Jon Benjamin
The British High Commissioner to Ghana, Jon Benjamin has underscored the need for the country to stage yet another peaceful and credible election in 2016.
“The police, judiciary, EC (Electoral Commission) and civil society organizations must ensure there is peaceful, fair, credible election where the vulnerable people, those living in the rural areas, disabled and women would have to exercise their right to vote and the UK will be very happy to work with everyone that wins,” he stated.
The UK High Commissioner was speaking on Onua 95.1FM’s Yen Sempa on the 90th Official Birth Day of Queen Elizabeth II of UK which falls today.
Mr. Benjamin said, “I expect the elections to be very vibrant, hard fought and very peaceful because Ghana has a very good track record of a very peaceful and credible election so we must make sure it is peaceful”.
He added, “it’s in line with this that the UK is supporting the process to make it peaceful and we will support whoever Ghana elects as the President and government”.
Mr. Benjamin explained that “Ghana would increasingly be a middle-income country by 2020 and as such can cater for its election itself and so the UK is helping the country to improve economically that is why we are giving electoral assistance”.
On the President’s Accounting to the People Tour, he pointed out that “the [UK] Prime Minister does the same and the Queen does it”.
He added that “during election time and democratic country, it is normal for President to show what he has done and it is normal for the opposition to criticize”.
He said, “many of the things happening in Ghana's democracy is part of the dynamics of democracy and the government should account the people”.
