President-elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and members of the ‘elephant family’ – the New Patriotic Party (NPP) – yesterday, thanked the Lord for his mercies which kept them through the rugged campaign process to the final hour of victory in the 2016 general election.
An elated Nana Addo pleaded for forgiveness among Ghanaians as he preached love for one another.
Nana Akufo-Addo, in the wake of reported attacks on one another after the elections, also urged Ghanaians to exhibit kindness.
Speaking at the NPP thanksgiving service at the Accra Sports Stadium yesterday, Nana Addo condemned the recent acts of violence saying, “I do recognize that there have been some instances of misconduct and altercations that should not have happened. Such behaviour is unbecoming of us.”
“I call on all Ghanaians to act with kindness, generosity and magnanimity towards one another and to forgive anybody who has wronged or hurt you.”
Nana also extended his gratitude to Ghanaians whose hard work ensured the NPP’s victory.
He believes the commitment by various stakeholders, including party supporters and the media, inspired the party to forge ahead.
The thanksgiving service saw many of the congregants – from the top brass of the party, supporters to the foot soldiers – clad in white apparels.
Atmosphere
The entire ministries’ enclave, stadium and the Independence Square areas at Osu were choked as people struggled to find spaces to park their vehicles.
After prayers, worship, scripture reading and preaching of the gospel, Nana Akufo-Addo emerged with a heart-warming thanksgiving message in which he expressed profound gratitude not only to God, but also Ghanaians who voted for him to become president-elect, recalling with nostalgia the tortuous road to this electoral victory.
Present were an array of gospel musicians, like Obaapa Christy, Reverend Josh Laryea, Evangelist Diana Asamoah, Great Ampong, Cee, Isaac, Ernest Opoku and a host of other musicians who charged the congregation with their songs.
Also present was a strong team of men of God who prayed for the president-elect, his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and their respective families as well as the incoming NPP administration for God’s guidance and protection to lift the country from its present state to the new and prosperous Ghana Akufo-Addo has promised to build.
They included Prophet Isaac Owusu Bempah, whose several prophesies about Nana Addo came to pass with his eventual emergence as winner of the 2016 general election.
Rev Owusu Bempah led the prayer for the service to begin.
The prophet said for those who said Nana Akufo-Addo can’t do it, God will give him the foresight and strength to excel for his (Nana’s) enemies to benefit from his fruits.
He said God spoke to some of them [pastors] that He had chosen Akufo-Addo to lead Ghana to glory “and it has come to pass that the revelation is here.”
Rev Canon J.A. Nelson of the Accra Ridge Church – where the president-elect worships – focused his sermon on the essence of thanksgiving which he said is a natural part of every human being to His Maker.
The atmosphere at the stadium was one full of joy and merry making amidst singing and dancing and blurring of vuvuzelas.
The Journey
Addressing the charged crowd of party supporters, the president-elect recalled, “My personal journey to this day has been a long, long one: A journey of over four decades, working shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow patriots and nationalists for democracy in our beloved Ghana. Our stamina has been tested. But we kept going in the full belief that ‘the battle was the Lord’s.’
“The going was not easy. The road has been rough. The valleys were deep. And the mountains were steep. We stumbled many times along the way. Sometimes we came tantalizingly close to the proverbial walls of the city, but painfully, the city gates were closed in our faces. But we never lost hope. We learnt from each mistake and we soldiered on, in the belief that in His own time, we will get there, better prepared.”
Fond Memories
He further recounted, “When we began our campaign, when we set forth on this journey, when we embarked on our electoral mission, we committed ourselves and our mission to the Lord.”
We did not say the battle was ours. Did we? What did we say? “The battle is the Lord’s.’ Did we say we could win the 2016 election by ourselves? No! Did we say we were Goliath, clad in intimidating protective armour? No. Did we say we had might? Did we say we had money or gold or silver? We said ‘the battle was the Lord’s.”
“In all these trying times,” Nana revealed, “We took inspiration from God’s word: Psalm 27:14 says: ‘Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!’ And so we took courage and worked in the full knowledge that ‘the battle was the Lord’s.”
He therefore paid glowing tribute to the memories of those [living and the departed] whose individual and collective contributions led to the victory in the 2016 elections.
Conviction
The NPP leader cast his eyes ahead saying, “We also know that we have a lot of work ahead of us. It is a task that we can and will perform with your support, with your hard work, with your unceasing prayers and with the full blessing of God, quoting from the Book of Isaiah.”
He therefore charged Ghanaians, “Let us, then, renew our strength and our faith, and get ourselves ready for the work ahead. I have no doubts at all that with God on our side, we shall succeed.”
“The good Lord has promised that in His own time, He will make all things beautiful. This is His appointed time. And that is why ‘the battle is still the Lord’s.”
He thanked his campaign team, led by Peter Mac Manu; Dan Botwe, the Campaign Strategist; Edward Boateng, the Campaign Administrator and Technology Director, Joe Anokye.
“I am forever in their debt, as I am in the debt of those who went on the grueling campaign with me around the country, particularly, Alan Kyerematen and Otiko Afisa Djaba. I cannot leave out Diana Asamoah, Cindy Thompson, Agya Koo, Lucky Mensah, Praye Tintin, Praye Tiatia and all the other great stars who left their comfort zones and came on the rugged terrain of party politics and made such a great contribution to our victory.” “Many thanks also to the media, many of who made a determined effort to take our message to the Ghanaian people. They are part of this positive history,” Nana underscored.
He paid glowing tribute to departed members of the party who fell by the wayside before victory was ushered in.
3-Day Visit To Nigeria
The president-elect left Ghana yesterday, for a 3-day visit to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
While there, he is expected to deliver the keynote address at the 2016 Future of Africa Awards ceremony in Lagos, and also pay a courtesy call on the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, at the State House, in Abuja.
Nana Akufo-Addo returns to Ghana on Tuesday, a statement signed by Eugene Arhin, Press Secretary, indicated.
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