Parties told to maintain peace

Accra, Dec. 27, GNA - The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) on Saturday appealed to the Leadership and supporters of the two political parties contesting the Presidential Election Runoff to exercise restraint before, during and after the election. "Acts of intimidation, harassment and violence must be avoided at all cost," said Prof. Miranda Greenstreet, Joint Chairperson of the CODEO Advisory Board, at a press conference in Accra. CODEO also appealed to the Electoral Commission (EC), polling officials, returning and presiding officers to continue to conduct themselves professionally during the second round of polls, as happened during the initial voting.

It called on the EC to observe the lapses in the December 7 elections because "CODEO is convinced that the conduct of the EC officials on Election Day will largely determine the extent to which all stakeholders will perceive the process to have been free and fair and its outcome credible".

Prof. Greenstreet said while the coalition was confident that the EC had taken steps to address these issues, it expressed the hope that the EC would continue to cooperate with its observers to enhance the integrity of the process.

She commended the security services for comporting themselves well during the first round of balloting and urged them to maintain their professionalism and to remain resolute in protecting the process to maintain peace.

CODEO also urged Ghanaians to conduct themselves properly; participate fully and maintain maximum vigilance over the process in order to take full ownership of the runoff process. On the December 23 special voting process, CODEO called on the EC to address immediately the concerns raised about the unexpectedly high turn out and procedural problem at some polling stations to allay the fears of stakeholders. 27 Dec. 08