A delegation from the West African Elders Forum led by former President Goodluck Jonathan, arrived in Accra on Wednesday in preparation for Ghana’s general elections scheduled for December 7.
The news was shared through a statement by the WAEF’s communications officer, Wealth Dickson Ominabo, to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.
Upon arrival in Ghana, Jonathan called on Ghanaians to demonstrate patriotism and work towards ensuring peaceful, free, and transparent elections.
He was joined by former Burkinabe Prime Minister and ECOWAS President, Mr. Kadre Ouedraogo; Executive Director of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, Ms. Ann Iyonu; and Special Adviser to Jonathan, Ikechukwu Eze.
Jonathan expressed his admiration for the people of Ghana, highlighting their long-standing commitment to democratic values.
He noted that the country’s history of peaceful political transitions has been a guiding light for democracy in Africa.
“The upcoming elections present another opportunity for Ghanaians to reinforce their dedication to democracy, stability, and development,” he stated.
The delegation emphasized the importance of the Electoral Commission of Ghana and security agencies maintaining their neutrality and independence to ensure a credible election process.
WAEF urged the Electoral Commission to continue upholding its responsibility to organize free and fair elections, promoting transparency and credibility to foster trust among voters and stakeholders.
“We encourage the security agencies to sustain their professional conduct and maintain their neutrality and a peaceful electoral environment by ensuring impartial deployment to safeguard voting materials, polling centres, and citizens across the country.”
As the election campaign period draws to a close, Jonathan called on political parties and candidates to prioritize peaceful campaigning, free from hate speech, inflammatory remarks, or personal attacks.
He also urged all parties, candidates, and stakeholders to uphold the integrity of the electoral process and resolve any disputes through lawful and constitutional means.
Jonathan appealed to the youth and party supporters to stay law-abiding, avoiding any actions that could lead to intimidation or violence during and after the elections.
Reiterating that Ghana is a model of democracy, he urged the public to protect the country’s democratic legacy by rejecting violence and intimidation, stressing that actions undermining the electoral process should not be tolerated.
“By working together, Ghanaians can once again assert the country’s position as a model of democracy built on a tradition of peaceful, free, fair, and transparent elections,” he concluded.
