US commends Ghana and Rawlings

The United States (US) on Tuesday commended Ghanaians for the successful December 7 presidential and parliamentary elections and said the achievement places Ghana as a leader in the region as a model democratic country.

A statement from the US Embassy in Accra said, "The elections were conducted in a manner that was substantially free, fair and transparent".

"The achievement underscores Ghana's place as a leader in the region and as a model for other countries pursuing democratic systems of governance. "We commend President Rawlings for the leadership role in bringing the nation to this historic moment."

The US said it believed that the results accurately reflected the will of voters and the confidence Ghanaians have in their electoral system. "As Ghana prepares for a second round of presidential elections within the next few weeks, we are encouraged by the public statements of President Rawlings and leading presidential candidates in support of peace, tolerance and co-operation," the statement said.

It called on all to continue in the same spirit during the presidential run-off and beyond for smooth democratic transition. In a related development, Mr Peter Hain, British Foreign and Commonwealth Minister for Africa, said, "the people of Ghana have demonstrated their commitment to democratic development through the electoral process".

He said, "The orderly, fair and transparent nature of the elections is a tribute to Ghana's political evolution and the legacy that President Rawlings will leave on standing down.

"As Ghana heads toward a second round of elections, we continue to support a free, fair and peaceful process, the results of which will command widespread acceptance among the people of Ghana and the international community."