Close your Ranks Boni Yayi advises political leaders

Story: Mary Mensah
The Chairman of the African Union (AU), President Thomas  Boni Yayi,  yesterday held separate talks with President John Dramani Mahama, former Presidents J.J. Rawlings and J.A. Kufuor and the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo to impress on them to initiate political dialogue to resolve any differences arising out of the just-ended elections.
Such dialogue, he said, would help ensure good governance and sustain the peace in the country.
He said victory for Ghana was victory for the whole of Africa and urged the government to open a political dialogue to seal all differences that arose after the elections.
The AU Chairman, who is also the President of Benin, congratulated the President-elect and Ghanaians on ensuring peace and stability in the country after the elections.
President Yayi was on a day’s official visit to congratulate President Mahama and explore opportunities for consolidating peace and stability in Ghana.
The NPP is disputing the results of the December 2012 presidential election.
During the courtesy call on President Mahama at the Castle, President Yayi applauded Ghanaians for the peaceful and successful conduct of the presidential and parliamentary elections.
He said the AU, based on the report by international observers, was convinced that the elections had been free, fair and transparent.
He, therefore, urged Ghanaians to remain calm and use judicial means to address any grievances.
He said Ghana was seen as a reference point of democracy in Africa, saying, “I am proud of the people of Ghana.”
President Yayi congratulated the Electoral Commission (EC) on the professional manner it conducted the biometric system of voting.
He commended the political leaders, including Nana Akufo-Addo, for their commitment to democracy.
The AU Chairman asked President Mahama to work towards creating jobs for the youth, growing agriculture, promoting education and providing water for the people.
He again stressed the need for the government to work towards fighting corruption.
President Yayi urged President Mahama to try to move the legacy of Ghana’s First President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, and the late President John Evans Atta Mills.
He used the opportunity to invite President Mahama to the next AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in January 2013.
Responding, President Mahama promised to have an inclusive system where all Ghanaians would be given the opportunity to contribute to Ghana’s development.
“The EC has done a good job. I thank them for consolidating our democracy,” he said.
The President said although it was the first time Ghanaians were using the biometric system of voting, coupled with the technical glitches with the verification machines, Ghanaians had the patience to join the queues and vote.
He said the government had constituted a transitional team, in compliance with the Constitution, which calls for the formation of a constitutional team 24 hours after the declaration of election results.
He said Ghanaians would continue to consolidate the country’s democracy to maintain the country’s enviable democratic record.
When he paid a courtesy call on former President Rawlings at his residence at Ridge in Accra, President Boni said Ghana was a great country and the heart of Africa in terms of democracy, a credential which all Africans were proud of.
President Boni commended former President Rawlings for being a strong pillar in Ghana’s democratic dispensation.
He advised all Ghanaians to endeavour to enjoy the peace and ensure its sustenance for generations yet unborn
For his part, former President Rawlings advised all Ghanaians to make every effort to ensure that the peace they were enjoying was sustained after the elections.
He said the sense of responsibility exhibited by Ghanaians during the elections indicated that peace was deeply rooted in their hearts.
He, therefore, advised the people not to do anything to disturb the peace for which the rest of the world was full of admiration.
He advised the government to take the concerns raised by the opposition seriously and investigate them to the letter.