Ambassador

Tamale, Oct 10, GNA - Mr Francis Hurtut, the French Ambassador to Ghana has stated that elections were about electing people to responsible positions to ensure the good governance of the country, and not about violence or excluding minorities. "The impeding elections should not be a moment for violence, intolerance or a matter of life and death," he said. Mr Hurtut said this when he led an eight-member European Union (EU) delegation to pay a courtesy call on Alhaji Abdulai Ziblim, the Regent of Gukpegu in Tamale on Wednesday. Other members of the EU team include: Filiberto Ceriani Sebregondi, Head of the EU in Ghana, Hans Christian Winkler, Counsellor of the Federal Republic of Germany and Miroslav Krenek, Ambassador of the Czech Republic.

The courtesy call formed part of the EU- Ambassadors mission for peaceful elections to the Northern Region, during which they would interact with representatives of political parties, traditional and religious authorities and also visit some polling centres. Mr Hurtut said the EU and the international community had over the years assisted Ghana immensely in her developmental efforts and were therefore concerned that this year's election did not lead to chaos or confusion which would roll back the gains so far made. He said Ghana would lose the confidence and support of the EU and the international community if the elections were not properly managed. Mr Hurtut urged the political parties to abide by the political parties code of conduct and also ensure that they resolve any electoral problems they may have with the election process through constitutional means and not by violence.

Alhaji Ziblim called for the deployment of security personnel to man the polling centres on election-day to avoid any attempts by some people to disrupt the elections or cause any disturbances. He also appealed to the political heads in the region and the districts and the security personnel to act professionally and remain as neutral as possible in the discharge of their duties during the elections. 10 Oct. 08