The African Union (AU) is optimistic Ghana will hold a peaceful and successful general election this year.
While acknowledging that the contest will be intense and fierce, the AU remained “confident that Ghana will pull it off successfully since we have no doubts about the country’s credentials as far as elections are concerned,” the Deputy Chairperson of the AU, Mr Kwesi Quartey told the Daily Graphic in an interview.
He spoke to the Daily Graphic on the sidelines of a meeting organised by the Diaspora Africa Forum (DAF) under the auspices of the AU in Accra last Tuesday.
The meeting was to use the diaspora agenda as a vehicle to speed up economic acceleration and tourism revenue generation among AU member states.
The meeting also honoured Mr Quartey for the various roles he had played in getting many diaspora returnees attaining Ghanaian citizenship, as well as ensuring diasporan issues becoming a feature on the AU calendar.
Fair elections
Mr Quartey said Ghana was aware of its reputation in the conduct of fair elections and indicated that the AU was expecting the country to chalk another success.
He, however, stressed the need for the government to put in place the requisite measures to ensure that the December 2020 general election would promote democratic governance reflective of the country’s values of a peaceful democratic nation.
Security
While admitting that security during elections was of concern to the AU, Mr Quartey said the AU started issuing out security alerts to member states so that governments take the necessary steps to forestall election-related violence.
“We know the contest will be intense and fierce but the only way out is to have an election that is transparent so that even the loser will acknowledge they lost in a transparent manner,” Mr Quartey noted.
Mr Quartey said the negative consequences of elections on the continent would derail the AU’s Agenda 2063 which is aimed at promoting prosperity and the wellbeing for all citizens.
Ayawaso West
The violence that marred the January 31, 2019 parliamentary by-election in the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, Mr Quartey stressed, ought to be an eye-opener for the government to address the problems it exposed.
“While we were saddened by those events, we believe the outcome will serve as a tool on which authorities could build their security preparedness programme,” Mr Quartey emphasised.
He remained optimistic that Ghana would once again organise a peaceful election worthy of emulation among AU member states.
Source: Daily Graphic
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IF EC HAVE TO SATISFY EVERY PARTY INTEREST, THEN THERE WILL BE OVER 30 INTEREST THE EC WOULD HAVE TO SATISFY. EC HAS TO SATISFY ITS OWN INTEREST TO UPHOLD THE INTEGRITY OF ELECTIONS IN GHANA. THOUGH EC MAY TRY TO SEEK THE COOPERATION OF THE PARTIES IT MUST ALWAYS BE THE PARAMOUNT INTEREST TO WORK OUT THE SYSTEM THAT WOULD ENSURE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS. NO ARMED ROBBER WILL EVER BE PLEASED IF THE POLICE BEEF UP SECURITY. THAT SHOULD NOT STOP THE POLICE TO STRENGTHENED ITS NETWORK FOR SECURITY. EVERY PARTY WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANY LACUNA IN THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM TO COMMIT FRAUD. A LOOSING PARTY IN ANY ELECTION WILL WISH TO HAVE A LACUNA EVEN THOUGH IT MAY NOT HAVE THE MONOPOLY TO COMMIT FRAUD. A LOOSING PARTY MAY WISH FOR LACUNA FOR TWO REASONS. FIRST REASON, A LOSING PARTY ALWAYS INVEST HEAVILY IN FRAUD WITH THE HOPE TO CHEAT AND WIN. IF IT SUCCEED TO WIN IT BECOMES OK FOR THEM. SECOND REASON, LOOSING PARTY WISH FOR LACUNA IN ORDER TO COMMIT FRAUD. IF IT LOSES IT DRAWS THE ATTENTION OF THE PUBLIC TO THE LACUNA AND ACCUSE THE WINNER AS EXPLOITING THE LACUNA TO WIN. SO LACUNA ALWAYS BECOME A WIN WIN STRATEGY AT EVERY SIDE FOR LOSERS. LACUNA IS HOWEVER DAMAGING TO THE INTEGRITY OF THE ELECTORAL BODY. IT IS ALWAYS AN EMBARRASSMENT TO THE RULING PARTY. FOR EC TO UPHOLD ITS INTEGRITY AND THE RULING PARTY TO AVOID ANY EMBARRASSMENT THE TWO INSTITUTIONS MUST ALWAYS ENSURE TO REMOVE ANY LACUNA IN AN ELECTION. THE LOOSING PARTIES MAY OPPOSE IT AS IT AGAINST THEIR INTEREST BUT EC AND GOVERNING PARTY SHOULD NEVER RELENT.
No it is lie, Akufo Addo wanted to to steal the elections and Ghana will not be free