UK impressed with NPP reaction over election petition verdict

United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Minister of African Affairs Mark Simmonds have expressed happiness over the peaceful manner with which Ghanaians welcomed the ruling of the country's Supreme Court on the election petition.

Mr Simmonds tweeted a few hours after the Supreme Court ruling on Thursday that he has been “also impressed by the opposition reaction”.

“Ghana showing the strength of its democracy again,” he tweeted. UK and several other nations commended Ghana for resorting to the law court to settle the post-2012 election disputes and were waiting with bated breath on the reception the outcome will be afforded.

But from what happened on Thursday, Ghana’s reputation has raised the bar on the African continent and, by extension, in the international community.

“We once again find ourselves in a position to set a standard for the rest of Africa to lead by practicing and perfecting,” President John Dramani Mahama, in whose favour the verdict went, affirmed in a broadcast to the nation on Thursday.

His main opponent and the foremost petitioner in the suit, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, said: “The whole world has watched us in wonder and admiration. Our reaction to this judgment will be watched keenly in Africa and beyond and will set a precedent for generations to follow.”

Nana Addo called President Mahama on phone to congratulate him on Thursday’s verdict, a gesture which has been highly praised as affirmation of the nation's strides in democracy.