Kufuor, delegation discuss ways to reduce tension
A joint delegation from the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republicans (IR) have held discussions with former President John Agyekum Kufuor on how they could reduce the political tension in the run-up to the December 7 elections.
Advertisement
Briefing newsmen later, a former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Mr Johnnie Carson, said the group was concerned with the current tension that had characterised the body politic of the country.
He said Ghana was seen as a very powerful democratic country in Africa and the world at large, and as such had earned a positive image among the comity of nations.
He said it was this positive indicators which informed the delegation to visit the country for a pre-election assessment and chart a way forward with stakeholders, especially representatives of political parties, opinion leaders, civil society organisations and the Electoral Commission (EC).
Involve everyone
He impressed on the EC to involve all stakeholders in the election process to ensure that Ghanaians went through the elections peacefully .
Earlier, during the discussions, former President Kufuor told the delegation that he had been involved in efforts to ensure a fair, transparent and peaceful elections.
He said considering the extent to which Ghanaians had been clamouring for a peaceful and transparent elections, he was hopeful that all would support such efforts .
He said the current situation where vigilante groups had invaded the political scene was a new phenomenon and that the security agencies had given the assurance of maintaining the peace and security of the country during and after the elections.
He expressed the hope that their visit would benefit the country by way of a peaceful and successful elections.
The delegation expressed the hope that the elections would neither become an apocalypse nor imperil what the whole world would celebrate.
They, therefore, called on the EC to be transparent for all to accept the results of the elections.