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Wild jubilations for Nana Akufo-Addo …as he grabs second term in office
Many Ghanaians who were on tenterhooks following the delay in the declaration of the winner of the presidential elections suddenly heaved a sigh of relief when the Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Jean Mensa finally declared NanaAddo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as winner of the keenly contested poll.
This created a peaceful atmosphere for members, supporters and sympathisers of the winning New Patriotic Party (NPP) to inundate the streets and corners of Accra and other parts of the country in party colours with spontaneous jubilation to the glory of God and the success of the party.
President Akufo-Addo was declared winner of the Presidential Election with 6,730,413 votes, representing 51.59 per cent of the total 13,434,574 votes cast.
The declaration suddenly deflated the tensed atmosphere which had engulfed the nation for 48 hours after the close of polls on Monday December 7, with the two major political parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) claiming victory ahead of the Electoral Commission’s (EC) final declaration.
Many people celebrated late into the night drinking and dancing on the streets and in the bars. Young men and women in groups rode motorbikes like swarm of bees on the streets of Accra amidst loud noise from the engines of their motorbikes in celebration of the victory.
Massive traffic was recorded in some parts of the city but drivers and passengers appeared unperturbed. While some drivers cheered in the traffic, others tooted horns from their vehicles and waved NPP flags
At the Nima residence of President Akufo-Addo was a large crowd of supporters chanting victory songs and throwing fireworks. Security personnel at the residence had a hard time controlling the jubilant supporters.
President Akufo-Addo, in his victory speech, stressed the need for all Ghanaians, irrespective of their political affiliation, to join the struggle of building a progressive and prosperous country for all.
“The period of campaigning is over. The outcome of the election has been established. The Ghanaian people have made it loud and clear that the two parties, the NPP and the NDC must work together in Parliament for the good of the country.
“Now is the time for each and every one of us, irrespective of our political affiliation to unite, join hands, stand shoulder to shoulder and work hard to put Ghana where it deserves to be,” the President said.
He pledged to dedicate his second term of office as President to work harder and build a prosperous and progressive country to justify the confidence reposed in him by Ghanaians.
Present at the victory speech delivered at his private residence at Nima in Accra were, Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Speaker of Parliament, Prof Mike Oquaye, First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, Second Lady, Mrs Samira Bawumia, among other members and supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
President Akufo-Addo said he was humbled by the show of confidence by Ghanaians and indicated that his victory was a clear indication of the support of Ghanaians for his policies and programmes of social and economic development.
He commended the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Jean Mensa, and all officials at the EC for the sterling performance and urged them to continue that path in future elections.
“The orderly, commendable and peaceful conduct of Ghanaians on election day is to be widely applauded,” he said, and praised the citizenry for strictly adhering to the COVID-19 protocols during the exercise.
He applauded personnel of the security agencies for ensuring peace, law and order during and after the election, and condemned the isolated violent incidents that led to few deaths.
By Yaw Kyei
Massive celebrations were recorded countrywide as the Black Stars opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama in Toronto on Wednesday.
Midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi scored the only goal of the match late in the game as he shot in a decent cross from substitute Brandon Asante.
The win gave Ghana a positive start in the competition, placing them in second position behind England, also with three points but with a superior goal aggregate.
After the final whistle, the streets and other viewing centres were turned into partying grounds as fans, mostly clad in the team’s paraphernalia, danced to several World Cup-themed music.
Others blew the vuvuzelas in joyous mood with others putting up a spirited ‘jama’ session.
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Adentan Constituency, Akosua Manu, has urged party members to move away from what she describes as an “entitlement mentality” and focus on unity, sacrifice and hard work as the party prepares for the 2028 general election.
In a statement titled “Is Loyalty a Queue?”, and posted on facebook, Ms. Manu argued that loyalty to the NPP should not be judged by how long a person has been in the party but by their contributions and commitment to its growth.
According to her, the NPP’s history shows that many of its leaders faced significant opposition from within the party before eventually leading it to electoral success.
She cited former President John Agyekum Kufuor as an example, saying he had to overcome resistance from influential figures within the party before winning power for the NPP in 2000.
Ms. Manu noted that after the party lost power in 2008, former President Kufuor faced criticism and accusations from some party members.
However, she said supporters eventually put their differences aside and worked together to rebuild the party.
She pointed to the experience of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who, according to her, faced opposition from some factions within the NPP despite his long service to the party.
“His trials were ten times what Kufuor endured,” she stated, adding that Akufo-Addo eventually overcame the challenges and became President of Ghana.
Turning to the NPP’s current flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ms. Manu said he also faced resistance from different groups within the party while seeking leadership.
She praised Dr. Bawumia for contributing to policy-based political discussions in Ghana and for remaining composed following the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 elections.
According to her, party members must now rally behind him in the same way they supported former Presidents Kufuor and Akufo-Addo.
Ms. Manu, however, warned that internal divisions and a sense of entitlement remain major threats to the party’s future.
She argued that some party members place too much emphasis on how long individuals have belonged to the NPP rather than on their contributions and capabilities.
“This entitlement does not question impact. It does not ask what you sacrificed or what you built. It asks only how long have you been here,” she said.
The former parliamentary candidate cautioned that such attitudes could discourage committed members and prevent the party from selecting the best people for leadership positions.
She further called on the party’s incoming national executives to strengthen the NPP’s core values of sacrifice, honesty, integrity and dedication to national development.
Ms. Manu addressed the concerns of young party supporters, many of whom she said became discouraged following the NPP’s electoral defeat in 2024.
According to her, many young people remain eager to see the party return to power but are unwilling to support internal conflicts driven by personal ambitions.
She urged party elders to place the interests of the NPP above their individual goals and to demonstrate leadership that attracts rather than alienates members.
“The NPP is bigger than any one of us. It always has been. Our collective responsibility is to act like it,” she stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
