by Justice Lee Adoboe
ACCRA, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- The perception of corruption in the country is one of the major factors leading to the victory of Nana Akufo-Addo, presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), in the just ended presidential election in Ghana, an expert said Saturday.
James Kwabena Bonfeh Jnr, Director of Elections and Campaign Strategist for the Convention People's Party (CPP), told Xinhua here via telephone that he was not surprised about the direction Ghanaians voted, since he is one of those who had been calling for change in the system.
"What surprises me though is the wide margin of votes between the winning candidate and the rest of the candidates, "considering the resources we all committed to this year's campaign," Bomfeh Jnr pointed out.
While the 72 year old lawyer polled 5,716,026 votes or 53.85 percent of the total valid votes cast, to win the presidential race at his third attempt, incumbent president came second with almost a one million vote margin at 4,713,277 votes or 44.40 percent in Wednesday's presidential poll. All the other five candidates received together less than two percents of the total valid votes cast in the election.
Bomfeh Jnr is of the view that the perception of corruption with government appointees flaunting their newly acquired wealth around may have been the cause of such a great defeat for a ruling government.
He commended the Electoral Commission for a great job done by delivering results of the election within 48 hours after the close of polls, "which is unprecedented under the history of Ghana's fourth Republican constitution."
"Your victory is a manifestation of the people's desire for new a leadership and comes with enormous responsibilities including a commitment to pursue an anti-corruption drive across-the-board," former president Jerry John Rawlings, founder of ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) stated in a congratulatory message to the president-elect.
According to him, Ghana faces huge challenges, many of which Akufo-Addo had promised during his campaign to solve, adding that the electorate reposed their trust in Akufo-Addo because they believe he is capable of dealing with the challenges and lead the country with fearlessness, humility and honesty.
Rawlings urged Akufo-Addo to pursue a leadership that unifies the people so members of the losing side have no reason to feel insecure.
