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The United Nations (UN) has commended Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for conceding defeat in Ghana’s elections, describing the move as a significant example for African leaders to prioritise peace over actions that create tension.
The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Mr Leonardo Santos Simão, underscored Dr Bawumia’s gesture as a demonstration of political courage, maturity, and respect for the democratic process.
In an interview with journalists during a visit to the National Collation Centre yesterday, he said “Democracy is coming up stronger in Ghana. The vice president’s acknowledgment of the people’s choice sets a good example for some African leaders who often resist conceding defeat,” he added.
Mr Simão underscored the importance of maintaining peace, stating that it was a prerequisite for national development.
He urged Ghanaians to continue prioritising peace if they valued progress, noting that without peace and stability there can never be any form of development anywhere.
For him, it is needless for any election to result in violence of any form and commended Ghana’s ability to conduct peaceful elections and ensure respect for outcomes, emphasising that it reinforced the message that democracy, though challenging, was achievable.
According to him, Ghana remained “a trailblaser in Africa’s democratic journey, providing a template for other nations to follow.”
The UN representative further expressed optimism that Ghana’s example would inspire other countries to “deepen democracy” and “embrace peaceful transitions of power.”
Additionally, he called on all stakeholders to sustain the spirit of unity and responsibility that had characterised the electoral process so far.
He commended Ghanaians for their “maturity and responsibility” and acknowledged efforts of the various security services for promoting peace and orderliness “which is necessary in every Electoral process to protect lives and property.”
The UN Envoy indicated that the final declaration of the results of the general election by the EC must reflect the will of the people, adding that, “What is important is that the numbers which are going to be announced reflect the choice of the people.”
Moreover, he noted that the timeframe for declaring results varies based on local processes, voter numbers, and other factors, explaining that Ghana’s 48 to 72-hour window for collating and declaring results was realistic.
