Pretoria - President Kgalema Motlanthe has congratulated John Atta Mills on his election as Ghana's president and described his election as hope for millions of Ghanaians, the continent and the West African region.
"South Africa reaffirms its commitment to work together with you for the political unity and integration of the African continent within the framework of the African Union and through our support for NEPAD as well as the AU institutions," President Motlanthe said on Saturday.
He said the election, which commenced on 28 December, bared testimony to Ghana's 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."
The Electoral Commission (EC), on Saturday declared Mr Mills, a former Vice President, as the winner of Presidential Election 2008.
Mr Mill's presidential candidate of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), obtained 4 521 032 votes, representing 50.23 percent, of the valid votes cast while Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, presidential candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) got 4 480 446 votes, representing 49.77 percent.
Mr Mills won eight out of 10 regions while Mr Akufo-Addo won two regions during the Presidential Election Runoff.
In the first round of polls on 7 December Nana Akufo-Addo won three regions but lost the Brong Ahafo Region to Mr Mills in the Runoff.
The statistics indicate that National voter turn-out was 72.9 percent; the Ashanti Region recorded the highest voter turn-out of 83.31 percent while the Western Region recorded the lowest turn-out of 66.48 percent.
President Motlanthe, further wished President Mills good health, prosperity and successful term of office, saying the country looked forward to strengthening ties with Ghana.
"South Africa looks forward to the consolidation and strengthening of bilateral political, economic and trade relations between our two countries and indeed its peoples," he said.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also congratulated the people and Government of Ghana on the peaceful and organised end to their recent presidential and legislative elections.
"Ghanaians can and should take pride in this democratic achievement," Mr Ban said in a statement issued by his spokesperson.
"With their continuing show of commitment to the democratic process, Ghana and its leaders are setting an admirable example."
He noted the dedication and professionalism of the West African nation's Electoral Commission, and commended the political parties and their leadership for their "statesmanlike conduct" during the polls' final stages.
Meanwhile President-elect Mills has named a 12-member Transitional Team to assist in the transition from the Kufuor Administration to his Government.
The team consists of Paul Victor Obeng as Chairman, Alex Segbefia as Secretary and Hannah Tetteh as Spokesperson.
The other members of the team are the Chairpersons of nine Sub-Committees set up to provide the technical back up support to the Transitional Team.
The Transitional Team will work with the outgoing government to ensure the effective handing over of the national administration. It will also advise on the nomination of persons to hold office in the new government.
