Conduct yourselves well for the nation’s sake, Kofi Annan tells electorate

Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has asked Ghanaians to use the 2012 general elections as an opportunity to prove that the country is an African success story whose best days are yet to come.

In an exclusive letter to the Daily Graphic, he said, “beyond party differences, there is the greater national interest at stake. After the elections, we shall have to work together across party lines to pursue the development of our country. Much remains to be done to ensure a better future for our children. We cannot afford to let them down.”

He explained that since 1992, Ghana has risen above electoral complications to conduct five elections that yielded two peaceful transfers of power between parties, making the country a beacon of electoral and political stability in Africa.

“As a result, we have prospered. We are an open country with a vibrant press and an active civil society. Investors, from home and abroad, applaud this stability, which creates a sound investment climate. We can be proud of this record,” he said.

Annan said that the 2007 disastrous Kenyan elections, which came as a major economic setback and a blow to the country’s reputation and future, should serve as an warning to Ghanaians to ensure that the December 7 election is peaceful.

“We must keep this experience in mind as we head to the polls. All Ghanaians – young and old, women and men- have a part to play in this democratic exercise. Whether as officials or journalists, policemen or judges, party members or voters, we must strive to ensure that these elections are respectful, transparent and peaceful,” he said.

Although the 2012 presidential campaign in the United State had been tumultuous and hard fought, Annan hopes that the civility with which Mitt Romney conceded defeat will be emulated here in Ghana.

“This willingness of the loser to accept defeat gracefully and the victor to show respect for the losing side is one of the hallmarks of a stable democracy,” he pointed out.

Furthermore, he said, elections must be about ideas and personalities, not money. “The State must ensure that campaign funding is both regulated and transparent to avoid the perception that votes can be bought or the result unduly influenced by the rich and powerful.”

According to him, for an election to have integrity, it must be free and fair in terms of preparation and execution; politically motivated violence must not play a part.

“But victory also comes with responsibility. The winner must safeguard the rights and well-being of his defeated opponents and supporters. He must avoid a winner takes all mentality that stores up resentment and risks later conflict.”

Annan said that evidence gathered by a global commission of eminent individuals showed that elections conducted with integrity empowered women, encouraged the fight against corruption, ensured greater services to the poor, improved governance and helped to end violent conflict.

However, he is also well aware of the dangers of flawed elections, which in recent African history have sometimes degenerated into violence and civil war.

“While most countries today hold regular elections, many do not meet the criteria of elections with integrity. As a result, each election becomes a potential flashpoint rather than a moment of national debate, reflection and, ultimately, unity,” he added.

Below is the full Letter

The presidential campaign in the United States was tumultuous and hard fought. But one aspect that struck me particularly was the civility with which Mitt Romney conceded defeat despite one of the most aggressive electoral contests in living memory.

In response, President Obama congratulated Governor Romney on his campaign and pledged to work with him and other opposition politicians to address the country’s most pressing challenges. This willingness of the loser to accept defeat gracefully, and the victor to show respect for the losing side, is one of the hallmarks of a stable democracy.

This important truth was underlined by a global commission of eminent individuals organised by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) and the Kofi Annan Foundation that looked into how elections can better serve and strengthen the cause of democracy. Its key finding was that elections provide a peaceful mechanism for the expression of political differences and the resolution of conflicts only if they are conducted with integrity.

Elections with integrity mean that electoral contests, both in their preparation and their conduct, must be free and fair and not disfigured by politically motivated violence. They must take place on a level playing field with parties and candidates able to campaign to put their case across and the electorate free to cast their vote without fear.

It must be ideas and personalities, not wallets, which hold sway. States must ensure that campaign funding is both regulated and transparent, to avoid perceptions that votes can be bought or results unduly influenced by the rich and powerful, a concern voiced during the recent elections in the United States.

Elections with integrity confer on the winners the legitimacy to govern. Losing candidates and their supporters must accept the result. But victory also comes with responsibility. The winners must safeguard the rights and well-being of their defeated opponents and supporters. They must avoid a ‘winner-take-all’ mentality that stores up resentment, and risks later conflict.

Evidence from around the world gathered for the Commission shows that elections conducted with integrity have far-reaching benefits. They empower women, encourage the fight against corruption, ensure greater services to the poor, improve governance and help end violent conflict.

Flawed elections, on the other hand, can create tensions and trigger unrest and violence, setting back development by decades. They give democracy a bad name, depriving a country of a tried-and-tested mechanism for expressing disagreement and changing course peacefully.

While most countries today hold regular elections, many do not meet the criteria of elections with integrity. As a result, each election becomes a potential flashpoint rather than a moment of national debate, reflection and, ultimately, unity. Africa – in particular has suffered from flawed elections, which have sometimes degenerated into violence, and even civil war. For many years Ghana has stood above these problems.

Since 1992, we have conducted no less than five elections and, more importantly, seen two peaceful transfers of power between parties. We have rightly become a byword for electoral success and political stability in Africa.

As a result, we have prospered. We are an open country, with a vibrant press and an active civil society. Investors, from home and abroad, applaud this stability which creates a sound investment climate. We can be proud of this record.

But there can be no room for complacency. The disastrous 2007 elections in Kenya, illustrated the risks faced by all countries. As the lead mediator in the crisis that ensued, I witnessed first-hand the violence and damage that elections without integrity can unleash. It was a huge setback for Kenya’s economy, reputation and future.

We must keep this experience in mind as we head to the polls. All Ghanaians – young and old, women and men – have a part to play in this democratic exercise.

Whether as officials or journalists, policemen or judges, party members or voters, we must strive to ensure that these elections are respectful, transparent and peaceful.

Beyond party differences there is the greater national interest at stake. After the elections, we shall have to work together across party lines to pursue the development of our country. Much remains to be done to ensure a better future for our children. We cannot afford to let them down.

I believe Africa is at a turning point. Never before have the region’s prospects looked so bright. As much of the rest of the world is experiencing stagnation, or even recession, we are growing at a brisk pace, creating huge opportunities.

Elections, conducted with integrity, can help us make full use of our continent’s abundant possibilities. Here at home, lets make the 2012 elections further proff that Ghanan is a true African success story whose best days are yet to come.