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Ms. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey has conversations with the ECOWAS team in Accra. Photo: SAMUEL TEI ADANO
A high-level electoral mission from the United Nations (UN) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to Ghana yesterday paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, in Accra .
The mission, led by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for West Africa and the Sahel, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, is in the country to learn first-hand the political, technical, legal, security and other views and perspectives of stakeholders. on the events before the general election on December 7.
Dr. Chambas explained that the mission was in the country to revitalize the strong support of the international community for peaceful, transparent and credible elections.
The mission is also expected to explore options that support greater dialogue among stakeholders with a view to promoting consensus on critical issues in order to ensure credible and peaceful elections.
Ghana ready
Welcoming the delegation, Ms. Botchwey recognized that the elections were key to deepening multi-party democracy and accountability in governance.
He said that Ghana took seriously its commitment to democracy, good governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law, as they underpinned its political administration.
The Foreign Minister commended the UN, AU and ECOWAS for their outstanding work to ensure that the elections in West Africa were conducted in a peaceful, free and fair manner. He also commended the three bodies for their continued efforts to defuse tensions in Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire.
Ms. Botchwey also welcomed the opportunity given to the country’s political actors to express their views on the preparations being made for the presidential and parliamentary elections.
Government commitment
He assured the delegation of the government’s commitment to working closely with all stakeholders to ensure that the December elections were held in a peaceful, free and fair environment.
He said that the government, the Electoral Commission and the national electoral security architecture, headed by the Inspector General of Police, had taken steps to boost public confidence in the electoral process.
Ms Botchwey expressed the hope that stakeholders will put the country’s interest above all other considerations in order to maintain Ghana’s enviable image as a beacon of democracy in the subregion.
He said it was important for the general public to be unified before, during and after the elections so that the winning party could move forward with the work to develop the nation.
He said he was looking forward to the mission sharing its findings with the government after having interacted with all actors in the electoral process.
Mission
The mission consisted of Mr. Baba Gana Wakil, from the ECOWAS Commission in Ghana; General Francis Behanzin, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; Mr. Charles Abani, UN Resident Coordinator in Ghana, and Resident Representative of the UN Development Program in Ghana, Ms. Silke Hollander.
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