<<Print>>

Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, a Deputy Minister of Information has stated that ensuring a peaceful December elections in Ghana is not the preserve of president Mills alone. The argues that it requires commitment and effort of both the leaders of the ruling and the opposition parties to emerge out of the election peacefully. Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa said there is no need for weapons in any election, insisting elections are about choosing leaders and not warfare. Reacting to comments supposedly made by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, that President Mills must live by his words to hold peaceful and transparent elections in 2012, the Deputy Minister of Information noted that all Ghanians have a role to play in safeguarding the country's peace. He said, "It appears to me that there is a fundamental problem with the statement by the NPP flagbearer, that fundamental problem stems from the fact that one gets the impression that in an election, it is only the ruling party that has to be responsible, that has to conduct itself very well (so) as to ensure that there is peace," He explained that a peaceful election requires a collective effort of both ruling and opposition parties, adding that "all actors must commit themselves to peace and proper conduct". Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa told a radio station �there is a fundamental flaw with Nana Addo�s thinking on this subject and I don�t think that will augur well for us if leaders of the various political parties start shifting responsibility to only one political party and in this case the ruling party, I think that kind of posture is problematic for our despondency.� He accused Nana Akufo-Addo of being inconsistent, saying, �It is important for our political leaders to be consistent, don�t in one breath say that you were the perpetrators of violence then now you want to play the victim, when you do that it does not appear you are sincere. Let us be sincere, let us not be blowing hot and cold.�