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GHANA’S NEW PRESIDENTIAL IMAGE
The Beginning of An Era

The following is the speech given by Mr. J. A. Kufuor after he was declared the winner in the run-off election December 28, 2000.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to express my thanks to God for all you have done for me. A likeness to thank all Ghanaians, all the people of Ghana! Your faith in multi party democracy, your patience and fortitude in the face of so many challenges have brought us here to this momentous day.

I would like to thank my entire family, especially my wife Theresa. I have enjoyed great support from my family through the entire struggle. To my fellow party members, who have toiled for so long without rewards, driven only by their faith and the ideals of the party, I say Ayikoo! (Greetings)

To my friends, Dr. Edward Mahama, Professor George Hagan, Mr. Goosie Tanoh, Dr. Wireko-Brobby and Mr. Dan Lartey, and their teaming members, supporters of their parties, the People’s National party, the Conventional People’s Party, the United Ghana Movements and the Great Consolidated People’s Party, I say a big thank you for your active and highly effective support.

I also would like to thank our foreign friends and donors who have stood by Ghana over these many trying years. I hope and trust that Ghana can continue to count on your understanding and your support in the month and years to come.

As we seek to deepen our democratic roots and tackle the tremendous problems that face our nation, to the chairman of the Electoral Commission, its members and staff, I say well done! I hope that the problems encountered in the December 28 runoff will form a basis for continuous improvement in our electoral process.

I would also wish to that of our security and civil services, we are all aware in appreciative of the contributions you continue to make to Ghana. Let me restate once more that everybody has his or her part to play in my administration. There will be no room for witch-hunting of individuals or groups. We have to look forward and concentrate on building our nation. I ask for loyal support to the new administration as easy and as productive as possible.

And finally, I would like to thank His Excellency the Vice-President John Atta-Mills for his gracious concession. My thanks also goes to His Excellency President Rawlings who at the end of his mandated term under a democratic constitution, has presided over this historic election.

I reiterate my intention to accord President Rawlings all the respect and support that is due him as the former head of state when he retires, and I will assure he would be treated, as I would like to be treated at the end of my term of office.

Yesterday, I was the candidate of my party, the New Patriotic Party, today, thanks to the vote of many millions of our compatriots, I am the president of our nation, president-elect of all Ghanaians and not only of my party. So I assure you I want to reiterate, when I take over, I am going to be the president of all Ghanaians.

I pledge to be always mindful of this and to work as hard as I can each and every day to bring about a possible change in the lives of all our people, all Ghanaians without exceptions.

Fellow Ghanaians, for the first time in our history, we have voted out one government from office and voted another in to replace it. This is a real achievement for our infant democracy and we deserve all the congratulations we give to each other. However, even as we pat ourselves in the back, we must remain mindful that this is only the beginning.

Ahead of us lie the challenges of our deteriorating economy, our depreciating currency and other problems of which we are all aware. We must move forward into the new century as one nation and one people with one manifest destiny.

In conclusion, I ask all of you for your prayers and support for the incoming government and myself. We are at the start of a brand new century and with your support, we can all work to make it the Ghanaian century. God bless Ghana! God bless us all and thank you very much!

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