Jubilating

Today they announced the results of the Ghanaian presidential election. That's the Dec 5 elections that were followed by the Dec 28 run-off concluding with today's deciding follow-up vote in the small community of Twain. We happened to be in 'downtown' Cape Coast when the results were made public. Imagine our luck! Have you seen "The Year of Living Dangerously"? There was much jubilating. By jubilating, the local term, I mean one of those third-world street celebrations you can only really appreciate if you've seen it. I don't think my 8-year old shared in the general enthusiasm. Apparently, there was going to be a rally or parade of some sort but we decided to leave town and went the opposite direction that 50.26% of people were jubilating and found a cabbie from among the 49.56% willing to drive us home. The NDC and their candidate John Atta-Mills have won. They are the party of change, having displaced the incumbent Nana Akufo-Addo of the NPP. From the tone in Cape Coast, this appears to be a good thing. Whether or not the government in power agrees and defers shall remain to be seen. Until this week, that is. Imagine our luck! No lame duck here. Incoming Atta-Mills will be sworn in on Jan 7. Start packing, Papa Nana. Here's to our hopes for a smooth transition.