Nigeria’s Ex President Calls For Peaceful, Transparent Elections In Ghana

A former president of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has called on Ghanaians to ensure peaceful, free, and transparent elections as the country heads to the polls on Saturday.

Jonathan made the appeal upon arriving in Accra on Wednesday, ahead of the general elections.

Leading the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) election observation mission to Ghana, he emphasised the importance of patriotism and collective responsibility in fostering credible elections.

He urged the Electoral Commission of Ghana to uphold its mandate of conducting free and fair elections and ensuring the transparency and credibility of the 2024 elections as a way of building trust among the electorate and stakeholders.

“We encourage the security agencies to sustain their professional conduct, maintain their neutrality and a peaceful electoral environment by ensuring impartial deployment to safeguard voting materials, polling centres, and citizens across the country,” Jonathan said.

The former Nigerian President also urged all Political Parties in Ghana to avoid hate speech.

“As we approach the end of campaign activities, we urge all political parties and their candidates to reaffirm their commitment to peaceful campaigns devoid of hate speech, inflammatory rhetoric, and personal attacks,” he said.

Goodluck Jonathan called on all Stakeholders in Ghana to respect the integrity of the Electoral process and pledge to resolve disputes through lawful and constitutional channels.

Jonathan further urged the Ghanaian youths and party supporters to remain law-abiding during and after the elections, avoiding acts of intimidation or violence.

He also went ahead in Describing Ghana as a model of democracy and urged them to seek to safeguard Ghana’s democratic legacy by rejecting violence, intimidation, or actions that could undermine the integrity of the electoral process.

“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 added.

He further commended the people of Ghana for their enduring commitment to democratic values, adding that Ghana’s history of peaceful political transitions serves as a beacon for democratic governance across Africa.

“The upcoming elections present another opportunity for Ghanaians to reinforce their dedication to democracy, stability, and development,” he added.

Other members of the delegation that went to Ghana with former President Jonathan include Mr. Kadre Ouedraogo, former Burkinabe Prime Minister and President of the ECOWAS, Ms Ann Iyonu, Executive Director of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, Ikechukwu Eze, special adviser to Dr. Jonathan and head of media and communications.

Confidence Okwuchi