preached a sermon eulogizing the independence as the birth of a New Nation, and giving expression to the hope that our independence gave to people of colour all over the world. "Reverend Martin Luther King also predicted this memorable day with his, 'I have a dream speech' - where he dreamt of an America where his children would be judged not by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.

The NDC said Ghana's first president Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah also spoke of showing the world that the African was capable of managing his own affairs.

"Today President-elect Barack Obama has taken all of us another major step further in realizing that dream not only in America, but also on our continent and the global stage.

"We as Ghanaians, in our up-coming election have the opportunity to advance the dream further. We will do this by demonstrating that not only are we the African Nation that was a trailblazer in the fight for the emancipation of the African people, but we will also be the trailblazer in entrenching the democratic process in Africa by conducting a Free, Fair and Transparent election. "The National Democratic Congress under the Leadership of Professor John Evans Atta Mills is committed to strengthening the democratic process and to continue building a positive image of Ghana on our continent and on the wider International scene as well as providing the leadership to take Ghana in the right direction."

PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE NPP CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE ON THE ELECTION OF MR. BARACK OBAMA AS PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

America has voted and elected Mr. Barack Obama, an African-American as the 44th President of the United States of America. Today, we join Ghanaians, Africans and the world in celebrating this significant milestone.

There are several useful lessons to be drawn from this election. First, Americans made a decision based on the peculiar circumstances in their country. Throughout his campaign, Senator Obama offered hope, new ideas, strong and effective leadership and inclusiveness.

His victory is thus a vindication of a campaign of ideas, and a rebuke to the politics of insults, vindictiveness, divisiveness and negativity. Second, despite the enormous stake involved and the keen competition, there was no violence.

On 20th of January 2009, as has happened repeatedly, power will pass peacefully from President George Bush to Senator Barack Obama. That is as it should be.

Violence should not have a place in politics. Those who have invoked the Kenya and Zimbabwe models for Ghana must rethink their approach to politics. They must join us in helping Ghana to emulate the American example and become an example for the Kenyas and Zimbabwes of our world.

Indeed, Senator Obama has profoundly, called his victory “a new dawn of American Leadership”.

He has also stated that change for change sake will not do for America. Indeed, he declared in his victory address: “This victory is not the change we seek, but a chance to make the change we seek”.

The lesson from the President-elect is that, change for the sake of change is not enough. Ghanaians must vote for the party which has made their lives better and will transform our country, the NPP.

The NPP hopes that Ghanaians will make history by electing Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to succeed President Kufuor of the NPP giving our party its third successive majority in parliament and send the NDC John packing to join the Republican John (McCain), in retirement.

Let us move forward! Arthur Kobina Kennedy (Chair, Communication Committee) 2008 Campaign Committee