Weeks and months of tense campaigns set an uncertain general election in some minds.

The atmosphere looked gloomy making the actual day and days after look worrying. Some foreign embassies even openly predicted uneasy calm, never experienced in any of the country’s general elections.

The Churches, mosques and individuals prayed harder for a peaceful day and serenity after. The painted picture led the faint-hearted to start stocking their pantries and fridges. Those who could even afford to travel escaped for the unknown aftermath.

Nonetheless, Ghanaians stood firm with their hands lifted high. Ghana won and peace has been on our horizon.

Saluted by many Ghanaians and the international community, Ghana’s performance at the 2024 general election has taken centre stage and been the talk of the town. One wonders what those detractors who said or thought anarchy was going to descend on our nation are saying now. 

Indeed, when Jesus says yes to Ghana, no one can say no and this has clearly manifested.

Last Saturday was like a stage set ready for a drama. The eyes of some 30 million Ghanaians were on the lead actors. Some of us as spectators or active participants as well as cheerleaders were geared up for the final scene.

Ghana was victorious. One’s fears of expected violence and confusion abated. One week on, Ghana is not in pieces.

One has had the opportunity to monitor local and international media extensively and follow various social media platforms since the noble act of conceding defeat was announced by NPP’s Dr Mahamadu Bawumia. 

Concede

This thoughtful action to concede defeat pretty early during the waiting period for the verdict of the Returning Officer deserves commendation as has appropriately been expressed loud and clear in Ghana and abroad. If my voice would go any far, I would even recommend Dr. Bawumia for a Nobel Peace Prize.

I never watched or listened live to him last Sunday morning, but thanks to the power of the internet, I had the opportunity to watch everything on YouTube, days later. My enchantment with watching is the fact that this is someone who is not power-intoxicated. He was humble enough to accept defeat, with the peace of Ghana on his heart.

Concise and straight to the point, the disarming and encouraging speech sought to inform the world that at the time of accepting defeat, he had watched, listened and analysed the results that were coming from his party’s internal coalition which indicated that former President John Mahama had won the presidential election decisively and the Parliamentary results were in favour of the NDC party.  His conclusion was to the point. To give way.

My excitement was his admission that waiting for the rest of the results to come in was not going to make any dramatic change. Even though this was coming very early in the collation of the results, he believed that “Ghana was going to win and peace will reign in our land”.

He recollected his promises at the signing of the peace pact just days before we went to the polls, reiterating “The people had spoken on 7^th December and the people had voted for change”. Who was he to stand in the way?

In his heart of hearts, and perhaps reflecting on how election disputes have created tensions and plunged nations into anarchy and chaos, Dr Bawumia believed Ghana was vital, saying, “Ghana was more important than an individual’s political ambitions”.

Statesman

As a true statesman and a mature politician will do, he tried to court affection for Ghana by urging investors “to trust Ghana’s stability”. He pledged his personal and his government’s full support in the transition process so “business of government will continue seamlessly.”

Bringing his speech to a close, he thanked his hardworking party members who had given the assignment their all, not to be too disheartened but to look into the future with optimism, saying, “We have lost the battle but not the war”. He called on all to remain calm, positive and united, urging, “We will regroup and come back stronger”.

Analysing Dr Bawumia’s conceding speech reminds me of my observation of him in the political space since he assumed office as Vice President in 2017. He has been like a case study for me observing his demeanour, commitment and hard work as a leader.

In February 2020, in my article published by the Daily Graphic in this column, entitled, “Bawumia Factor”, I touted his seeming commitment to duty and suggested that his attraction to following was an asset to his party.

Three years later, in November 2023, he was still on my radar when in another article entitled “Bawumia factor I saw coming”, he once again got my attention during a speech he gave at his party’s stronghold in Kumasi.

Today, here we are with him readily conceding defeat in a keenly contested election whose results were still coming in and the electoral returning officer was still monitoring results. He is no doubt a statesman and Ghana will thank him one day for the peace he upheld for his country.

He succeeded in diffusing tension and calming nerves even in the face of a painful defeat.

Such political leadership is few and far between on this continent of Africa. Thank you Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. Ghana is grateful for your maturity, calmness and levelheadedness in leadership.

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The writer can be contacted via email at vickywirekoandoh@yahoo.com