Slovenia Elects Ghanaian As First Black Mayor

Slovenia Elects Ghanaian As First Black Mayor

A Ghanaian has been elected the first black mayor in Slovenia - and probably the first in old Yugoslavia .

Peter Bossman, a candidate of the centre-left Social Democrats (SD), narrowly won a municipal election in the Slovenian coastal town of Piran .

He won a narrow victory over the previous mayor, Tomaz Gantar, with 51.4% of the vote.

High level of democracy

He said people no longer saw the colour of his skin and his election showed the ‘high level of democracy in Slovenia ' . He said he was ''happy and proud.''

Campaign was based on dialogue

His campaign pledges include the introduction of electric cars in Piran. He also hopes to develop an airport and a golf course to boost tourism.

''I based my campaign on a dialogue, and I think the dialogue has won,'' he said.

Mr. Bossman arrived in Slovenia in the 1980s, when it was still part of the former Yugoslavia , to study medicine.

The 54 -year-old had aimed to return to Ghana after his studies, but changed his mind after marrying a fellow doctor of Croatian origin.

Mr. Bossman said that he had faced no discrimination because of his skin colour or origins in recent years.

REUTERS/Yinka