Tamale, Jan. 3, GNA - There was jubilation in the Tamale Metropolis on Saturday when the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan declared the NDC's Professor John Evans Atta Mills, President-Elect of the Republic of Ghana.

The jubilant crowd including disabled persons, who were in full NDC party paraphernalia and tee-shirts, invaded the main roads of the Metropolis expressing their joy that 'Change' had finally come to the country at last, while others had powder poured on their heads and were engaged in motorcycle acrobatics. Some of them were also seen wearing torn NPP tee-shirts and chanting "we are moving forward"; "we want change" and "toni, toni, toni" (forward, forward, forward), slogans. There was also heavy military presence in the Metropolis to ensure that the jubilation did not get out of hand, with the military personnel occasionally pleading with the crowd to give way to vehicles.

Speaking to the GNA in separate interviews some of the people claimed that the rejection of the NPP was, "a rejection of a party of arrogance and a complete disregard for the common person on the streets". Ms Mavis Dery, a business woman, said she was happy about the NDC's victory, not because she supports any of the two parties, but that she wanted the NDC to come back to power for Ghanaians to see whether they had learnt lessons from opposition to help to move the country forward.

Mr Abu Seidu, a shop owner, told the GNA that he was happy because there was change and no matter how bitter the change might be it was better than NPP winning the elections. A market woman, who pleaded anonymity, said she was happy about the NDC's victory because of Madam Grace Omaboe (Maame Dokono); Ms Frances Essiam and Mr Kwaku Baako Junior, all NPP supporters, who left no stone unturned to paint the NDC black for the NPP to win power. She said the elections had shown that Ghanaians were now politically matured and no amount of money dished out and misuse of incumbency could win elections and asked Professor Mills to get the NPP to tell Ghanaians the state of the national coffers before leaving office.

Some of them said Professor Mills as a peacemaker should try as much as possible to unite the nation and should not kowtow to pressures nor indulge in vindictiveness. They advised the President-Elect to ensure that the polarization that had engulfed the nation was addressed to move the country forward in one direction for development. Meanwhile there is a melancholy of defeat in the air for members of the ruling NPP in the Metropolis, who are yet to come to terms with the turn of events. So far the jubilation has been very peaceful in Tamale.