By Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK
Since the beginning of the Supreme Court (SC) presidential petition hearing, Ghanaians and the world were made to believe that NDC and NPP will accept the SC verdict, come what may. To put it bluntly, both President John Mahama and NPP Presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo have promised to accept the decision of the SC. However, when the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) issued what it described as advice to the two parties (NDC and NPP) not to seek a review of the SC decision, both parties openly stated that they disagree with IEA (see “Don’t seek review of election petition verdict” and “Election Petition: NDC, NPP reject IEA's 'not to seek review' plea”, Ghanaweb August 21, 2013).
So have President Maham and Nana Akufo-Addo as well as the NDC and NPP been lying to Ghanaians and the world? It is true that both the President and Nana Akufo-Addo have not directly responded to the IEA statement but I would be surprised if they disagree with what the NDC Deputy General Secretary, George Lawson and the NPP National Chairman, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey said in response to the IEA. So far, neither the presidency nor Akufo-Addo’s office has disputed what the two party officials said. In reality when the two party leaders and their respective parties told Ghanaians that they will accept the verdict of the SC, they did not mean it because I cannot reconcile “we will accept the verdict” with “it is our right to seek a review”. Seeking a review of the verdict is contrary to accepting the verdict as that is a truism that the one seeking the review does not accept the verdict.
For President Mahama and Nana Akufo-Addo as well as NDC and NPP, I have only one message for them. Whatever the verdict, think very carefully before you exercise the right of review because this petition is causing tension, jobs and millions of dollars of foreign investments in Ghana. The advice issued by the US Embassy to its citizens in Ghana is an indication of how some foreign investors are cautious about making investment decisions in Ghana as long as this petition remains unsettled. I do not know how long it will take the Supreme Court to review the decision of the nine Justices that would be announced on Thursday August 29, 2013 but one thing certain is that, a review will heighten tension, continue to scare away foreign investors and delay further investments by local and foreign companies operating in Ghana. It’s also a message that Ghana is not yet open for business. The personality and party that ultimately lose the petition after a review is most likely to pay a heavy political price in the future than conceding defeat now than later. It is not every right that must be exercised and some rights must be exercised responsibly.
For the sake of nation, one of you should make what I call the “Al Gore Speech” soon after the SC Justices pronounce their verdict on August 29, 2013. I hope you all remember Al Gore’s concession speech after the United States SC verdict on the 2000 Presidential petition on December 13, 2000. For the sake of Ghana, I reproduce the speech for the attention of President Mahama and Nana Akufo-Addo and urge them to do the same whoever is the loser on August 29, 2031. It is a perfect speech that Ghana and Ghanaians desperately need and must be delivered with a sense of urgency, passion, pride and above all, patriotism because there is strength and humility in conceding and accepting defeat.
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK
“Good evening. Just moments ago, I spoke with George W Bush and congratulated him on becoming the 43rd President of the United States, and I promised him that I wouldn't call him back this time. I offered to meet with him as soon as possible so that we can start to heal the divisions of the campaign and the contest through which we just passed.
Almost a century and a half ago, Senator Stephen Douglas told Abraham Lincoln, who had just defeated him for the presidency, "Partisan feeling must yield to patriotism. I'm with you, Mr President, and God bless you." Well, in that same spirit, I say to President-elect Bush that what remains of partisan rancour must now be put aside, and may God bless his stewardship of this country.
Neither he nor I anticipated this long and difficult road. Certainly neither of us wanted it to happen. Yet it came, and now it has ended, resolved, as it must be resolved, through the honoured institutions of our democracy. Over the library of one of our great law schools is inscribed the motto, "Not under man but under God and law". That's the ruling principle of American freedom, the source of our democratic liberties. I've tried to make it my guide throughout this contest as it has guided America's deliberations of all the complex issues of the past five weeks. Now the US Supreme Court has spoken. Let there be no doubt, while I strongly disagree with the court's decision, I accept it. I accept the finality of this outcome which will be ratified next Monday in the Electoral College. And tonight, for the sake of our unity as a people and the strength of our democracy, I offer my concession.
I also accept my responsibility, which I will discharge unconditionally, to honour the new President-elect and do everything possible to help him bring Americans together in fulfilment of the great vision that our Declaration of Independence defines and that our constitution affirms and defends. Let me say how grateful I am to all those who supported me and supported the cause for which we have fought. Tipper and I feel a deep gratitude to Joe and Hadassah Lieberman who brought passion and high purpose to our partnership and opened new doors, not just for our campaign but for our country.
This has been an extraordinary election. But in one of God's unforeseen paths, this belatedly broken impasse can point us all to a new common ground, for its very closeness can serve to remind us that we are one people with a shared history and a shared destiny. Indeed, that history gives us many examples of contests as hotly debated, as fiercely fought, with their own challenges to the popular will. Other disputes have dragged on for weeks before reaching resolution. And each time, both the victor and the vanquished have accepted the result peacefully and in the spirit of reconciliation. So let it be with us.
I know that many of my supporters are disappointed. I am too. But our disappointment must be overcome by our love of country. And I say to our fellow members of the world community, let no one see this contest as a sign of American weakness. The strength of American democracy is shown most clearly through the difficulties it can overcome. Some have expressed concern that the unusual nature of this election might hamper the next President in the conduct of his office. I do not believe it need be so.
President-elect Bush inherits a nation whose citizens will be ready to assist him in the conduct of his large responsibilities. I personally will be at his disposal, and I call on all Americans - I particularly urge all who stood with us to unite behind our next President. This is America. Just as we fight hard when the stakes are high, we close ranks and come together when the contest is done.
And while there will be time enough to debate our continuing differences, now is the time to recognise that that which unites us is greater than that which divides us. While we yet hold and do not yield our opposing beliefs, there is a higher duty than the one we owe to political party. This is America and we put country before party. We will stand together behind our new President.
As for what I'll do next, I don't know the answer to that one yet. Like many of you, I'm looking forward to spending the holidays with family and old friends. I know I'll spend time in Tennessee and mend some fences, literally and figuratively. Some have asked whether I have any regrets and I do have one regret: that I didn't get the chance to stay and fight for the American people over the next four years, especially for those who need burdens lifted and barriers removed, especially for those who feel their voices have not been heard. I heard you and I will not forget. I've seen America in this campaign and I like what I see. It's worth fighting for and that's a fight I'll never stop.
As for the battle that ends tonight, I do believe as my father once said, that no matter how hard the loss, defeat might serve as well as victory to shape the soul and let the glory out. So for me this campaign ends as it began: with the love of Tipper and our family; with faith in God and in the country I have been so proud to serve, from Vietnam to the Vice Presidency; and with gratitude to our truly tireless campaign staff and volunteers, including all those who worked so hard in Florida for the last 36 days. Now the political struggle is over and we turn again to the unending struggle for the common good of all Americans and for those multitudes around the world who look to us for leadership in the cause of freedom. In the words of our great hymn, "America, America, let us crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea."
And now, my friends, in a phrase I once addressed to others, it's time for me to go. Thank you and good night, and God bless America.
By US Vice-President Al Gore, Democratic Party Presidential Candidate, 2000.