Accra, Oct. 09, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor has urged contesting political parties in the December 7 polls, to choose dialogue and due process as preferred options for settling and resolving all disputes.

"Instead of individuals and groups taking the law into their own hands, let us take full advantage of our institutions of governance to protect the integrity of the elections." He drew attention to wars and civil strife, which plagued the sub-region and other parts of Africa as a result of flawed elections and said "the wars brought no benefits to any of the warring factions, but rather unleashed untold hardship on the generality of the people." The most important lesson taught by those conflicts and wars was that it was only when the mayhem ended and dialogue began that progress was ever made on the critical issues of national concern. President Kufuor was speaking at a national interdenominational thanksgiving service held to climax a weeklong prayer and fasting by the country's Christians to seek God's favour for peaceful and credible election. Vice President Aliu Mahama, the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi-Huges, Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, Ministers of State and Parliamentarians were among the high profile personalities present.

Also there were some presidential candidates of the political parties including Mr Dan Lartey of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, Convention People's Party (CPP) and Professor John Evans Atta-Mills, National Democratic Congress (NDC). "Seek the Peace and Prosperity of the Nation" was the theme for the service put together by the Government in collaboration with the Christian Churches. President Kufuor said it was important for Ghanaians to have confidence in themselves, noting that since 1992, the nation had gone through democratic elections four times and that the citizenry had ensured success of the process through responsible conduct. "This year's election is yet another occasion, to prove to ourselves that we can do it."

"After all the sacrifices, we have made to bring this nation to the threshold of a major economic breakthrough, especially in the wake of the discovery of oil in commercial quantities, we should take only the right decisions that will ensure peace and stability of our dear country, Ghana, and help us to sustain the progress we are making." He asked politicians to ensure that their words and actions promote peace and harmony, and a sense of fellow feeling and goodwill in the society even during the time of intense competition between them. "After all, the objective of governance is to seek the well-being of the citizenry" adding that, any acts of omission and commission by any political party, group or individuals, likely to undermine the peace and stability of the nation should be rejected during the entire process of the election.

The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, the Right Reverend Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso, in a sermon cautioned those yearning to throw the country into confusion and bloodshed to be careful not to attract the wrath of God on themselves by being obstacles to peace. "We have fasted and prayed and are confident that God will answer our prayers."

He again advised social commentators, the media and supporters of the political parties to be more circumspect in their utterances and reportage, saying, "We should all speak peace and seek the well-being of Ghana by allowing the thumb of the eligible voters to decide on who should be our leaders". 05 Oct. 08