ECOWAS Mission urges Parties to accept verdict

Accra, Dec. 29, GNA - The ECOWAS Observer Mission has urged all political parties and candidates to accept the verdict of the people as would be declared by the Electoral Commission in the interest of peace and stability.

Speaking at a press briefing on the preliminary declaration on the December 28, 2008 Presidential run-off election in Ghana, General Yakubu Gowon, Head of Mission, urged political leaders, their agents and other concerned individuals and groups to use legal and constitutional means to redress their grievances. He also tasked the leaders to respect the constitutional responsibility of the Electoral Commission to officially declare the results of the run-off elections.

"ECOWAS urges the winner to be magnanimous in victory and the losing candidate to continue his contribution to the strengthening of democracy in Ghana by accepting the role of opposition. General Gowon said the Mission was delighted that the electoral process had proceeded peacefully and commended the government, the EC, political parties and Ghanaians for their determination and commitment to the electoral process as a basis for advancing the cause of peace, social justice and democracy in the country.

In its recommendations, the Mission called on the EC and Parliament to initiate the process of the enactment of legislation on campaign financing to check the perceived monetisation of the electoral process. On the application of indelible ink, the Mission asked the EC to use the ink after the casting of the vote as is practised in many countries in order to prevent the high number of rejected ballots.

The EC must also improve the process of 'voter list transfers' by compiling them in serialised or alphabetical order, and ensuring early delivery to the designated new polling stations. On the closure of the country's borders, the Mission urged that it could be done where it was absolutely necessary and in any event on election day otherwise it would be viewed as a panic measure with capacity to heighten tension in the polity. "Once a comprehensive voters' list has been compiled there should be no panic about free movement of people within and across the territorial borders of the country," General Gowon added.