Kofi Annan asks Ghanaians to work for peaceful polls

(From: Beatrice Akua Asamani, GNA Special Correspondent, UN, New York)

United Nations (New York), Sept. 23, GNA - United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan on Wednesday urged the Government and the people of Ghana to ensure that the December general election ends peacefully to advance the country's socio-economic progress.

He also asked President John Agyekum Kufuor, Chairman of ECOWAS, and leaders of the Sub-Region to encourage the leadership of Cote d'Ivoire and other political groups to respect the Accra Three Agreement, which he helped to broker, to restore lasting peace in that country.

Mr. Annan made the statements when he received Vice President Aliu Mahama, with Foreign Minister Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo, at his office at the United Nations.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, Vice President Mahama said he assured the Secretary-General of the Kufuor administration's commitment to create the conditions to make the elections free, fair and peaceful.

He said the message on Cote d'Ivoire was also in line with the Government's agenda to work for peace to be sustained in the Sub-Region and Ghana would continue to support efforts to achieve that goal. Mr. Annan was said to have given the assurance that he would do his part to get the parties to the Accra Three Agreement to respect the pact.

Political and rebel leaders signed the agreement at the end of a Summit co-chaired by the Secretary-General and President Kufuor in Accra, following a deadlock in the implementation of the Marcoussis Accord.

Mr. Annan, in his address to UN General Assembly on Tuesday appealed to world leaders to commit themselves to the enforcement of the rule of law at the national and international levels. He said the disregard for the rule of law was responsible for conflicts, violence, corruption and the gross abuse of human rights across the globe.

Vice President Mahama, who is leading Ghana's delegation to the 59th Session of the General Assembly, would deliver his message on Thursday, September 23.