ELECTION PETITION: German Foreign Minister Commends Akufo-Addo

Germany’s Foreign Minister, Dr Guido Westerwelle, has commended the New Patriotic Party (NPP) 2012 presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, for choosing to contest the results of the December 7 polls in the Supreme Court and not inciting his followers and supporters to take up arms.

Dr Westerwelle said Ghana continues to shine on the African continent as a growing democracy worth emulating.

The Foreign Minister, who is on a two day visit to Ghana called on Nana Akufo-Addo to discuss among others, the electoral petition in the Supreme Court.

Nana Akufo-Addo said the NPP is happy with the process so far and “we are happy also that the Supreme Court is putting in place measures to ensure the expedition of the process.”

He explained that the party is not in court to disrupt the country’s democracy, assuring that the NPP is committed to a peaceful democratic Ghana.

“We did not go to court to destabilize our democracy but we felt that there were systematic violations of the process which we believe affected the overall outcome of the elections and that is why we have chosen to challenge in the constitutionally designated forum the results as declared by the Electoral Commission.” Nana Addo explained.

He said “like President Mahama, I will stand by whatever ruling the court makes.”

The NPP leader said Ghana’s economy has performed better in the Fourth Republic largely due to a stable democratic environment and it is important therefore for everybody to commit to the protection of Ghana’s democracy.

He said the NPP hopes, God willing to adopt the German economic model of apprenticeship, skills training and development for small and medium scale businesses.

He observed that central to that however is education and that is why the party has committed to providing free senior high school education for all.

“Ghana has enormous potential and prospects and I am confident that with the right leadership, our country will make tremendous progress,” he said.

Nana Addo said Ghana needs today a structural transformation of her economy from raw material production to value addition.

The two gentlemen also discussed issues concerning ECOWAS with Mali taking centre stage.

Nana Addo noted that he is happy with the ECOWAS and French intervention on Mali.

He thanked the Foreign Minister for calling on him and wished him well.