Ghanaians should, during this Christmas, reflect on the “birth and life of Jesus Christ” as they count their “numerous blessings” in 2016, President John Mahama has said.

In a statement signed on his behalf by Communications Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Mr Mahama, wishing Ghanaians a merry Christmas, added: “God’s favour shall continue to abide with us during the Christmas festivities and in the coming years.”

The president – who leaves power on January 7, 2017 – ahead of his trip to his native Bole to join his family for the Christmas celebrations, urged drivers across the country to drive more carefully to ensure an “incident-free and accident-free festive period”.