Accra, Jan 18, GNA - The Noble Order of Knights of Marshall, a friendly society within the Catholic Church, on Sunday congratulated President John Atta Mills on his assumption of office and said it was heart warming he had set himself a mission of not being a factional leader but a father of all Ghanaians.

A statement signed by Sir Knight Eddie Prah, the Supreme Night, said "we should be quick to realize that the peaceful elections we have just had and the smooth and cordial transition we are going through could only have come about out of the benevolence of the Almighty God." It said the Knights and Ladies of the Noble Order of Marshall join in praising God for sparing the country from civil strife as experienced by other countries after similar exercises.

The statement said there would be challenges on the path President Mills had set himself to reconcile all Ghanaians with one leader but reports of unwarranted taunting and skirmishes among political opponents should cease and these acts should be condemned by all descent minded people, no matter the political divide.

"As a Catholic friendly society we are hopeful that President Mills, being a devout Christian, realizes the immense task God has entrusted him to keep Ghana as one nation.

While assuring him of our prayers, we urge all Ghanaians to also do same and support his administration in creating a better Ghana." It congratulated former President John Agyekum Kufuor on his stewardship and that he had played his part.

The statement commended him for the gracious manner he called for the acceptance of the election result no matter how unpalatable it was to himself and his party followers and this saved the nation from unnecessary anxiety and a possible explosive situation. "Today, Ghana is being toasted by the whole world because of the peaceful milieu in which we conducted our elections and the smooth transition from one administration to another."

The statement said it was the duty of every Ghanaian to contribute towards maintaining this positive image in the eyes of the world. "But it is more important for us to keep this peace so that we shall be a shining star to other countries, especially in our continent, where elections often result in civil strife," it said.