What does a Trump victory mean for Africa?
Almost no student of international relations and politics gave the President-elect of the United States of America (USA), Mr Donald John Trump, any dog’s chance to win the two-horse race to the White House.
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Many, rather, gave his main opponent, Hillary Rodham Clinton, the thumbs up, in view of Mr Trump’s often unpalatable words about other nationals and countries, comments which people believed could cost him the presidency, since they were divisive.
Indeed, earlier polls had indicated that Clinton was the clear favourite to win the US presidential election.
All the conjecture is history now and new history has been written in US polls with a Trump win, which has been described as shocking and a great upset in American politics.
Yet, take it or leave it, the Republican Mr Trump is the 45th President-elect of the USA to take over from outgoing President Barack Obama whose term ends on January 20, 2017.
While stocks, as well as the American currency, the dollar, began a nosedive just hours after Mr Trump had been declared the winner of the polls due to uncertainty on the financial market, there have also been consternation abroad due to the strong words uttered by Mr Trump, especially against immigrants, while he was on the campaign trail.
He is quoted as saying that he would build a wall around Mexico and have the Mexicans fund such a project because Mexico was sending "rapists" to America.
He also reportedly called for a ban on Muslims entering the US, among other such very unpopular statements.
But after all the vitriolic attacks, the American President-elect rendered a conciliatory acceptance speech yesterday, indicating that he would be a President for all Americans and relate very well with all countries, especially those that would identify with America.
While it is believed that Africa’s relations with the Democrats has been more cordial than with the Republicans, US foreign policy has always benefitted African people and it is our view that not much will change under a Trump presidency.
As both Clinton and Trump have contended, it has been a hard fought run for the White House full of intrigues and jaw-dropping exposés which have more or less polarised the American people.
It is our hope, however, that now that all the suspense and heartbreaks are over, the American people will once again come together as one great people with a common destiny.
We believe that Ghana’s relations with the American people, which dates far back, will even see more and major leaps under a Trump Presidency.
While we salute the American people for once again demonstrating to the whole world that they are, indeed, the oldest and most experienced democracy in the world, despite the surprise result, we also wish Mrs Clinton well in all her endeavours.
She fought gallantly to stay alive the dream of the Democrats to maintain the White House and gave her all to the campaign and we congratulate her on losing honourably.
The Daily Graphic can only hope that Ghanaians take some lessons from the US election as we prepare for ours on December 7, 2016.
Long live the American people! Long live Ghana and long live Ghana-USA relations.
