Statement by African Monitor on the election of Prof. John Atta Mills as President of Ghana

Press Release

23 January 2009

African Monitor congratulates President John Atta Mills on his January 3 win in the Ghanaian presidential race. Ghana being the pioneer of Africa’s independence but having gone through a difficult period of change of government through undemocratic means, we are proud that the way the election has been conducted contributes significantly to the process of consolidating democratic governance not only in Ghana but in the rest of the continent.

As Ghana takes another step towards continued creation of a better world for its people, particularly the poor, we wish the country success in all its endeavors.

As a continental body that seeks to be an effective catalyst in development for the benefit of Africa’s poor, African Monitor calls upon the new government to intensify its efforts to eradicate poverty and address inequality which tend to lock out the poor and vulnerable from gains of economic growth and development.

Furthermore, we call upon the government of President Atta Mills to intensify efforts at finding lasting peace in the West Africa region and Africa as a whole, particularly in conflict hotspots such as Somalia, Ivory Coast, Darfur, DRC, Guinea and Mauritania.

As a constructive friend to all development actors, we at African Monitor pledge unwavering support to the new government of the Republic of Ghana and to continental leadership in the search for lasting solutions to the internal and external challenges and crises facing us as a people.

African Monitor 1st Floor Tokai-on-Main Office Complex, Main Road, Tokai 7945, Cape Town, South Africa, Tel: +27 21 713 2802, Fax: +27 21 712 1082; email: info@africanmonior.org; www.africanmonitor.org