President Mahama, Veep, others jubilate over election petition victory

There was spontaneous jubilation at the seat of government in Accra yesterday, when the Supreme Court pronounced President John Dramani Mahama as the legitimate President of the country.

Moments after the verdict was announced, President Mahama, who was waiting anxiously for the judgement, in the company of the Vice-President, Mr Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, and some ministers of state at the Flagstaff  House, hugged one another and sang to the glory of God.

Meanwhile, staff at the Presidency, some of whom were in white attires and white armbands, joyously came out of their offices, jubilated and congratulated one another.

The arrival of the legal team led by Messrs Tsatsu Tsikata and Tony Lithur, counsel for the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and President John Mahama, respectively, reignited the celebration.

Some of the ministers and other officials took turns to take pictures with the lawyers, who held the fort for the President and the NDC in the election petition for about eight months. Most of them did the victory sign.

The Vice-President, who briefed the media, said “we feel relieved at long last” but added that there was much work ahead which needed the efforts of all Ghanaians.

He said the poverty level in the country was unacceptable, stressing, “This is what the government will tackle now with all seriousness at all fronts”.

“There is clear certainty now. We are working for growth and have no doubt, we will work together to put the economy on the right track and improve the lives of majority of the people,” he said.

Vice-President Amissah-Arthur said because of the strong response to the petition, he was expecting that all the judges would score in favour of the President and added that “notwithstanding that I have absolute confidence in the justices of the Supreme Court”.

He commended Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, one of the petitioners in the case, for accepting the verdict of the justices, calling to personally congratulate President Mahama on winning the case and for pledging to support the President to improve the lives of Ghanaians.

By Timothy Gobah & Musah Jafaru Yahaya/Daily Graphic/Ghana