The president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said elections are the greatest source of potential conflict on the African continent.
For him, the many disputes around the continent can be traced to the dissatisfaction of many groups with the conduct of elections.
Addressing a gathering of the Diasporan community at the California State University in the United States of America, the president said despite these flaws, however, the ballot box represents the surest way of peacefully electing leaders.
He called for improvement in the electoral process to ensure confidence in the system
“We in Ghana have gone through our own traumas about elections. There have been boycotts, there’s been anger and there is the famous election petition before the courts. I cannot say that we have a totally reliable electoral system yet but it is improving every time and deserving of the confidence of the people.
“We know that the electoral process remains for many African countries one of the weaklings that pose security threats to our democracies and the stability of our governments,” President Akufo-Addo added.
The event put together by the Africa peace and conflict resolution centre honoured president Akufo-Addo with a peace leadership award.
According to the centre, the president’s lifelong dedication to the provision of steadfast leadership for peace across the continent influenced their decision to honour him.
They further singled out the repeal of the criminal libel law during the Kufuor administration, his advocacy for the introduction of the alternative dispute resolution and acceptance of the Supreme Court ruling on the election petition as some of the attributes that convinced the board of the centre to award him.
Delivering his acceptance speech, President Akufo Addo called for improvement in the electoral process to ensure confidence in the system.
The president also charged his colleague leaders on the continent to harness the economic potentials of their countries to ensure issues of unemployment and poverty are addressed.
“If anybody is going to be a peace leader in Africa, that person better pay attention to the bubbling volcano that is the army of young unemployed.”
He added that the “young” energy of the youth must be mobilised for the development of the continent.
Source: Myjoyonline
