President John Mahama, in his 2017 new year message to Ghanains, has said it has been a blessing serving the people of Ghana and has therefore extolled the people of Ghana for the "privilege."

President Mahama, in a video on his Facebook page, tasked Ghanaian to come together and give thanks and praises to God for a successful election, as the country hopes and plans for a "brighter tomorrow" for  itself  for  and future generations.

"It has been a blessing serving this great nation as president,  I thank you-each and every Ghanaian-and God Almighty for this privilege, and I wish you all a joyous 2017,"he said.

'Once again we'v entered a new year, a year in which our beloved Ghana  will turn 60.....even as we hope and plan for a brighter tomorrow for ourselves and future generation, join me give thanks and praise to God for a successful election.

In the  video, which was released in the early hours of Sunday, shortly after the country had entered the new year,2017, the president   congratulated Ghanains for ensuring a peaceful and successful election, and maintaining the peace and stability of the Country,

"I congratulate Ghanains for collectively ensuring the peace and stability of our country.We have every reason to be proud of our achievements. In this season of love ,  sharing , goodwill and reflection, I am thankful for our time together and for what we v manage to accomplish.

Together we have conceived our nation's dreams of prosperity for all. Together we have sown the seeds of solid growth and sustainable development, much of which is abundantly evident  by the degree of social and economic transformation  that has taken place al around us this past four years."

The president also admonished  Ghanaians to move forward  into the years ahead as one people with one common destiny irrespective of political or ethnic affiliations, saying Ghana's success or failure is collective.

"Here we stand today recognised as the beacon of democracy and socio-economic progress on the African continent, He said.

"We recognise that Ghana's success is our collective success, and likewise Ghana's failure is our collective failure.The year 2017 marks our country's 60 the year as a sovereign nation.It is my hope that we look to our past to guide us into the future."

58-year-old  Mahama will leave office as president of Ghana on the 6th of January, having loss the December 7 election to 72-year-old Nana Akuffo Addo, who will take over the mantle on the 7th of January.

By: Fiifi Abdul Malik