The UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa Mr. Leonardo Santos Simão has eulogized the Inspector-General of Police Dr. George Akuffo Dampare and the National Election Security Task force for the peaceful conduct of the just ended general elections.
According to him, the level of preparation and stakeholder engagement initiated by the IGP and his team before the polls must be emulated by other African countries.
Speaking during a meeting with the National Election Security Task at the Police Headquarters following the declaration of the election results on Monday, Mr Santos Simao said the objectives set by the task force for the polls has been achieved.
“Your objective of having peaceful elections was achieved. And we know from experience that peaceful elections do not happen by chance. They do not happen by chance because the risks are many.
“Elections are associated with emotions. And emotions can lead people to take negative behaviors, including putting lives of other people in danger. And therefore, when this doesn’t happen and the elections are peaceful, it’s because there is a lot of work which is done,” he noted.
He said the constant stakeholder engagement before the polls yielded positive results.
“Once again, congratulations for the excellent work you did. Your results and your example will inspire other countries in West Africa, in the Sahel, but also in the rest of the continent. So we want elections.
“And we as United Nations, we are very happy to be associated with these peaceful elections. We are going to use your experience also to inspire other countries also to follow you. And even tell them to come and visit you so that they can learn from you firsthand how to prepare, how to conduct peaceful elections.
One aspect which we noted and we want to highlight here was your educative role. I participated myself in two stakeholders in a strengthening of a common resolve to deliver peaceful elections. And the result is here, we can see today”.
Ghana on 7th December 2024 successfully conducted its Parliamentary and Presidential elections which produced a new set of leaders for the country in the next four years.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com
