Ghana will welcome foreign poll observers – V.P

Vice President Aliu Mahama on Wednesday expressed the readiness of government to welcome any foreign observer, who wants to police the December 7, Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

He said the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) believed in the promotion of peaceful, free and fair elections, hence will accept poll observers, non-governmental organisations (NGO's) and civil society groups to play a major role to make the dream a reality.

Alhaji Mahama expressed these views when he interacted with a two-member delegation from Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (Foundation) of Germany at the Osu Castle.

The delegation, led by Mr Frank Spengler, Deputy Head of Department of the Foundation, is in Ghana to understudy preparations towards the general election.

Alhaji Mahama harped the democratic credentials of the NPP, referring to press freedom, and separation of powers as some of the strong points of the administration.

He said the NPP had collaborated with NGO's and civil society groups to reach consensus on the national agenda.

Alhaji Mahama asked civil society to educate the electorate on the role they have to play to ensure successful elections, so that whoever wins the baton would continue with the governance of the country.

He commended the Foundation for spending 42 years in the country, during which it promoted democracy, good governance and the rule of law.

Mr Spengler said the delegation was focusing on the level of preparedness of the political parties towards the elections.

He commended Ghana for implementing successive elections in a stable manner, stressing that other countries had not been that lucky.

Mr Spengler called for increased collaboration by stakeholders in order to combat climate change and the global financial crises.