President John Mahama has pledged his support to the people of Guinea-Bissau as they prepare to participate in the second round of elections to choose their next President.<\/p>\n
The President, who doubles as the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) made this promise on behalf of ECOWAS member states and governments.<\/p>\n
In a statement, President Mahama urged the various stakeholders and all responsible officials, especially the Military Services of Guinea-Bissau, to ensure the run-off election \u201cis conducted and concluded in the same peaceful, free and fair manner as the first round.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe call especially on the Electoral Commission to do everything in its power to ensure the integrity and credibility of the electoral process,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
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Below is the full statement<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN OF ECOWAS AUTHORITY OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT ON UPCOMING SECOND ROUND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN GUINEA-BISSAU<\/strong><\/p>\n On behalf of the Authority of Heads of State & Government of our Economic\u00a0Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and in my capacity as Chair of the Authority, I would like to extend our best wishes, solidarity and support to the people of Guinea-Bissau as they prepare to participate in the second round of elections this weekend to choose the next President of their nation.<\/p>\n We renew our congratulations to people of Guinea-Bissau for the free, fair, and peaceful manner in which the first round of the electoral contest was held on 13th April 2014.<\/p>\n As the electoral regulations stipulated a second round became necessary because there was no outright winner of the first round.<\/p>\n We call on the various stakeholders and all responsible officials, especially the<\/p>\n Military Services of Guinea-Bissau, to ensure that this run-off election is conducted and concluded in the same peaceful, free and fair manner as the first round.<\/p>\n We call especially on the Electoral Commission to do everything in its power to ensure the integrity and credibility of the electoral process.<\/p>\n ECOWAS is committed to working with the next democratically elected President to return Guinea-Bissau to peace, security, democracy and prosperity.<\/p>\n The election that will take place on Sunday, 18th May 2014, is an important part of this process.<\/p>\n We urge all sections of Guinea-Bissau society, all stakeholders and friends of\u00a0Guinea-Bissau to do everything possible to ensure that the country is steered onto a new and sustainable path, through a credible second round presidential run-off, so that the people of Guinea-Bissau can be the ultimate winners.<\/p>\n H. E. John Dramani Mahama<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong>President of the Republic of Ghana<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n By: Efua Idan Osam\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
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