General News of Thursday, 13 December 2012

Source: Al-Hajj

JJ Jubilates -Over Mahama’s Victory

Even as no one is able to tell exactly who the founder of the ruling National Democratic Congress, Jerry John Rawlings voted for in the just ended Presidential poll, he is nevertheless said have jubilated all night when the Electoral Commission pronounced President John Dramani Mahama winner of last Friday’s Presidential election to the chagrin of his wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings Unsullied information picked up from the Ridge residence of the former first couples revealed that whiles former President Jerry Rawlings was much excited about the victory of the NDC; the former first lady was helplessly disappointed in the outcome of the results.

According to a close source of the Rawlingses, whiles ex-president Rawlings was heard on top of his voice cheering President Mahama and the NDC for a good job done, Mrs. Rawlings was in a frenzy mood; throwing her hands and feet at anything close to her. “For Chairman Rawlings, the current victory of the NDC marks a new beginning for the party and a mark to diffuse the societal perception that without him the NDC cannot win any election …but my brother, you know, Mrs Rawlings has her own issues with the NDC and obviously you don’t expect her to celebrate with the husband” the source noted Following developments preceding the December 7 elections, it will not be farfetched in the art of poetry to describe, former President Rawlings as a symbol of a paradox, owing to the fact that in the run-up to the elections, he was dangling between the NDC and the National Democratic Party (NDP) with no clear vision as to where he belongs or what he wants to do.

It would be recalled that with just three days to the election, Ex-president John Rawlings told newsmen in Accra that he was still not certain on which of the presidential candidates he will vote for in the December 7 elections. The former Ghana airforce pilot however told the media he would have no difficulties disclosing which parliamentary candidate he will vote for but not the presidential candidate.

Whilst conceding that incumbent President John Mahama has a good deal of support he would not confirm whether he will vote for him on Friday. “I would have minded telling you who I was going to vote for in terms of the parliamentary candidate but not the presidential,” Rawlings said, laughing. According to the source, failed NDP leader, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings who had vowed to send the NDC into opposition to teach the party a bitter lesson had her usual ecstatic Sunday evening transmogrified into intense grief as if she has lost a dear one. The Chairman of the EC, Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan last Sunday declared President John Dramani Mahama of the NDC, as President-elect of the Republic of Ghana.

Dr. Gyan announced the results at a press conference at the office of the Commission at Ridge in Accra, following hours of meeting with party representatives and the National Peace Council.

The final results put President Mahama at 5,574,761 of total votes cast representing 50.70 per cent; Nana Akufo-Addo of the NPP gained 5,248,898 (47.74%); PPP’s Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom chalked 64,362 (0.57%) The GCPP’s Dr. Henry Herbert Lartey, PNC’s Hassan Ayariga, Michael Abu Sakara Foster (CPP), Jacob Osei Yeboah (Independent) and Akwasi Addai Odike (UFP) garnered 38,223 (0.35 per cent), 24,617 (0.22 per cent), 20,232 (0.18), 15,201 (0.14), 8,877 (0.08) respectively.

President Mahama, by this victory will lead the executive and would have to work with Ghana’s sixth parliament to be sworn in on 7 December, 2013.