The United Nations, (UN), African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) have called for peace as Ghanaians eagerly await results of Monday’s presidential and parliamentary elections.
Ghanaians went to the polls on Monday to elect a president and Parliamentary candidates, in an election that analysts termed as a two-horse race between the incumbent President Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and his predecessor John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
This is the third time both rivals are competing for the plum job, having contested the office in 2012 and 2016 presidential elections.
The intense rivalry between both candidates and how close the race appears to have heated up the polity and putting Ghanaians in an intense mood. Earlier, Ghana’s opposition leader had warned President Nana Akufo-Addo against any attempt to steal this week’s election, as both sides claimed they were winning ahead of official results of the vote, largely deemed free and fair by observers.
The strong statement by opposition candidate John Mahama raised the temperature after Monday’s presidential and parliamentary polls in a country known for stability in a troubled region.
“Some of what is happening is unacceptable and Nana Akudo-Addo continues to show credentials that are very undemocratic,” Mahama told a hastily convened press conference in the capital Accra Tuesday evening.
But in a joint statement on Tuesday by United Nations, African Union and ECOWAS, they called on political leaders and their followers to remain calm and law-abiding.
“We the Heads of ECOWAS and African Union Election Observation Mission and the Special Representatives of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel and the Heads of UNOWAS commend the people of Ghana for the peaceful conduct of the 7th December 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections. This is in line with Ghana’s enviable track record of organizing peaceful and successful elections since the return of multiparty democracy in 1992.”
The international observers’ missions advised all stakeholders and the citizenry to exercise patience and remain calm.
“As Ghanaians await the announcement of the final official results by the Electoral Commission, the Heads of ECOWAS and Africa Union Election Observation Mission to Ghana, and UNOWAS, urge all political stakeholders and the citizenry to exercise patience and remain calm.”.
They reminded the contestants to ensure they adhere to the peace pact they signed before the election.
” In recognition of the important role of political leaders, especially the two major political parties, the NPP and NDC, In preserving the peace in line with the commitment, including the signing of the peace path of December 4 2920, we urge all political parties and their leaders to respect the spirit and letter of this commitment.
“Furthermore, we urge political parties and their followers to refrain from any conduct that may undermine the successful conclusion of the electoral process. We also call on state institutions to continue to carry out their responsibilities with professionalism and transparency.
“We reaffirm our solidarity with the people of Republic of Ghana in their quest to consolidate their democracy,” they added.
The electoral commission has yet to announce the final official results but the race was expected to be close between Mahama and Akufo-Addo, 76, of the centre-right New Patriotic Party (NPP), with recent polls putting the incumbent narrowly ahead.
The presidency released an unofficial tally on Tuesday claiming that results from 91 per cent of polling stations showed the president with 52.25 per cent of votes and Mahama with 46.44 per cent.
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