Several professional bodies issued statements applauding the choice of Running Mate by Stephen Marfo. Youth groups issued statements backing the choice of the USD flag-bearer. Various identifiable organizations said they would back the USD’s choice. Dr. Gertrude Mensah’s phones, in the meantime, continued to ring as friends and even those she did not know pleaded with her to accept to be Stephen Marfo’s Running Mate.
“WE WANT SOMETHING FRESH, SOMEONE INCORRUPTIBLE” was the banner headline of the ‘Evening Times,’ newspaper three days after the story broke out. TV and radio stations began to discuss the issue. Dr. Gertrude Mensah’s name was all over the place.
“GET GETTY TO BE VEEP” the ‘Weekly Agenda’ newspaper published on its front-page.
“I don’t get it. I have not accepted to be President Stephen Marfo’s Running Mate but almost everyone seems to be talking as if I have” Dr Gertrude Mensah complained to his parents one evening.
“Well, my daughter, a nation is calling out to you. You cannot turn your back on them. Think of all those vulnerable people who will be hoping you become the Vice-President to bring change to their lives,” her father said. When Stephen Marfo called on her again, Dr. Gertrude Mensah told him she had accepted his offer.
“IT’S A DONE DEAL,” the ‘Daily Nation’ newspaper screamed on its front page the next morning with a radiant picture of a smiling Dr. Gertrude Mensah.
“GETTY SAYS YES” was the banner headline of the ‘Weekly Agenda’ newspaper while ‘The Scribe’ newspaper had the headline GHANA TO HAVE FIRST FEMALE VEEP?’
There was general excitement all over. They later introduced Dr. Gertrude Mensah to the media. She campaigned alongside the 64 year-old Stephen Marfo in the general election campaign that year. The results of all the opinion polls indicated the USD would win the elections. Finally, it did, winning 69.35% of the total votes cast.
Vice-President elect, Gertrude Mensah woke up the day after voting greeted by hordes of people including relatives, friends and party supporters. She was surprised to see soldiers and police officers operating the gates to her house. One Captain Elliot Kissi came to introduce himself to her as the one temporarily in charge of her security.
In addition, present in her home were four vehicles from the State Protocol Department, which were to chauffeur her to any place she wanted to go.
The security men who had taken charge of her security screened all the persons who had come to her home. Her phones kept ringing as relatives, friends, church members, former schoolmates, etc. tried to get through to her to congratulate her.
Captain Kissi later came to inform her she is to be at the headquarters of the USD at 9:30 am; President-elect Stephen Marfo will be there to address a press conference.
Gertrude Mensah could not believe she was the Vice-President-elect of the country. Everything was happening so fast. She immediately knew her life would never be the same from thereon; the private and quiet life that had been her style had just ended. She is now a public figure and belongs to the public.
On a wet Saturday morning three weeks after the victory of the USD at the polls, they swore Dr. Gertrude Mensah into office as Vice-President of Ghana. She took her oath of office after President Stephen Marfo took his. Her parents, seated to the right of the Presidential dais, looked on proudly.
“I, Gertrude Mensah, having been elected to the office of Vice-President of the Republic of Ghana do (in the name of the Almighty God swear) that I will be faithful and true to the Republic of Ghana; that I will at all times preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana. I dedicate myself to the service and well-being of the people of the Republic of Ghana, uphold and do right to all manners.
I further solemnly swear that should I at any time break this oath of office I shall submit myself to the laws of the Republic of Ghana and suffer the penalty for it. So help me God,” she repeated after the Chief Justice.
Having sworn the Vice-Presidential Oath, she went to stand by the President as the military brass band began to play the national anthem. Twenty minutes later, the ceremony ended. Vice-President Gertrude Mensah left the Independence Square in an amour-placed Mercedes Benz followed by hordes of National Security operatives. Five minutes later, she arrived at the Presidency and was soon in a close-door meeting with the President. Later, she and the President held another meeting with the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief Justice before attending the Presidential lunch in the dining room of the Presidency. Present also at the lunch were the Chief of Defence Staff, the National Security Coordinator, the Inspector General of Police, the Army Commander, the Chief of Air Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff.