John Mahama campaign lauds Peace Council on NPP “lawless declaration”

The John Mahama 2012 Campaign on Sunday lauded the National Peace Council (NPC) for condemning a press conference by the opposition New patriotic Party (NPP), which claimed it had won Election 2012 with 51.3 per cent of votes.
A statement signed by Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, National Campaign Coordinator, said it had taken note of the press conference by the Peace Council in response to “the lawless declaration of results in the 2012 presidential elections by the General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party, Mr Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie”.
The NDC said it deemed the Peace Council’s press conference “as timely and a step in the right direction.
“Consistent with the John Mahama 2012 Campaign, we shall continue to abide by Ghana’s electoral laws and refrain from doing anything that will undermine the peace and security of our country.
“We are therefore appealing to all our numerous members and supporters, once again, to continue to remain calm as we await the declaration of the final results by the Electoral Commission,” it said.
The Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante, Chairman of the NPC, described the NPP’s statement as premature and inconsistent with the law, which only mandates the Electoral Commission (EC) to declare elections results.
Rev. Prof. Asante, who made the statement at a press conference in Accra, called on all political parties to exercise restraint in handling issues concerning the elections results, stressing that it was the sole responsibility of the EC to declare results.
He urged the media to be circumspect in the discharge of its duties, and not to allow political parties to use their platforms for such declarations, adding that this could undermine the mandate of the EC.
Rev. Prof Asante urged all Ghanaians not to be disturbed by the statement, and appealed to other political parties not to react negatively to the press conference but remain peaceful and calm.
Mr Owusu Afriyie had asked NPP supporters to get ready for a massive jubilation on Sunday after calling the election in the party’s favour.
He said statistics from the NPP collation centre headquarters revealed that Nana Akufo-Addo, presidential candidate of the party, had won the election with 51.3 per cent as against 45.50 per cent for of John Dramani Mahama, the incumbent President.
 
Source: GNA