Leader of Ghana’s main opposition party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has sent a congratulatory message to the president-elect of The Gambia, Adama Barrow, for “his hard-fought” victory in the West African nation’s presidential elections.

Mr Barrow, a property developer, polled 263,515 votes to beat long-serving leader Yahaya Jammeh in last Thursday’s polls.

“Through the peaceful exercise of their sovereign and democratic right to elect their own leaders, the people of Gambia have opened a new chapter in their history, and have moved to strengthen the frontiers of their democracy,” Nana Akufo-Addo said in a statement on Saturday, December 3.

“This is the first time, in 22 years that a sitting President has been rejected at the polls. It has reinforced the democratic notion that the people have the power to change governments through peaceful means.”

He commended Mr Jammeh for conceding defeat “thereby laying to rest any lingering suspicion and anxiety about the fate of Gambia in the aftermath of the elections”. Ghana’s former Foreign Minister admonished Mr Barrow to make sure his tenure is marked by progress and prosperity to Gambians in freedom and the rule of law.