Rawlings Calls For Fair Elections

FORMER PRESIDENT Jerry John Rawlings has called on state actors, especially the Electoral Commission (EC), to ensure a transparent, free and fair electoral process in this year's presidential and parliamentary elections.

Mr. Rawlings made the call in a statement yesterday as about 127,394 voters went to the polls throughout the country for the special voting before the main polls.

The special voters were made up of electoral officers, personnel of the Police Service, Prisons, Fire Service and journalists who would be performing special duties on Election Day – December 7.

According to ex-president Rawlings, leaders of the various political parties ought to commit themselves to peace as they seek the mandate of Ghanaians.

“The desire to win the people's mandate should be an exercise that is pursued in a peaceful, decorous and all-embracing manner,” he said.

He charged, “Eminent persons, political leaders, security agencies, institutions of state and the Electoral Commission have a combined responsibility to protect the peace and unity of this country.”

The electorate, the former president said, need to have confidence not only in the political parties, but also in the security services and the Electoral Commission.

“Even as we take note of the military head's recent warning, it's important to emphasise the need for us, especially officers and the rank and file, to be on the lookout for the possibility of being misused,” Mr. Rawlings indicated.

He stated, “The Armed Forces has its reputation to guard. Intimidating posturing must be avoided at all costs in order to allow the will of the people to prevail.

“Let us refrain from the use of harsh language. We are capable of being firm, but fair without being abusive, threatening or aggressive.”

The use of threatening or menacing language at this point in time, according to the former president, can be very ill-placed and counter-productive.

“We have a few days to ensure that the process of electing a president and Members of Parliament is devoid of explosive, foul-scented gas.

“While cautioning all stakeholders to operate above reproach, I also enjoin all Ghanaians to remain resolute and vigilant and ensure that the electoral process is transparent, free and fair,” Mr Rawlings underscored.

Ghana, Mr. Rawlings explained, has enjoyed relatively peaceful elections since the advent of the Fourth Republic in 1992. “As in all elections across the world, there have been some challenges but our elections have been successful so far,” he noted.

“There is however, no doubt that as we draw closer to the elections, the political temperature in the country has risen quite steeply and with it, an atmosphere of uncomfortable anxiety,” he said.

BY Melvin Tarlue