World Leaders, Diplomatic Community Congratulate Mills

More  congratulatory messages keep pouring in from world leaders and the diplomatic community on the election of Professor John Evans Atta Mills as the new President of Ghana.

The President of the People's Republic of China, Mr Hu Jintao, on behalf of the government and people of China and on his own behalf, extended best wishes to the President-elect.

He said Ghana and China had enjoyed long-standing traditional friendship over the years, adding, "I am ready, in joint efforts with your Excellency, to further develop the China-Ghana friendship and co-operation".

The Vice President of China, Mr Xi Jinping, also congratulated the incoming vice President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, on his election to the high office of Vice President of Ghana, and assured him of his co-operation to promote the profound relationship between the two countries.

A message from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr Hirofumi Nakasone, welcomed the elections as generally free, fair and peaceful and congratulated Prof. Mills on his election as the next President of Ghana.

"The Government of Japan expects that as a model country that retains democracy and sound economic management in Africa, the Republic of Ghana will continue to promote good governance, foster economic and social development and further contribute to the realisation and maintenance of peace and stability in Africa, especially in the West Africa sub-region", the message said.

It said Japan would send a former Prime Minister, Mr Junichiro Koizumi, as Ambassador on Special Mission to the inaugural ceremony scheduled for today.

A message from the Peoples Bureau of the Great Socialist Peoples Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, congratulated Prof. Mills and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on winning the elections.

On his part, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Mr Kamalesh Sharma, congratulated Prof Mills and said he looked forward to working with him and his government to further consolidate Ghana's democratic gains and tackling the development challenges confronting the country.

He commended the people of Ghana for the successful and orderly conduct of the elections, and the Electoral Commission (EC) for the important role it played in ensuring an efficient electoral process and a credible outcome, adding that it underscored the increased focus that the strengthening of national election commissions was receiving in the Commonwealth.

Mr Sharma also paid tribute to outgoing President John Kufuor for his valued support to the Commonwealth and upholding its principles.

The President of the European Union (EU), Mr Jose Manuel Barroso, has congratulated President-elect, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, on his election.

In a letter to Prof. Mills, Mr Barroso wished him success in the exercise of his mandate.

“The people of Ghana have confidently entrusted you with the responsibility for ensuring stability, democracy and economic development of the country. In this respect, I am pleased to note that according to the preliminary analysis, the 2008 elections were conducted in an open, transparent and competitive manner.”

He said that demonstrated the continuous strong commitment to peace and democracy by Ghanaians and contributed to the consolidation of stability in the entire region.

The letter further said that the EU and Ghana had been enjoying close relations for many years, and expressed the assurance that the EU would continue supporting the efforts of the country in achieving middle-income status and implementing policies to the benefit of all.

Mr Barroso also expressed the hope that the co-operation of the EU and Ghana within the framework of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement would maintain its substantive role.

He said he looked forward to further develop and foster the relations between EU and Ghana.