Five presidential candidates who took part in last Monday’s elections have called on Ghanaians to maintain calm and respect the outcome of the polls.
The candidates are Dr Henry Lartey of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), Mr David Apasera of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Ms Brigitte Akosua Dzogbenuku of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Rev. Christian Kwabena Andrews of the Ghana Union Movement (GUM) and Mr Percival Kofi Akpaloo of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG).
They maintained that it was crucial for Ghanaians to conduct themselves in a manner that would ensure that the country remained united.
People’s National Convention
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Mr Apasera said it was important for everyone to recognise that Ghana was the only safe home for all Ghanaians, hence the need to contribute to keeping it safe.
“We have to continue to work to create a better platform for everybody to participate in shaping and entrenching multiparty democracy.
“We have to work together to consolidate and deepen the democracy that we all agree to pursue,” he said, ahead of the declaration of the presidential results by the Electoral Commission (EC).
He expressed disappointment in the national electoral system where the electorate were influenced with money to vote in a certain direction.
Mr Apasera believed that the use of money was a disincentive to those who did not have money but genuinely intended to participate in shaping and entrenching the democratic credentials of the country.
He wished the “one that will win the elections well,” adding that he would convene a meeting with the executive and elders of his political party to agree on the next line of action.
Clear victory
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Dr Lartey congratulated President Akufo-Addo on “clearly winning” the presidential elections.
He said even though the Electoral Commission (EC) was yet to declare the winner of the elections, results so far proved that Nana Akufo-Addo had clinched victory.
To that end, he said, it was proper that as a democrat, he conceded defeat in the polls.
“You fought a good fight and won a battle you deserve, so I congratulate you on your victory and offer you all my support,” he told the President.
Good fight
Mr Akpaloo took to Facebook to congratulate the President.
“Congratulations to H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo on his re-election as President of the Republic of Ghana,” he stated.
Progressive People’s Party
The PPP presidential candidate appealed to all contestants in the presidential election to allow the EC to perform its role, adding that it was important for Ghanaians to have trust in the EC, which was mandated to declare results.
She said Ghanaians had made their choices and it was important that “we all respect the will of the electorate and not to do anything that will jeopardise the peace that we are enjoying.”
Ms Dzogbenuku also appealed to the EC not to take for granted the trust Ghanaians had in it and desist from any attempt to tamper with the results of the elections, adding that, “as for me I choose to trust the EC because it gives me peace.”
Ghana Union Movement
For his part, Rev. Andrews prayed that Ghanaians would allow peace to reign to “enable us to continue to nurture and deepen the democratic process in the country.”
He added his voice to the call for peace to prevail in the country, stressing that without peace, the country could not experience any development.
The GUM leader further urged the EC to ensure the free flow of information and clarity of the timetable after elections regarding when the declaration of the results would be done.
He said yesterday’s case where he received a text message from the EC Commissioner postponing the scheduled time for declaring the results was not encouraging.
