The Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), President Akufo-Addo, has charged presidential aspirants on the African continent to prioritise democracy in all their political activities.

According to the President, aspiring leaders should “not allow the pain of losing the election to influence suspicion of cheating.”

He believed that trusting the democratic process through elections is the surest way to deepen democracy on the continent.

He added that no amount of sensible justification can be accepted for military takeovers.

Addressing the ongoing ECOWAS Parliament forum at Winneba in the Central Region, the President called on member-states to respect democratic institutions and urged support for elected governments to work.

“These happenings in the region required of you distinguished Parliamentarians to take a critical look at the effectiveness of our electoral systems and process to provide free and fair elections and guarantee accountable governance.

“The authority of any elected public officer is vested in the people, and this can be legitimately exercised through free, fair and credible elections.

"The exertion to power by any other means, other than the ballot box, remains for me, wholly unacceptable, no matter the justification,” the ECOWAS Chairperson said.