SA's Motlanthe Congratulates New Ghana President

Pretoria - South African leader and chairperson of SADC, President Kgalema Motlanthe on Saturday extended on behalf of the government and people of South Africa, the SADC region, warm congratulations to John Atta Mills on his election as president-elect of the Republic of Ghana.

President Motlanthe said: "Your Excellency, your election to this high office, carries with it hope for millions of your countrymen, the continent as well as those in the West Africa Region and the Diaspora."

"This fifth multiparty democratic elections, following shortly on Ghana's fiftieth anniversary of independence last year bears testimony to the respect for democracy and good governance in Africa.

"In this regard, our congratulations also go to the people of Ghana who have through the ballot paper, showed their appreciation for democracy.

"South Africa looks forward to the consolidation and strengthening of bilateral political, economic and trade relations between our two countries and indeed its peoples."

* SAPA