Abuja, 1st December, 2016

On the initiative of the National Peace Council of Ghana, the Presidential candidates of the 7 December 2016 elections reaffirmed their commitments for peaceful elections through the signing of a Declaration (the Accra Declaration) against electoral violence, impunity and injustice on 1 December 2016 in Accra, Ghana.

Her Excellency, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia, current Chairperson of the Authority of Heads of State and Government, who took center stage at this ceremony, reaffirmed the ECOWAS Community’s strong support to the promotion of democratic principles throughout the region and its unwavering commitment to the holding of free, credible, transparent and peaceful December 2016 elections in Ghana.

The Chairperson took note of the signature of the Accra Declaration, congratulated the candidates and therefore encouraged the actors to respect the values and principles contained in the Declaration throughout the electoral process.

The Chairperson stressed the need for the Electoral Commission, the Security Forces, the media and other stakeholders involved in the organization of the election to systematically resort to consensual means during critical phases of the process and to work towards creating an environment conducive to the conduct of free, fair and peaceful elections in Ghana.

Finally, the Chairperson appealed to all citizens to demonstrate the maturity, which the Ghanaian people have always shown and to exercise their franchise in a calm and orderly manner.