Former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has called on losers of last Wednesday’s presidential elections to concede defeat in order to allay uncertainties and apprehensions.
“Let me take this opportunity to congratulate the five candidates who have already done so in light of the preliminary results and clear trends,” the ex-Ghanaian international diplomat said in a statement released on Friday, December 9.
The statement is on the back of successful presidential and parliamentary elections, official results of which are yet to be declared by the electoral body.
The Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) has up to Saturday, December 7 – by the regulations guiding the polls – to declare the official results.
Mr Annan congratulated the EC, its staff and Ghanaians in general “for conducting a good election on 7 December, worthy of our democratic tradition”.
“I also applaud the support and the diligence of the electoral observers – national and international.”
He advised candidates and their supporters to remain calm until the official declaration by the EC, which is constitutionally mandated to do so.
“There is no reason for incitement,” he stressed.
“In the spirit of democracy, I call on the losers to concede as quickly as possible to defuse tensions and allay uncertainties.
“Let me take this opportunity to congratulate the five candidates who have already done so in light of the preliminary results and clear trends.”
He called on stakeholders not to disappoint as the “people of Ghana are waiting and watching”.
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