Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo has advised Ghana’s two leading political parties and their candidates against plunging the nation into chaos in the forthcoming general election.
The general election in the neighbouring West African nation is scheduled to hold on December 7.
It is expected to be a two-horse race between the two leading political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The high-point of the election is the presidential election.
While incumbent President Nana Akufo-Addo is the NPP candidate, his predecessor John Mahama is the NDC candidate.
Both candidates contested against each other in 2016.
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In his letter titled ‘Letter to the leadership of New Patriotic Party and National Democratic Congress on ensuring peaceful, credible and transparent general elections on December 7, 2020 in Ghana’, Obasanjo urged them to put the interest of their nation above party or personal ambition.
In the three-page letter, Obasanjo also mourned the demise of a former president of the country, Jerry Rawlings.
He emphasised that only peaceful and credible elections can help the country maintain stability.
“I write to you, leaders of the two main political parties in Ghana, to urge you to do all you can to ensure a peaceful conduct of the general elections. My concern about the elections in Ghana is not only as an African but also because of our shared colonial history, our anthropological background and the fact that I began my military career from Teshie, Ghana, and without that I would perhaps not have been what I am today.
“As leaders of the two main political parties, this is the legacy you have been entrusted to preserve heading into the elections. Your role is unique in that, the NPP and the NDC are the main players, have made significant contributions to the peace and stability of Ghana and are vested with the capacity, influence and control to constructively shape national discussions and processes such as the upcoming elections.
“In this vein, the success or failure of the elections, a key aspect of democratic consolidation in Ghana will largely depend on the posture of the NPP and NDC leadership and how that is manifested by the actions of their supporters,” Obasanjo stated.