Allegations of plans by govt to rig elections baseless

Accra, Nov. 11, GNA - Mr Akwasi Osei-Adjei, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD, on Tuesday said allegations of government planning to rig the December 7 elections were baseless. "Ghana's reputation for holding transparent elections is acknowledged universally. This notwithstanding, the impression is being carried in certain quarters that the arrangements for the forthcoming elections are flawed," he added.

Mr Osei-Adjei, who was speaking at the conference of Ghana's Ambassadors and High Commissioners, said some individuals had even gone as far as propagating to the international community, "preposterous allegations" about plans by government to rig the elections. He said as practitioners of diplomacy representing the interests of Ghana abroad, the Ambassadors and the High Commissioners were obliged to inform themselves of developments and present these to their host governments in authentic ways as to guard against misunderstanding and misrepresentation.

Mr Osei-Adjei said the policy of good neighbourliness crafted by the Kufuor Administration had been pursued as a desirable foreign policy objective in the sub-region and beyond and had enhanced the image of the country.

"The respect and confidence that Ghana is enjoying from the international community is reflected in the number of high-profile international conferences that have taken place in Accra recently."

He said Africa's peace and security challenges were given strong advocacy during President Kufuor's tenure as Chairman of the African Union (AU) where he canvassed the international community to support the efforts of the AU in resolving the continent's protracted conflicts. Mr. Osei-Adjei said it was in pursuance of this objective that the Ministry has considered it important to organize the two-day conference to reassure them of government's commitment to free and fair elections and a smooth political transition.