President Yayi Boni of Benin on Monday described Ghana as a model of African democracy, which would continue to encourage her neighbours to live in peace and unity to achieve lasting growth and development.
He said Ghana's sixth successful and peaceful election would continue to ring bells in countries that were battling to chart a permanent path of democracy and provide them with better development alternatives.
President Yayi Boni, who is also the chairman of the African Union, gave this description, when he called on President Mahama at the Castle, Osu.
He was there in his capacity as the Chairman of the African Union to congratulate President Mahama for winning the 2012 general election and to commend Ghanaians for their peaceful and successful participation in the just ended election.
The President of Benin was also in the country to officially invite President Mahama to the African Union heads of State meeting slated for January 2013 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and to visit Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo, Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party who placed second in the election.
He commended Ghana's Electoral Commission for going beyond the past mark in the implementation of the biometric voting system for the first time in the country and expressed the hope that the country could do better in subsequent elections.
President Mahama commended him for his rapid visit to the country, barely 24 hours after declaring him as the president elect of the Republic.
He promised to run an open government that would be all inclusive and appealed to all stakeholders to play their roles responsibly.
President Mahama announced that government would set up a transitional team that would ensure peaceful and smooth transition next month.