Happy New Year to Everyone

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda i bawb oddi wrth fi. Pob bendith i chi am 2009.

It's too close to call

The Presidential Election - The Electoral Commission have stalled announcing the result until this Friday so that they can conduct an audit on some disputed results and permit one area to vote that is still outstanding. Apparently the position is so close that the single area votes could swing the result in favour of the current second placed candidate. I suspect that any disputed results that are altered could have a similar affect. In the UK we have heard of one party giving away ice cream and drinks to cool down the angry crowd that gathered outside the Commissions Headquarters and a story about the military firing warning shots into the air to disperse angry protesters. Given that Ghana is an example of African democracy it would be a grave pity if the country was to slip into any form of violence as a result of election difficulties. This is the fifth election since Ghana returned to democracy in 1992 and it is essential that the losing side accept defeat and that the victorious new President is humble in victory. Given Ghana's new found oil wealth, maybe this is a time to build political bridges and to find a place for the unsuccessful candidate within the new administration so that Ghanaian's can join together to shape the future strategy for the good of the people.