TIME TO BIND TOGETHER (JANUARY 7)

TODAY, a new government takes office, amidst high expectations from all Ghanaians.
First, Ghanaians are thankful to God that after almost a year of electioneering and its concomitant high tension, they have a new President to steer the ship of state for the next four years.
From the echoes of congratulations across the globe to the President-elect, Professor J. E. A. Mills, and Ghanaians on demonstrating their commitment to democratic values, one hopes that the people can harness the goodwill for improved standards of living.
Many well-meaning Ghanaians nearly gave up hope for a united Ghana when the run-off failed to produce a clear winner and the electorate in Tain were called upon to be the king makers.
The situation became more worrying when supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) took to the streets to proclaim victories for their parties ahead of the formal announcement by the Electoral Commission (EC).
Happily, good counsel prevailed when the President, religious leaders, professional bodies and the international community called on the leaders of the two political parties to calm down and allow the EC to exercise its mandate.
When, finally, the results were announced by the EC, supporters of the NDC went into spontaneous jubilation throughout the country, while those of the NPP counted their defeat with grief. Apart from a few incidents, the jubilant supporters of the NDC celebrated their victory within the norms of our society.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is aware of the tough assignment facing our new President, particularly from the close nature of the elections.
We are convinced that the new President has the pedigree to walk the talk of providing leadership for all Ghanaians and not only supporters of the NDC.
It is important for us, at this stage of our national history, to tap into the expertise of all Ghanaians, regardless of their political persuasions, because it is only by our collective effort that the destiny of this nation can be changed for the better.
After the gruelling and acrimonious electoral contest, it is now time for all Ghanaians to leave the past behind them and forge ahead in unity.
What we went through was only a contest for the Presidency, not war. Indeed, we have examples in our local communities where members of the same family contest for stools and skins but unite after the contest.
Our common enemy is not our colleagues in other political parties but poverty. That is why the new government must rally all Ghanaians together to fight poverty, diseases and ignorance.
The DAILY GRAPHIC reminds Ghanaians of the common folk wisdom that it is easier to break one broomstick than the whole bunch. Therefore, let us return to the values in the age-old saying, “United we stand, divided we fall.”
We, therefore, call on our new leaders, opposition parties, religious and temporal leaders and Ghanaians as a whole to explore the strength and great advantages in binding together, even with our diverse backgrounds.
It is our hope that the two sides of the political divide in Parliament will iron out their differences and elect a Speaker without any acrimony to set the tone for consensus building in the House.