David Miliband

Foreign Secretary

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Wednesday 07 January, 2009

Good News Part Two: Elections in Ghana

Whilst newspapers cover the terrible events in the Middle East, there are good news stories around. I've spoken about Bangladesh, but there is also great news in Ghana,  which held its fifth successive - and peaceful - multi-party election.  Over 9 million people voted, but the opposition's winning margin was only a few thousand votes. The Government of President Kufuor quietly and constitutionally accepted the outcome.
 
So, for the second time in ten years, power will pass peacefully from a government to the opposition. The victor, John Atta Mills, is inaugurated as the new President today. It is an example many other countries would do well to follow. The people of Ghana - unlike those of other, less democratic countries in the region - continue to prosper.
 

Posted at 16:05 07 January 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[9]

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I thought we were buying our chocolate from forced child labourers and slaves in Ghana?

Posted by Steve Mc (Canada) on January 07, 2009 at 04:41 PM GMT #

Khrystos Narodivshia! thats the traditional Ukrainian orthodox christmas greeting. today is of course ukrainian christmas..I know you know that... Also..Vecelih Svyat! happy holidays! to David and everyone at the fco and their families

Posted by Steve Mc (Canada) on January 07, 2009 at 04:45 PM GMT #

A little off-topic Mr Miliband but what would you say to criticism the UN Security Council is vulnerable to the Veto in actioning its resolutions?

Posted by Owen on January 08, 2009 at 02:10 AM GMT #

Hello, However my post is not linked with your Article but here is one common thing that both of them are about Election. I have posted an article about the famous Candidates for the Next presidential election in Afghanistan: http://afghancitizen.blogspot.com/2009/01/who-will-be-next-president-of.html

Posted by Baktash on January 08, 2009 at 10:03 AM GMT #

Dear Sir, Your usual empty statements regarding the middle east peace process are sad and tired, I am being oh too polite, it is a disgrace that the British are not at the forefront of those demanding an immediate cessation of the butchery occuring in Gaza by the IDF with approval of UK and US governments.

Posted by ruth on January 08, 2009 at 06:32 PM GMT #

Steve, Ghana is the home of one of the great successes of ethical trading, the Kuapa Kokoo cooperative, which supplies and owns part of the Divine Fairtrade Chocolate initiative. Still no mention here of Tibet. But as Gaza shows, might is right, regardless of UN Security resolutions, politicians' platitudes or anything else.

Posted by OwenE2 on January 09, 2009 at 07:56 PM GMT #

It is good to see the good news in Ghana. Democracy at work. Pity it did not work for Hamas. I often wonder what David Miliband thinks about the rights of the non Jews in Israel. In November David Miliband decribed Israel as 'One of the world's liveliest democracies; a distinguished independent judiciary; a vibrant market economy; a cultural mosaic; and a country with global links'. Let us ignore the 1.2m citizens of Israel who are not jews, let us ignore the 10m Palestinians who they have kicked out and are not allow back. Let us ignore the injustice you get from the judiciary if you are not jewish. A vibrant economy that is subsidieded by US taxpayers. Well Mr Miliband are you the right person to represent Britain in the Gaza war? I for one think you are to close to one side.

Posted by Paul Macdonald on January 11, 2009 at 02:52 PM GMT #

this is not about the congo. but would just like to say that i watched our foreign sec' in the House of Commons before and was very impressed. which i know sounds like saying nothing but as much as i'm quite the admirer of old Miliband, can't say that i've ever been much in the way of v.impressed by any of his performances before. it seems like he has a not too easy to glimpse passionate, emotional, forceful side. one that when put to good use, bringing forcefully held, genuine and heartfelt political feelings to the fore, can really have an impact. on the off chance you happen to read this old David Miliband, please connect with that place more often, the politician that just held sway over the H of C was an extremly impressive one.

Posted by sarah smith on January 12, 2009 at 05:18 PM GMT #

Hello Mr Miliband, you seem to have missed the peaceful elections in Kashmir, held in december 2008, saddened to hear your comments on the terrorism therehttp://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/audio/2009/jan/15/foreignpolicy-davidmiliband.

Posted by Sayandeep Nag on January 15, 2009 at 03:58 PM GMT #

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