Politics of Wednesday, 31 December 2008

Source: GNA

NDC supporters jubilate in Wa

Wa, Dec.31, GNA - Supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Wa Municipality on Tuesday night went on a spontaneous jubilation through some of the principal streets in Wa immediately after Dr Kwadwo Afari Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission, announced the results of the 229 out of the 230 constituencies of the Presidential Election Runoff.

The supporters poured into the streets in large droves, some riding on motorcycles, dressed in party "T" shirts amidst singing of party slogans, drumming and dancing. With the support of the Police, the jubilation was conducted in a peaceful manner without any reaction from NPP supporters.

Mr Joseph Konnuba, President of the Wa Polytechnic branch of the Tertiary Educational Institutions Network (TEIN), who spoke to the GNA said: "The NDC is almost there". He said all efforts would be made in the Tain Constituency for the NDC to win massively to lead the country, explaining that history favoured the NDC because it won both the parliamentary and presidential elections in the constituency.

"All NDC Executives in the country would be in Tain and we would police the polling stations from the start to the end to ensure victory," Mr Konnuba said. He appealed to the supporters to sustain the peace in the country, saying: "It is natural to jubilate, but human to behave." Mr Konnuba also appealed to the NPP Presidential Candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to accept defeat in good faith pointing out that the "indication is that he cannot make it".

Coming up to the announcement of the results, there had been tension and anxiety among the people, many of whom had lived in fear because of their experience in election conflict situations in some neighbouring countries. The results put Professor John Evans Atta Mills, presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the lead over Nana Akufo-Addo, presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Prof. Atta Mills received 4,501,466 votes, representing 50.13 per cent while Nana Akufo-Addo scored 4,478,441 votes, also representing 49.87 per cent in the Runoff.