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22.04.2008 Politics

Let’s have violence free elections – Akufo-Addo

By The Statesman
Lets have violence free elections – Akufo-Addo
22.04.2008 LISTEN


The Presidential Candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Friday re-iterated his call on Ghanaians to collectively work at preserving the nation's peace and stability, as the December elections approach.

He particularly urged the leadership of the various political parties, especially their flag bearers, to avoid making statements, as well as engaging in activities, that could incite their followers into violence.

Nana Akufo-Addo described as unfortunate statements by some gurus of the opposition National Democratic Congress that they would not accept the outcome of the December election in the event of their party's defeat.

"Such statements are unfortunate and don't need to be encouraged, as they don't advance the cause of democracy. All of us have to pray for a peaceful and violence-free elections in December. Under no circumstances should we cause the blood of our compatriots to be shed because of our craving for political power,” he stressed.

The Presidential Candidate was addressing the chiefs and people of Berase during a courtesy call on the Omanhene of Abrem Traditional Area of the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem constituency, as part of a two-day tour of orphan constituencies in the Central Region.

The visit also took Nana Akufo-Addo to the other three paramountcies of the KEEA constituency. They are the Komenda, Edina and Eguafo Traditional Areas.

Accompanied by party stalwarts, including Yaw Osafo-Maafo and Papa Owusu Ankomah, both MPs and former presidential aspirants, he used the occasion to officially introduce the party's parliamentary candidate for the area, Nana Ato Arthur, to the chiefs and people.

The visit to the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem constituency was climaxed with a well-attended mini-rally held at the Chapel Square at Elmina, where speaker after speaker served notice of the NPP's firm resolve to reclaim the seat which according to Nana Akufo-Addo was loaned out to Paa Kwesi Nduom and the Convention Peoples Party.

The Presidential Candidate had earlier on Thursday paid a similar visit to the Mfantseman East constituency where the party's parliamentary candidate, Amoasi Andoh, was also introduced to the chiefs and people.

Nana Akufo-Addo could not visit the Twifo-Ati-Morkwa constituency, as he had to cut short the visit to enable him reach Kumasi on time to take part in the “Flagbearers on Energy” debate organised by the Energy Centre and the Public Lecture Committee of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

The astute politician who is widely tipped as the man to take over from President Kufuor assured that even though the ruling NPP was determined to retain power in the December election, they would not do anything to endanger the nation's peace and stability.

The Presidential Candidate appealed to the people to consider the impressive performance of the Kufuor administration and support the NPP to retain power, to enable them continue with their programme which is gradually improving the socio-economic circumstances of the nation.

“I won't say we have turned Ghana into a paradise since we took over from the NDC. But the truth of the matter is that whoever will be objective in his analysis of the state of the nation on the eve of our coming into office and the state of the nation at the moment will arrive at the obvious conclusion that we have done enough to deserve another term,” he stated.

Nana Akufo-Addo also appealed to the chiefs to take special interest in the impending voters' registration exercise and ensure that all those who qualify to vote in the December elections are registered, stressing that whoever has reached the voting age has a stake in the nation's governance and development.

The Omanhene of Abrem Traditional Area, Nana Kyerewiah Kodie IV, commended the NPP government on its good governance and the deepening of the nation's democratic culture, as well as the giant strides made in the development of the nation.

He admonished politicians against engaging in indecent campaign activities that undermine the true tenets of democracy, urging them to make their campaign issue-centred.

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