Democratic governance and peaceful transfer of power after elections are non-negotiable, Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo, New Patriotic Party (NPP), Presidential candidate for the 2012 elections, said on Monday.
“Ghanaian democrats, no matter their party affiliation, should stand shoulder to shoulder to defend and promote the aims of our democratic republic that also include standing up against the bully at the polling station” Nana Akufo-Addo, told a press conference at Ho.
He said the NPP would continue to fight to advance the frontiers of the country’s democracy and would not want to win the 2012 election “at any cost”.
“Let no one use propaganda to seek to discredit our proven record of commitment to Ghana’s democracy”.
“…, I would not want a single drop of Ghanaian blood to be spilled for me to become President.”
He said the slogan “All Die be Die” came as a result of “vituperations, discrimination, intimidation, aggression and incarceration without protection from the State”.
Akufo-Addo explained that the slogan was a “defensive exhortation” not a call to “initiate violence”.
“It is but a call to the victims of aggression to stand firm and if need be defend themselves against the aggressor,” he said.
He urged members of the NPP and its supporters to be responsible and law-abiding citizens and urged its opponents to send a similar message to their followers.
Akufo-Addo said the NPP had learnt lessons from the 2008 general election and that there was the need for concerted efforts from all stakeholders to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections in 2012.