From PAUL EJIME, Accra, Ghana
Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo, who completes his mandatory two terms by 7 January 2025, has promised to leave office through peaceful and credible general elections this Saturday, December 7.
“I came (to the office) as a result of a peaceful and credible election, and I want to go out through the same process,” to entrench the democratic tradition in Ghana, the Ghanaian leader told visiting ECOWAS Election Observation Mission led by former Nigerian Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo yesterday (Tuesday, December 3) during an audience at Jubilee House, Accra, the Ghanaian capital.
President Akufo-Addo said ECOWAS as a community has been facing “challenges and negative developments”, including violent extremism and military incursions in politics, especially the decision of three member States to quit the regional economic bloc.
“The responsibility is on us to respond to these challenges with the conduct of free, fair and credible elections,” he said, adding that the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in Ghana, a founding and active member of ECOWAS, would be of particular resonance.
He assured that Ghana has institutions with experience in conducting credible elections under its fourth Republic from 1992, noting that the country values the contributions of ECOWAS, chairing its Authority of Heads of State and Government in the past.
In his remarks, Dr Sambo commended Ghana’s democratic tradition, which includes an unbroken ninth cycle of regular elections and peaceful transfer of political power.
He urged the president to galvanise the nation to pull together for peaceful, transparent and credible elections and the consolidation of democracy in Ghana and the region.
The ECOWAS delegation included the Deputy Head of Mission, Baboucarr Blaise Jagne, Gambia’s former Foreign Minister, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, who is leading an Electoral Technical Support Team and Ambassador Mohamed Lawan Gana, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Ghana.
Accompanying President Akufo-Addo at the meeting were Ghana’s Foreign Minister Shirley Botchwey, recently appointed Commonwealth Secretary-General, Interior Minister Henry Quartey, Kow Essuma, Secretary to the President and Michael Afori-Attah, Director Regional Integration, Office of the President.
At a separate meeting with Mrs Jean Mensa, Chairperson of Ghana’s Electoral Commission, Dr Sambo called on the electoral umpire and other stakeholders, including the security agencies, to demonstrate high-level professionalism and neutrality in carrying out their duties.
The EC Chairperson briefed the ECOWAS Mission on the activities of the Commission, saying preparations were on course for a peaceful and credible presidential and parliamentary elections on December 7.
