The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), congratulates Prof. John Atta Mills (president-elect) of the Republic of Ghana on his election to the highest office of the land. The Union joins millions of Ghanaians to welcome you to the seat which you truly deserve after years of perseverance. You have trekked the long winding and rough road to this point and deserve to rejoice. But while celebrating your electoral victory, NUGS wishes to observe, as did Barack Obama, that “this is not the change, this is the chance to make the change”. We are acutely aware of the sharp division amongst our people and it is our hope and prayer that every decision you make will first take into consideration the yearning need to heal the nation. It is our considered opinion that, continuous vilification and name calling can only serve to detract us from collectively searching for solutions to the myriad of problems confronting our people. We are reassured by your statement that “The election is over and there is only one Ghana; there is no NDC Ghana and NPP Ghana. I renew my pledge that I will be President of all Ghanaians.” The simmering tensions emanating from the gruelling contest were obvious to every objective observer and we have an opportunity to work to reduce the potential of an implosion. The display of an intolerant exclusiveness, and a belligerent sense of supremacy vis-à-vis the sensibilities of certain groups can produce undesirable consequences for the country. The Union is confident you will fulfill your promise and unify Ghanaians even if the efforts are opposed to by some people within your party. We have no reason to doubt your ability to do this. NUGS also wishes to express appreciation to the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his gracious acknowledgement of the Electoral Commission’s declaration and subsequently congratulating the president-elect. His mature handling of the situation has ensured that the country remains one after the declaration of result by the EC. His calling on supporters of the NPP to remain calm and exercise restraint, we think, is good for the country and Ghana is the better for it. NUGS is disturbed at the manner in which sections of the media handled the election process and the developments preceding the final declaration of results. The fuelling of unnecessary suspicions and thereby tacitly promoting vigilantism was unacceptable. But for the extreme restraint and level headedness exhibited by the electorate, this country would have gone up in flames, thanks to the indiscretion of some sections of the media. NUGS is calling on all peace loving Ghanaians to condemn in no uncertain terms the uncensored broadcast of inflammatory and ethnically and dangerously divisive statements by media houses in the country. Once again, congratulations to the president-elect. Signed: President Press and Information Secretary Ishmael Tweneboa-Kodua Malik Abass Daabu 0249206669 0243150805