5 January 2009
CAPE COAST — It was unique celebration by the majority of residents in the Central Region immediately Prof. John Evans Atta Mills was declared president-elect of Ghana by Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), reports David Allan Paintsil.
The victory was a long awaited dream for many of the celebrants, who spoke to the paper in the heat of their celebrations, owing to the fact that none from the region had ever become president of Ghana, since independence in 1957.
The jinx was broken by Prof. Mills in the December 28 run-off, after unsuccessful bids in 2000 and 2004.
The celebrants, from Kasoa to Dunkwa-On-Offin, poured out into the streets to celebrate Mills' historical victory.
At Kasoa, people were carrying miniature elephants to the cemetery for burial after the defeat of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), which has the elephant as its symbol.
At Biriwa, a fishing community along the Accra-Cape Coast highway in the Mfantseman West Constituency, some National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters dressed in red, like the 12-Apostles Church members, were seen mourning the defeated Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, who lost his seat to Aquinas Tawiah Quansah.
At Mankessim, the euphoria was beyond description, as enthusiastic supporters, some in NPP attire, trooped onto the main streets following a truck loaded with a sound system and dancing to the amazement of onlookers.
There was a traffic jam, as the thick crowd prevented the free movement of vehicles that were travelling to the various places.
Other towns along the Accra-Cape Coast road were not left out in the celebrations, as they held high big portraits of Prof. Mills in celebration of his victory.
Similar celebrations went on in Elmina, Komenda, Twifo Praso, Assin Foso, Assin Manso, Agona Swedru, Winneba, Apam, Mumford, Moree and Abura Dunkwa among other towns.
Cape Coast, the nerve centre of the region, bubbled in celebrations, as old ladies, the young and children could not help but celebrate in grand style.
From Brofoyedur, Ntsin, Abura, Ntoto, Bakaano, among others, the people converged at Kotokuraba, the central business district of the newly-created metropolis, to celebrate.
Most of them wore white cloths to signify victory, while others poured powder on passers-by and any person in sight, with others carrying a stool similar to that of a chief, to claim that the region had retaken the seat it carved some years back.
Taxi drivers also decorated their cars with pictures of Prof. Mills and NDC paraphernalia, while tooting their horns.
At Nkanfoa, residence of Prof. Mills, children celebrated beating their own manufactured drums to the amazement of this reporter.
Others also decorated their houses in NDC colours, and stood by to acknowledge cheers from the passing celebrants, who chanted songs composed after the declaration.
The celebration continued deep into the night, as the various drinking spots were filled to capacity, owing to the victory, which was crowned with a street jam at London Bridge, a famous spot in the former colonial capital.
KOFORIDUA
Isaac Akwetey writes from Koforidua, capital of the Eastern Region which was thrown into a state of jubilation minutes after the Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan, declared Prof. Evans John Atta Mills winner of the just-ended presidential run-off.
The jubilant celebrants, mainly supporters and sympathisers of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), poured onto the principal streets of the New Juaben Municipality, to express their joy at the victory over the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
They took over all activities for the day amid the chanting of the "Ye sesa mu" slogan of the party.
The activities of the jubilant brought back the hustle and bustle nature of the municipality, as traders and hawkers did brisk business, especially selling NDC paraphernalia such as T-shirts and hand bands among others.
There were street parties which started from the New Juaben South Constituency office of the party, immediately the EC Chairman made his final pronunciation around 11:30 in the morning, and continued deep into the night.
On the contrary, as supporters of the NDC could not help themselves in jubilation, supporters of the NPP were living in a state of disappointment and dejection, as they turned every corner of the municipality into a conference room.
Many buildings and vehicles, which were carrying flags of the NPP among other paraphernalia, before and during the elections, were visibly missing, as supporters were engulfed in melancholy as if they have been told of the death of a relative.
A few courageous few were seen casting insinuations at their opponents at the least provocation. This nearly generated misunderstanding among the supporters of the two parties.
Both supporters of the NPP and NDC lauded the courage demonstrated by the EC boss. According to them, Dr. Afari Gyan had proven to all and sundry of his level of neutrality, describing him as a great man of the century.
Some even argued that government should name a government institution after him, in order to show appreciation and a sense of reward for his achievement.
TAKORADI
Alfred Adams & Zam Samin also report from Takoradi that supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis, poured out in their numbers onto the streets to celebrate the victory chalked by their party in the run-off. This was after the Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan had declared the flagbearer of the NDC, Professor John Atta Mills, as president-elect, having polled 50.23 % in the contest, as against the 49.77% chalked by the NPP candidate, Nana Akufo Addo.
This is the third time the flagbearer of the NDC has contested the presidential race, and had now won for the first time. He contested in the 2000, 2004, and now the 2008 election, where he emerged victorious.
Therefore, the supporters of the party had every reason to pour onto the streets to celebrate the victory chalked by him.
The supporters, clad in party paraphernalia, took to the streets in excitement, dancing to brass band music.
What was exciting was the fact that taxi drivers also joined the fray, tooting their horns in the process. At Kwsimintsim, supporters danced to the tune of brass band music at the main traffic light, blocking traffic in the process.
At Apowa, supporters of the party also took to the streets of the town in an excited mood, dancing to NDC songs being played at a drinking spot along the main road.
But what was worrying, was the fact that a supporter of the NPP slapped a young lady for celebrating the victory chalked by the NDC in the run-off. The lady in question, who did not mention her name to this paper, confirmed the story and added that she had lodged a complaint at the Kwesimintsim Police station.
At Sekondi, the story was no different, as supporters of the NDC took to the streets to celebrate. They also danced to music and songs of the NDC.
BOLGATANGA
Our Upper East Regional correspondent, William Jalulah, writes from Bolga that soon after the Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, last Saturday declared Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate in the 2008 presidential run-off, as president-elect, members and supporters of the NDC in Bolgatanga poured onto the streets in an overwhelmingly jubilant mood.
Before the declaration of the final results, most people were staying very close to their TV and radio sets, in anticipation of the election results.
Then the results were declared, paving the way for members and supporters of the main opposition party to jubilate.
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