Accra, Oct 23, GNA – Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Special Representative, UN Secretary-General and Head, UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel, Friday called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
Dr Chambas, who led a joint United Nations and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) High Level Elections Mission to Ghana, paid the courtesy call on Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, as part of efforts to underscore the UN’s support for a peaceful, inclusive, transparent and credible general election on December 7.
Other members of the delegation include Mr Charles Abani, UN Resident Coordinator in Ghana and Mr Baba Gana Wakil, Special Representative of the President of the ECOWAS Commission in Ghana.
Dr Chambas said the Joint UN and ECOWAS Mission had being touring the five nations in the sub-region, which were scheduled to hold elections between now and the close of the year.
He lauded Ghana for establishing a good track record in the conduct of credible, peaceful and transparent elections, which results were accepted by all.
He noted that the Joint UN and ECOWAS Mission was in the country was to remind Ghanaians of the high track record they had set for themselves in the conduct of credible elections.
He said since their arrival, they had met with key stakeholders such as the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), who briefed them on their level of preparations towards the elections, where they were now and the way forward.
He said the Commission had assured them that they were ready to conduct credible elections.
Dr Chambas said additionally, the Delegation already had met national executives of both the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He added that they had met representatives of 14 political parties at a forum in Accra.
Mr Chambas noted that the Delegation had had meetings with the National Commission for Small Arms and Light Weapons and the National Peace Council.
Madam Ayorkor Botchwey underscored the importance of elections as a key element in deepening multiparty democracy and accountability in governance.
She noted that Ghana held in high esteem her commitments to democracy, good governance, the respect for human rights and rule of law which “have underpinned our political dispensation”.
She commended outstanding work done so far by the UN and ECOWAS towards the conduct of peaceful, free and fair elections in the Region and for the ongoing efforts to calm tensions in Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire.
She added that the Joint UN and ECOWAS High Level Mission had offered the opportunity to political actors to express their view point on the preparations for the conduct of presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled to take place on December 7.
She assured the delegation of the Government’s support and commitment to work closely with stakeholders for a peaceful, free and fair polls in Ghana.
She mentioned specific measures that had been put in place by the Government, the Electoral Commission and the National Election Security Architecture headed by the Inspector General of Police to boost confidence in the electoral process.
Madam Ayorkor Botchwey expressed the hope that stakeholders would put the interest of the country above all other considerations to maintain Ghana’s enviable image as a beacon of democracy in the Region.
She also underscored the importance of unifying the people of Ghana before, during and after the elections to enable the winning party to safeguard the peace for national development.
The Minister expressed the hope that the delegation would share its findings with government after their interactions with all the actors in the electoral process.
GNA