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A group photograph of former president Rawlings, Robert Porter Jackson and others
Former President Jerry John Rawlings has in a meeting with the new American Ambassador to Ghana, Robert Porter Jackson, called for the highest level of transparency in the November elections to guarantee a peaceful process.
“It appears people have reached a saturation point, nevertheless what is important is for all stakeholders to ensure the highest level of vigilance is maintained to guarantee peaceful elections,” the former president said.
Mr Rawlings also called for the United States’ support in ensuring an impartial and credible electoral process.
Tuareg Issue
On Africa, ex-president Rawlings asked the US and other nations to help check the spread of extremism on the continent.
He intimated that there was the need to do justice to the Tuareg people in Mali, stating that “it is imperative and important that the rights of the Tuaregs are also
recognised if we want to contain throat-slitting extremists groups from gravitating towards our sub-region.”
On the unstable situation in Libya, he said the people should be allowed to elect their leaders through a democratic process without undue influence or imposition of puppet regimes by the West.
Mr Rawlings, a former African Union High Representative for Somalia, also called on the US to help avert famine in Somalia as millions were at risk of starvation due to drought.
The former president welcomed the US renewed relationships with Cuba and Iran and commended the Obama administration for staying the course in spite of strong opposition to the thawing of relations with Tehran.
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Former President Rawlings and Ambassador Porter Jackson also discussed the transfer of two Guantanamo Bay detainees to Ghana and the political situation in Nigeria.
Ambassador Porter Jackson said he was happy to be in Ghana and cited trade, health, education, peace, building strong institutions and good governance as his priority areas.
Present at the meeting were Fred Odisho of the American Embassy, Nana Fredua Agyeman Manu, an Entrepreneur and Investment Banker, Dr Anthony Dzegede, Agricultural Engineer and Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, NDC parliamentary candidate for Klottey Korle.
Meanwhile, the United States Embassy in Accra has offered its heartfelt condolences in the wake of the deadly accident on the Kintampo-Tamale highway where 71 people reportedly dead.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and the families who have lost loved ones,” a statement issued said.
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