Mills calls for fair and peaceful elections in Cote d'Ivoire

Accra, July 20, GNA - President John Atta Mills on Monday said the forthcoming election Cote d'Ivoire should be incident free. He said even though the election, which would be carried out in the next few months, would be hectic there was the need to ensure that they are fair, peaceful and transparent.

President Mills made the call on Monday when the outgoing Ivorian Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Ekra Kouassi, paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu, in Accra.

President Mills praised the outgoing ambassador for having acquitted himself well during his term of service and wished him well as he progressed in his diplomatic career. The President told the Ambassador, whose first posting was to Ghana, to make his stay in the country be the starting point in making the sky his limit.

President Mills stressed the need for elected leaders to ensure that resources entrusted into their care were used to the benefit of the people in their respective countries. The President presented a stool to the outgoing ambassador, and another gift to his spouse.

Mr Kouassi lauded Ghana's democratic credentials and the peaceful conduct of its last general election, and urged further strengthening of the bond of relations between the two countries. He also praised Ghana for maintaining unity despite the diversity of its culture and ethnic groups.