Your victory was decisive, prize for grit and determination-Akufo-Addo, Mahama congratulate Biden
President Nana Akufo-Addo and his opponent in the December polls, John Mahama, have congratulated American-President elect, Joe Biden on his victory.
The two candidates in Ghana’s December 7 elections took to social media to commend Mr Biden as waves of congratulatory messages pour in from world leaders. The former Delaware Senator, barring any unforeseen circumstances, will become the 46th President of the United States.
Although Mr Biden’s opponent, Donald Trump, is yet to concede defeat and had rather taken to tweets to cast doubt over the election results, the two Ghanaian politicians believe the race is over, and Biden the victor.
In a series of tweets, President Akufo-Addo commended Mr Biden for what he described as a “decisive victory.”
On behalf of the Government and people of Ghana, I extend my warmest congratulations to the President-Elect of the United States of America, Vice President @JoeBiden, on his decisive victory in the elections of 3rd November 2020. 1/4 pic.twitter.com/qIWFjzYg9D
— Nana Akufo-Addo (@NAkufoAddo) November 7, 2020
I am hopeful that over the course of his presidency, relations between Ghana and the United States of America will continue to grow from strength to strength, relations which have, over the years, been based on a shared agenda of freedom, development, progress and prosperity. 3/4
— Nana Akufo-Addo (@NAkufoAddo) November 7, 2020
I am hopeful that over the course of his presidency, relations between Ghana and the United States of America will continue to grow from strength to strength, relations which have, over the years, been based on a shared agenda of freedom, development, progress and prosperity. 3/4
— Nana Akufo-Addo (@NAkufoAddo) November 7, 2020
Warm congratulations, once again, to President-Elect @JoeBiden, Vice President-Elect @KamalaHarris, and the people of the United States of America. God bless the American people, and best wishes for their country’s continued success. 4/4
— Nana Akufo-Addo (@NAkufoAddo) November 7, 2020
Former President Mahama, who is hoping the American election mirrors Ghana’s December 7 polls, said Biden’s “resilience is admirable” adding that “it’s taken sheer grit and determination to chalk this victory”.
Congratulations #POTUS elect @JoeBiden. Your resilience is admirable. It’s taken sheer grit and determination to chalk this victory. pic.twitter.com/Ff5TlUXV6a
— John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) November 7, 2020
After four days of sitting on the edge, the American media, including the Associated Press, CNN and Politico projected the elections for Mr Biden, whose previous shots at the presidency in 1988 and 2008 failed.
Minutes after the results were called in his favour, Mr Biden tweeted a reconciliatory message.
America, I’m honored that you have chosen me to lead our great country.
The work ahead of us will be hard, but I promise you this: I will be a President for all Americans — whether you voted for me or not.
I will keep the faith that you have placed in me. pic.twitter.com/moA9qhmjn8
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) November 7, 2020
While Mr Biden and his supporters jubilate, the incumbent, Mr Trump and his sympathisers are counting on a legal challenge the Republic Party has filed in five states–Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Wisconsin– to turn the results in the sitting president’s favour.
THE OBSERVERS WERE NOT ALLOWED INTO THE COUNTING ROOMS. I WON THE ELECTION, GOT 71,000,000 LEGAL VOTES. BAD THINGS HAPPENED WHICH OUR OBSERVERS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO SEE. NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. MILLIONS OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS WERE SENT TO PEOPLE WHO NEVER ASKED FOR THEM!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2020
I WON THIS ELECTION, BY A LOT!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2020
Mr Biden has been in politics almost all his life. He was first elected in 1972, and served six terms as a senator for the state of Delaware.
He was one of the youngest people ever elected to the US Senate, aged 29,and his age at his first election contributed to him being consistently ranked as one of the least wealthy members in the Senate.
Mr. Biden, who has spent five decades in Washington and served two terms in the White House as former president Barack Obama’s Vice President, capitalised on that experience to portray himself as a tested leader and a better alternative to Mr. Trump.
It was an election of records as well. While Mr Biden became the oldest American, aged 77, to become President, the Vice-President-elect, Kamala Harris, became the first woman to be elected Vice-President.
Interestingly, It was Mr Biden who swore-in Ms Harris into office as Senator in 2016.
She also became the first woman of colour to be elected that office, just four years after entering the Senate as a lawmaker for California.
Her father, who was Jamaican, taught at Stanford University, and her mother, the daughter of an Indian diplomat, was a cancer researcher.