Ghana Presidential candidate asserts confidence in electoral body
3/12/2008 17:45
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, presidential candidate of the ruling New
Patriotic Party (NPP), yesterday affirmed his confidence in the ability of the
Electoral Commission to conduct free, fair and transparent polls on Dec. 7,
reported the Ghana News Agency today.
He said the Electoral Commission (EC)'s
track record over the past years and the professional competence of the
commissioners and staffs, which the international community attest to, "gives me
and my party the guarantee of their ability to manage election 2008,
professionally in accordance with international electoral norms."
The NPP
presidential candidate said the EC through the preparatory stages of election
2008 has exhibited its tenacity and ability to withstand the storm and to steer
the December polls creditably for acceptable results.
He said the involvement
of local and international observers, who have been deployed throughout the
country, gives him the cause to trust the Commission.
Nana Akufo-Addo urged
the media to recognize their constitutional mandate and to conduct their role
professionally in accordance with Ghana Journalists Association Code of Ethics
for media practitioners.
He commended the conduct of other presidential
candidates and political parties during the electioneering campaign, but
challenged them to instruct their supporters to exercise restraint in the last
few days to the elections.
"We must also pledge our commitment to accept the
outcome of the elections, gracefully congratulate the winner and accept defeat,
and jubilate with moderation," he added.
He reiterated his call for peaceful
election, noting that Ghana has come a long way democratically.
According to
him, election 2008 offers all democratic stakeholders an opportunity to entrench
their democratic credentials and confirm its leadership role in
Africa.
Xinhua
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