Accra, Dec. 2, GNA – President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged Ghanaians to ensure a peaceful, free, and fair electoral process ahead of the country’s Presidential and Parliamentary elections on December 7, 2024.
The President emphasized the importance of embracing democratic principles as Ghana prepared for its ninth consecutive democratic election.
He made the appeal during a Thanksgiving Service at the Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral in Accra, marking the start of his three-day thank-you tour of the Greater Accra Region.
The tour, the last of his nationwide journey, is to express gratitude to the chiefs and people of the Greater Accra region for their trust and support of his administration.
President Akufo-Addo said that while the Electoral Commission had put in place the necessary security arrangements and measures to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections, the full cooperation of all Ghanaians was crucial to maintaining the peace and stability of the country.
“Across the world, when people speak about Africa and democracy, the country that they refer to as the country which is the beacon of democratic governance on our continent, they talk about Ghana and on Saturday we’re going to get another opportunity, the ninth successive opportunity we have to demonstrate to the world that indeed we understand what democratic government is about,” he emphasised.
The President noted that elections had become a key feature of the country’s governance system, where every few years, the people are given the opportunity to choose their leaders.
“On Saturday, we are going to get another opportunity, the ninth successive opportunity we have to demonstrate to the world that, indeed, we understand what democratic government is about, that every few years, the people are given the opportunity to decide who will rule and govern them in their name.
“So, that is going to happen again this Saturday. I am appealing to all of you, the Electoral Commission, Security Services, and the government, and have all made arrangements to make sure that everything goes peacefully and properly.
“I am appealing to you to make sure that what happens here next Saturday is indeed peaceful, free, and fair so that at the end of the day on Saturday, all of us will agree that X, you know my X, that X is the one we have all agreed to be our next President,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo also took the opportunity to thank the people of Ghana for granting him the privilege to serve as their president, an eith-year tenure, which he dscribed as significant honour.
He offered blessings to the nation, wishing continued peace and prosperity.
“I want to say once again that I am really, really grateful. My family and myself, my wife Rebecca, who is also another Anglican, my brother, all of us are members of the Anglican faith, are overwhelmed by the love, the affection and the honour that you have done me by making me president of the country. I was also very lucky,” he said.
Delivering her sermon, the officiating minister, Reverend Dr. Gifty Adiko, urged Ghanaians not to lose hope but to continue praying.
She reminded the congregation that there was always light at the end of the darkness, and no matter how difficult the situation seemed, Christians must keep their faith and not give up.
The tour, which also aimed to garner support for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, who is also the Vice President, saw the President engage with traditional leaders of the Ga State and party supporters.
He appealed to the people of Odododiodio, where he met with the chiefs at the James Town Fishing Harbour, urging them to vote overwhelmingly for the NPP to ensure the continuation of the party’s positive work.
GNA