Scores of Africans in Arusha, Tanzania,
yesterday tasked Ghanaians to use the country’s Election 2012 to set the
tone for new African electoral culture, and to deepen the emerging
democratic dispensation.
Ms Consolata Acayo, Public Relations Officer, Ministry of
Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Kampala, Uganda, said:
“Ghana must demonstrate and lead the new Africa democratic movement
where elections would no longer be used as a conduit for civil unrest
and anarchy…the loser must graciously accept defeat.
“The winner
must also learn to jubilate in moderation and extend hands of
comradeship to all irrespective of who wins; Ghana must come out of
election 2012 as a united nation”.
Ms Acayo, who is part of a
team of communication officers from Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and
Burkina Faso, attending Strategic Communication for Development and
Advocacy course in Arusha, made the call in an interview with the Ghana
News Agency in Arusha.
She said: “I wish to advice all peace
loving people of Ghana that as you wait to drop your ballot papers in
the ballot box on Friday, December 7, keep in mind that the whole of
Africa and the world at large is watching you.
“Ghana is a
respected country with respectable people, please keep that spirit.
Remember that election is like a game, where there are winners and
losers, but what I know is that nobody wants to lose, yet all cannot
also win at the same time, only one at a time.
“We pray that the
political leaders will accept the outcome of the election results and
that the winners should appreciate the losers and learn to work with
them to build that great country. For to oppose does not mean all your
views and ideas are wrong, because they too have wonderful ideologies
that can be used to build the nation. We pray and stand with you, and
wish you all the best in this forthcoming election”.
Mchafu .A. Chakoma, General Secretary of
Tanzania Seafarers Union of the Trade Union Congress, said the election
would be crucial not only to Ghanaians but to the rest of Africa.
He
said Ghana had always played the leading role towards change and
progress on the African continent, and the outcome of Ghana’s election
would set the pace for new democratic culture on the continent.
Mr
Chakoma appealed to Ghanaians not to allow the elections to divide the
country, saying “Use the election of a democratic leader to build a
better nation…the loser must accept the outcome gracefully”.
He
appealed to the eventual winner to form an all-inclusive government,
avoid political harassment of opponents and “be a President for all
Ghanaians”.
Mr Jackson Joseph Gahima, Head of Department
Research, Policy Information and Communication of Tanzania Teacher’s
Union, in a poetic message said: “Ghana shine on, Ghana shine on, do it
again as the mirror of Africa.
“A mirror that justifies what each
African country ought to do. Ghana you did it in your previous
elections, you are doing it and you will do it again…oh a symbol for
Africa.
“Am not a poet but for the sake of Ghana, I wish to
speak like a poet. Ghana your people will be there for you, just be
there for them. Before, during and after the elections many African
countries find themselves in hot magma - people displaced, some killed
and others with marks of political unrest.
“The good news about
Ghana is that as the clock click; tick tack, tick tack, Ghanaians are
showing glittering faces and are building up towards togetherness after
election. God bless Ghana, God bless Africa”.
Ms Estelle
Tankoano-Wedraogo, Communication Manager, Gender National Council of
Burkina Faso, described Ghana as a good example of democracy in Africa
democracy and appealed to Ghanaians to be guided and build on its
democratic integrity.
She said: “Never forget your democratic
credentials, which over the years served as inspiration to other African
countries…I wish you all peace and love…I love you Ghana”.
Mr
Theophilus Tetteh Tuwor, Principal Investigator of the Commission of
Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Ghana, urged all Ghanaians to
turn up in their numbers to vote as it is their civic right.
“Let us make Election 2012 peaceful as Africans and the whole world is expecting much from us,” he said.
Assistant
Commission of Immigration Francis Palmdeti, Head of Public Affairs
Ghana Immigration Service, said though they were far away in Arusha,
Tanzania “our interest in Election 2012 is still keen.
“The
political fever has caught up with us in Arusha and the expectation of
our friends from neighbouring African countries even makes the burden of
conducting a smooth election even heavier.
“African friends
regard Ghana as one of the shining stars on the continent, therefore,
their expectation of Ghana during this election season is so high that
one cannot think their very survival depends on it.
“We do not have a choice regarding conducting a peaceful election for ourselves, posterity and Africa”, Mr Palmdeti said.
Mr
Kofi Asare of the Council for Technical and Vocational Education
Training, Ghana, reminded politicians that elections were not about
violence or competition…they are matters of choices.
“On
December 7 your only obligation as a democratic citizen, is to go out
and vote according to your choice for a president and a parliamentarian
…without engaging in any form of offensive conduct”, he stated.
Source: GNA
