The Graduate Students Association of Ghana in the USA (GRASAG-USA) has lauded Ghanaians for a peaceful presidential and parliamentary elections held last month and the subsequent serenity that characterized the transfer of power.

President John Mahama on Saturday handed the baton of leadership to veteran opposition leader Nana Akufo-Addo who defeated him in the December 7 presidential poll.

He polled 4,713,277 votes representing 44.40% of the total vote cast as against Akufo-Addo’s 5,716,026 votes representing 53.85%.

“This display of political maturity has once again deepened our democracy and ensured that Ghana remains the beacon of democracy in Africa,” said GRASAG-USA in a statement.

The statement also extolled the out-gone president, Mahama “for his statesmanship and dedicated service to Ghana in the past years.”

It also congratulated Akufo-Addo on his ascension to the highest office of “our motherland.”

“We are of a deep conviction that his resolve to help build Ghana, will inspire hope in Ghanaians both home and abroad to work hard towards the common good of the country,” concluded the statement.