Joint AU, ECOWAS observers arrive for Ghana’s elections
About 290 joint election observers from Economic Community of West African States and Africa Union would monitor this year’s elections throughout the 10 regions of the country.
General (Rtd) Olusegun Obasanjo, leader of the ECOWAS mission, said the mission’s presence in Ghana was just to provide support to ensure that the elections proceed smoothly.
He said this when he led a seven-member ECOWAS and AU delegation to pay a courtesy call on the former President Jerry John Rawlings in Accra on Tuesday.
He commended the leadership of the country for the Kumasi peace Accord which was signed by the various presidential candidates and witnessed by the judiciary, former presidents and traditional leaders among other stakeholders.
He expressed the hope that the Ghana would again demonstrate peace during and after the elections to showcase the continent as peaceful.
He appealed to political parties and stakeholders to act according to the rules and regulations of the electoral process to argument the already existing peace in the country.
Former President Jerry John Rawlings said the impending election would be a test for the country, since the moral high ground in the political atmosphere has eluded Ghanaians.
He said this election would be a difficult one because the two major political parties have corrupt backgrounds, noting that “when the nation loses its moral background it is the populace that suffers.”
He advised corrupt elements in the constituency to avoid the use of violence to perpetuate their stay because of their corrupt activities.
He said people were fabricating tapes against their political opponent just to discredit them in the sight of the electorates for power.
Former President Rawlings gave the assurance that the law enforcement agencies would not tolerate any constituency that might bring conflicts to the election.
The delegations also call on former President John Agyekum Kufour, the Chief Justice, the National House of Chiefs, the Peace Council and the Electoral Commission.
Source: GNA