Former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan leading an observers delegation of the West African Elders Forum (WAEF), on Wednesday arrived in Accra, capital of the West African country of Ghana ahead of the December 7, 2024 general elections.
A statement issued by the WAEF’s Communication Officer, Mr Wealth Dickson Ominabo quoted the erstwhile Nigerian President as charging the Electoral Commission of Ghana and the security agencies to keep to their mandate of independence and neutrality to ensure a credible polling process.
The statement added that Jonathan upon arrival also urged Ghanaians to be patriotic and work for peaceful, free and transparent elections.
Other members of the delegation include Mr. Kadre Ouedraogo, former Burkinabe Prime Minister and President of the ECOWAS, Ms Ann Iyonu, Executive Director of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation(GJF), and Ikechukwu Eze, Special Adviser to the former President Jonathan and Head, Media and Communications.
The statement read in parts: “The Mission leader commended the people of Ghana for their enduring commitment to democratic values. He also stated that Ghana’s history of peaceful political transitions serves as a beacon for democratic governance across Africa
“The upcoming elections present another opportunity for Ghanaians to reinforce their dedication to democracy, stability, and development.
“WAEF urges the Electoral Commission of Ghana to uphold its mandate of conducting free and fair elections and ensuring the transparency and credibility of the 2024 elections as a way of building trust among the electorate and stakeholders.
“We encourage the security agencies to sustain their professional conduct, maintain their neutrality and a peaceful electoral environment by ensuring impartial deployment to safeguard voting materials, polling centres, and citizens across the country.
“As we approach the end of campaign activities, we urge all political parties and their candidates to reaffirm their commitment to peaceful campaigns devoid of hate speech, inflammatory rhetoric, and personal attacks.”
The Communications Officer of WAEF, said that Jonathan also called on political parties, candidates and all stakeholders to respect the integrity of the electoral process and pledge to resolve disputes through lawful and constitutional channels, just as he urged the youth and party supporters to remain law-abiding during and after the elections and to avoid acts of intimidation or violence.
“The statement further reads: “Ghana is a model of democracy, I urge Ghanaians to seek to safeguard Ghana’s democratic legacy by rejecting violence, intimidation, or actions that could undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
“By working together, Ghanaians can once again assert the country’s position as a model of democracy built on a tradition of peaceful, free, fair and transparent elections”.