Former President and presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, hosted a delegation from the West African Elders Forum.
The visit, led by former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, took place shortly after Mahama returned from a trip to the Savannah region.
The West African Elders Forum, active since 2020, has focused on conflict prevention related to elections across the subregion.
Mahama praised the Forum’s ongoing efforts, highlighting their work as “commendable and very useful.” Notably, Mahama himself had led the Forum’s mission to observe the recent Nigerian elections, emphasizing the significance of these engagements for the stability of the region.
With Ghana’s general elections just two months away, the presence of the Forum was seen as particularly timely. Mahama underscored the importance of pre-election preparation, stressing that “a peaceful election is predicated on the groundwork and the preparation that is done before the election.” He further noted that if all steps leading to the election are properly handled, “the election will be peaceful and successful.”
Reiterating the NDC’s stance, Mahama assured the Forum of the party’s “unwavering commitment to a peaceful election.” He also called for cooperation with the Electoral Commission (EC), emphasizing the role of the EC as a neutral and impartial arbiter in the electoral process.
The West African Elders Forum’s visit comes at a crucial moment, with various stakeholders expressing a desire for a transparent and conflict-free electoral process in the upcoming elections.
