Akufo-Addo Invites International Observers To Polls

The 2008 Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo has called on the International Observer Community to come in their numbers to observe the December elections in Ghana.

Nana Akufo-Addo made the call when he addressed the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in Washington last Wednesday as part of his tour of North America.

The 2008 NPP Presidential Candidate said that even though Ghana's democracy has come of age, it is still important for the International Observer Community to observe this year's election so as to help avoid disagreements.

"Many Ghanaians are of the view that we have become mature enough to conduct our own elections without the endorsement of foreign observers", he underlined, adding, "I am however of the opinion that the verdict of International Observers would more likely be acceptable to the people as opposed to that of Local Observers who no matter the neutrality they display would still be tagged as belonging to one party or the other", he reasoned.

Nana Akufo-Addo praised the NDI for its role in the promotion and sustenance of multi-party democracy in Ghana, in particular, and Africa, generally.

He urged the NDI to continue to show greater interest and commitment to Ghana's democracy.

Nana Akufo-Addo said Ghana is very much on course to creating a free modern society where hard work, excellence, liberty and duty are freely exercised by the citizens.

He said Ghana's has a great future ahead of her and that his task, if elected into office, would be to instil in the people a greater sense of self-belief, can-do spirit and attitude which are required to transform the economy, modernise the Ghanaian society and create prosperity for the greatest number of Ghanaians.

"The world has seen the Asian tigers" he said. "It is high time the world also saw some African lions".

Raising his voice to better transmit the conviction and passion with which he attaches to the topic, Nana Akufo-Addo added confidently, "And, Ghana is set to be the first of such African lions".

The 2008 Presidential Candidate of the NPP said if Ghana is to become such a "lion" then it needed to maintain the peace and stability that it is enjoying today.

He therefore urged his fellow contestants in the December elections to accept the verdict of the people in good faith.

"It is important that we trust the integrity and wisdom of the Electoral Commission", he said.

"Attacking and seeking to destroy their integrity will not augur well for the conduct of the elections and the sustenance of peace afterwards", he cautioned.

The President of the NDI, Kenneth Wollack, praised Ghana for its democratic practice and urged Nana Akufo-Addo and all other leaders of the various political parties to guard Ghana's achievements jealously since Ghana has always served as the beacon of hope and enlightenment for the rest of the continent.

He said the NDI has a responsibility to encourage and nurture multi-party democracy, not just in Africa, but in the world at large. He therefore assured that the NDI was not about to abandon Ghana nor any country for that matter which is committed to democratic growth and accountability.

The NDI is a non-profit organisation working to strengthen and expand democracy worldwide by promoting citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.

Nana Akufo-Addo was accompanied by the General Secretary of the NPP, Ohene Ntow, NPP Campaign Director Dr. K.K Apraku, Campaign Spokesperson Yaw Osafo Maafo, special aide to the Presidential Candidate, Alan Kyerematen, and Nana Akufo-Addo's Spokesperson, Mustapha Hamid.