No single life is worth losing – Obasanjo, Mkapa tell Ghanaians

Ahead of Ghana’s general elections Wednesday, former presidents of Nigeria and Tanzania are urging leaders of the various political parties not to do anything to impede Ghana’s democratic gains. A joint statement issued by Olusegun Obasanjo and Benjamin Mkapa of Nigeria and Tanzania respectively, said they believe in the view that “no single life is worth losing in an election for any leader to claim victory or to be a loser”.

The former leaders appealed to Ghanaians in general, to ensure free, fair, and peaceful elections in the December 7 presidential and parliamentary elections, and commended the political leaders for agreeing to a peace accord.

Per the peace, the seven presidential candidates have committed themselves and parties to the code of conduct that will ensure no violation of the rules, regulations and laws of the elections, and that all the leaders will abide by the ruling of the Electoral Commission of Ghana.

“We will therefore appeal to all leaders in all walks of life, but particularly political leaders to ensure that by words, deeds or actions, they do not inflame the ambers of anger, distrust, mistrust, abuses, insults, acrimonies and other tendencies that can mar the election process in the immediate preparations, during and after the elections,” the former presidents said.

Presidents Obasanjo and Mkapa expressed confidence in the country’s electoral laws and the legal processes , which they said, are good enough if observed by all parties to ensure peaceful and credible elections in Ghana on December 7, 2016.

“If there are grievances, such grievances will be pursued through the legal processes established by law without resorting to violence, acrimony, and disturbances by any individual, political party, or group of individuals. This is the best way to advance democracy in our fledgling democratic dispensation in Africa and particularly in Ghana,” the advised.”

We wish all our brothers and sisters in Ghana very peaceful, free, fair, credible and fully participatory elections to continue to set a good example of sustainable political stability for the rest of Africa,” they said.