Govt committed to peaceful, credible elections; Says President Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has assured the international community of his unwavering commitment to ensuring credible and peaceful elections in November.
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"You can be assured of my commitment towards ensuring the conduct of free, fair and transparent parliamentary and presidential elections in November this year," he said.
Addressing members of the diplomatic corps at the annual presidential interaction at the State Banquet Hall in Accra last Saturday, President Mahama said the elections would once again enhance the democratic credentials of the country.
Touting Ghana's credibility in democratic governance, President Mahama said, “we have an unwavering commitment to democratic values as a core aspect of our national identity, and we will once again ensure that our elections are a model for the rest of the world.”
President Mahama mentioned the recent successful elections in Nigeria, Guinea, Togo, Cote d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso and said they were a testament to the growth of democracy in West Africa and, to a larger extent, Africa. Ghana, he said, would consolidate the achievement.
"We intend to consolidate this trend to send a clear message to the world that Africa is forging ahead on its progressive march towards an era of a democratic society that does not depend on dictatorial rule, but rather on strong, stable and efficient institutions of governance,” he said.
Growth
He made a comparison of democracy and growth and indicated how the global economic downturn affected developing economies.
On the power supply challenges that confronted the country, he said the government resorted to some tough but necessary economic decisions to salvage the situation.
The government opted for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, which was already reaping results, he added.
“Only a few weeks ago, the Executive Board of the IMF approved the third tranche of a $114.6 million to boost our economic consolidation efforts after the board completed the second review of our economic performance under the extended credit facility of the IMF," he said.
President Mahama also said the release of the money was a testimony of the strides the government had made in the achievement of fiscal consolidation.
The path to restoring debt sustainability and macroeconomic stability to foster a return to high growth was on course, he said.
Terrorism
President Mahama said he had a serious view on terrorism, which is continously threatening peace and security in some parts of the world.
“Ghana considers an attack on one as an attack on all, and we, therefore, stand with the people of France, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso and other affected countries and all peace-loving people, in condemning and rejecting these attacks, while reaffirming our resolve in fight against terrorism in all forms," he said.
He gave an assurance that Ghana would strengthen diplomatic relations with its friends.
Dean
The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Ghana, Madam Pavelyn Tendai Musaka, in an address, hailed the country's steady growth.
She assured the President of the diplomatic community's continued support for Ghana's development.
Madam Musaka, who is also the Zimbabwean Ambassador to Ghana, welcomed the efforts to tackle the power crisis and extended the diplomatic community's best wishes to Ghana in the November general election.
