President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has commended Jacob Zuma for showing “patriotism and statesmanship” for resigning as president of South Africa.
He was pleased that Mr. Zuma listened to the demands of South Africans, and accordingly resigned Wednesday after years of attempts to remove him failed.
“…His Excellency Jacob Zuma, is also to be commended for his patriotism and statesmanship in resigning his high office, to satisfy the demands of the South African people. I wish him the very best in his future endeavours,” President Akufo-Addo said in a statement issued Friday to congratulate the new president, Cyril Ramaphosa.
Mr. Zuma announced his resignation with immediate effect on February 14 in a televised statement following intense pressure from his party, the African National Congress (ANC).
The ANC had threatened him to step down or face a vote of no confidence in parliament, something that forced the embattled Zuma to give in by resigning, though he said he disagreed with the decision of his party.
“No life should be lost in my name and also the ANC should never be divided in my name. I have therefore come to the decision to resign as president of the republic with immediate effect,” he said.
“Even though I disagree with the decision of the leadership of my organisation, I have always been a disciplined member of the ANC” he added.
Cyril Ramaphosa was subsequently nominated by the South African Parliament and sworn as the President, a day after Mr. Zuma was forced to exit.
President Akufo-Addo in his statement congratulated Mr. Ramaphosa describing his election as “well-deserved, and a vindication of the trust and confidence reposed” in him by the ANC
“Hopefully, South Africa, under your leadership, will succeed in overcoming her recent challenges, and reinforce her position as a champion of progress and prosperity on the African continent. A strong, united, prospering South Africa is a great force for progress in Africa,” Akufo-Addo expressed.
Nana Akufo-Addo said he looks forward to working with Mr. Ramaphosa to improve the living conditions of Ghanaians and South Africans, and “advance their mutual interests, and the wider interests of the African peoples”
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