Residents in the Sunyani Municipality have congratulated President John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government for retaining power in Election 2012.

Most of them in a random interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) expressed surprise at the NDC’s victory but said they were satisfied that the elections were conducted in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity.

They said they appreciated the work of the media, security agencies and the Electoral Commission (EC) and the electoral process and expressed optimism that the biometric system of voting would be improved in subsequent elections to consolidate Ghana’s democracy.

“I received the NDC’s victory with shock but what can I do if Ghanaians have given another mandate to the party?” a taxi driver told the GNA.

The driver said he was hopeful that with the onset of Christmas festivities the government would find lasting solutions to the intermittent shortage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in the municipality.

Mr Kofi Vinyo, a businessman said the “NDC’s victory is victory for all Ghanaians” and called on members of the NDC to guard against victimisation of their opponents at all levels to facilitate accelerated national development.

He said the outcome of Election 2012 showed that Ghanaians had trust and confidence in NDC and appealed to members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to accept the defeat in good faith in the supreme interest of the nation.

Mr Vinyo expressed the hope that President Mahama would work diligently to justify the confidence Ghanaians had reposed in him.

Madam Leticia Amponsah Gyan, a trader, expressed concern about the high prices of foodstuffs and other basic items on the market and appealed to the that government to take steps to control market prices of foodstuffs.

She said parents found it difficult to pay the schools fees of their children in senior high schools and appealed to the government to subsidise it.

Mr Gabriel Gbiel Benarkuu, Chief Executive Officer of Mission of Hope Society, a non-governmental organisation working to promote the welling of people with mental disorders, said he was sure the government would intervene to give a real meaning to the mental health Law.

He said psychiatric facilities in the country are appalling and urged the government to focus on that sector of health delivery.

Mr Benarkuu expressed appreciation for the manner Ghanaians conducted themselves during Election 2012 despite few skirmishes recorded at some polling stations and commended the EC for the good work done.

He said Ghanaians had no cause to complain about electoral malfeasances considering the transparent, free and fair manner the elections were conducted at all levels.

There were jubilations in some parts of the municipality when the EC announced the outcome of Election 2012.

At Abesim supporters of the NDC took to the principal streets singing as taxi drivers deafened the air with unending honking.

Though the results were announced late in the night, roadside beer bars were filled up as more people went in for drinks to celebrate.

Celebrations took place at Penkwase, New Dormaa, Estate, Area two, Victory park area, Fiapre and Odumase in the Sunyani West District.

Local radio stations also played NDC victory tunes all night, taking congratulatory phone calls in between tracks from listeners most of whom dedicated it to President Mahama.

Before the results were announced, Sunyani turned to a ‘ghost town’ as residents were glued to their television sets.

Almost all the food vendors and petty traders along the main principal street of Sunyani went on ‘holiday’.