Free, fair participation is vital for credible elections - Mogae

Former Botswana President Festus Mogae says Ghana must use the rule of law coupled with quick government response to public pressure to diffuse suspicion towards restoring confidence in the electoral process if need be to ensure peace.

Festus Mogae outlined these as lessons learned from Botswana’s 45 years of multiparty democracy when he delivered a lecture on Credible Elections and Governance in Africa.

The lecture was organized by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development Ghana as part of activities aimed at promoting credible elections in the December Presidential and Parliamentary polls.

Speaking on the theme: “Credible Elections and Governance in Africa”, the former Botswana President said the country needed citizens of integrity who will work for the country without partisan considerations.

Festus Mogae said Leaders must lead by precepts and ideas not with force.

He said elections in themselves if not properly managed create problems and advised that free, fair and inclusive participation is necessary for credible elections devoid of partiality on the part of the supervising body.

He however regretted that most African countries do not publicly fund political parties.