EU affirms confidence in Ghana's electoral system

Mr. Claude Maerten, Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Ghana, on Tuesday said the Union would not monitor the December 2012 general elections.

The Union has observed that Ghana has developed internal structures and has the capacity to organize free, fair, transparent and credible elections without the monitoring of the international community.

He also noted that due to the maturity of the nation’s electoral processes, institutionalization of democratic structures and cooperation among the political parties election 2012, would as usual, be peaceful and successful.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Mr. Maerten said the Union is however providing technical assistance to the Electoral Commission for the discharge of its duties.

“Ghana has come a long way in the organization of its elections and I believe it can be done again”, he said.

The Union used the occasion to express its appreciation to the Norwegian Nobel Committee for its decision to award the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize to the EU as a body for its advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe and the rest of the world.

“We thank the Norwegian Nobel Committee for acknowledging the EU’s most important results: the successful struggle for peace and reconciliation and democracy and human rights”, he said.

He said the Union had played a major role in transforming Europe from a continent of war in the olden days to a continent of peace and stability.

Mr. Maerten, who is also the French ambassador to Ghana, intimated Ghana and the rest of Africa could only develop if they could concentrate on peace building.

He pledged the commitment of the EU delegation to Ghana towards helping to promote peace, rule of law and prosperity in Ghana.

Present at the ceremony were the Ambassadors of Spain, Italy, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany, Germany and the Czech Republic.