GOVT DETERMINED TO PROTECT INTEGRITY OF ELECTIONS — KUFUOR (PAGE 15)

THE President, John Agyekum Kufuor, has given firm assurance that everything is being done to protect the integrity of the December 7 general elections and its outcome.
He also acknowledged the various roles being played by religious, traditional and civil society organisations towards ensuring peaceful elections.
‘‘Government is playing its part by providing whatever the Independent Electoral Commission requires to function effectively and efficiently; the Judiciary has put mechanisms in place to handle election disputes promptly; the police are equipped and available to handle any breach of the law ,’’ Mr Kufuor declared.
The President, who was speaking at the inauguration of the 45 million euro Tamale Water Rehabilitation and Expansion project at Kukuo-Yepalsi in Tamale on Friday, however appealed to Ghanaians, particularly the youth, to exercise good judgement, good conduct and decorum in the days leading to the elections.
‘‘We should be even more careful and circumspect on the day of the elections and the days after; let no one take the law into their own hands,’’ he further advised.
According to Mr Kufuor, anyone who would instigate violence during the elections must be considered as an enemy of the nation, and therefore rejected outright.
‘‘The good people of Ghana can and must make their decision as to who should govern the nation through the ballot box in other words, the power of the thumb, that is the best way to secure this nation’s democracy, peace, security and development for all,’’ he stated.
On Dagbon, President Kufour made a fervent appeal to the chiefs and people of the kingdom for unity and peace to prevail to accelerate the development of the area.
‘‘I pray that the good Lord Himself would establish the truth and justice that must prevail here; Dagbon should reconcile, and anybody that would exploit the differences of the people for political gains cannot be a true friend of Dagbon, and, indeed, Ghana,’’ he said
The President also thanked the good people of Ghana in advance for their unflinching support and co-operation during his tenure of office, ‘‘As you know, God willing, I will complete my term as President of Ghana in just over six weeks from now.’’