The year 2014 – passed as an era of “great challenges” in Ghana, President John Dramani Mahama has admitted.

However, he said the challenges that were presented, “we met with great courage and even greater compassion.”

“This was evidence in the way we attended to our losses and made manifest in our victories,” President Mahama said in his New Year message to Ghanaians on December 31, 2014.

“The losses this year seem to be many. A number of us mourn the departure of loved ones… Together Ghanaians also mourned the departure of several of our nation’s sons and daughters – individuals whose contributions will still be felt far into the future.”

The president continued: “In 2014, we were reminded again and again the value of human life… while the rest of the world hesitated before offering their help, Ghana immediately took a bold stand against fear to lead the fight to contain the Ebola epidemic that has claimed the lives of so many of our brothers and sisters.

“It is this type of courage, determination and generous display of humanity that has always defined us as a nation, not only on the international stage, but also right here on our own soil.”

President Mahama was hopeful that the New Year (2015) will come with a lot of blessings, despite the numerous hurdles that rocked Ghana – ailing economy, erratic power and water supply, labour agitations among others.

“The New Year before us holds a wide expanse of possibilities. Let us not enter 2015 with any cynicism or sense of limitation. Let us choose to fill the days ahead of us with hope and not despair,” President Mahama said in his six-minute message.

“When we look ahead let us see all that we can achieve and let us work individually and collectively in the interest of progress. We can turn that vision into a reality, and I know that we can do it.”