The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has cautioned political parties and politicians that the world does not come to an end if they lose the upcoming election and therefore the loser must congratulate the winner after the process.
He said this while delivering the State of the Nation Address (SONA) today, February 27, in Parliament.
President Akufo -Addo said the Government is doing its part to make the work of the Electoral Commission go smoothly towards the 2024 election.
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However, he said a lot of the responsibility lies on the Electoral Commission to put the organisation in place that will ensure we have a peaceful and a credible election.
He said a lot of responsibility also lies on the political parties as well, expressing hope that the parties recognise that their credibility is also on the line, especially some people, wanting to undermine the multi-party democratic system of Government.
“It is up to the parties to demonstrate that competitive elections are honourable character enhancing experience and at the end of the process, the loser will congratulate the winner and the world does not come to an end because an election has been lost,” He said.
President Akufo Addo again said ,”There is nothing inherently dirty or corrupt about elections and nothing about elections that should generate violence, we who are in politics, and we who are members of political parties owe it to ourselves the institutions we claim to belong to and above all, we owe it to Ghana and the people of Ghana to make politics and elections the serious and joyous phenomenon it should be.”
He urged the Electoral Commission to work with the political parties to iron out whatever problems there might be, saying that he is happy that the EC has shelved plans to change the December 7, election date after engaging the parties.
He assured that the Government will do whatever it can to make sure the reputation of Ghana is not damaged, saying he will do everything in his power to ensure free and fair elections.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
