DR Mahamudu Bawumia, the running mate of the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has called for cool heads in the run-up to the December general election. "As we get close to the December 7 elections, people are going to be agitated but we need to keep cool heads and dialogue more with one another to ensure a peaceful, free and fair election," he advised. The former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana said this when he paid a working visit to the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) head office on Monday. He had discussions with the Managing Director, Mr Ibrahim Awal, and some members of his executive. He said as the country inched towards the elections, the various political leaders must be seen to be communicating effectively amongst themselves to demonstrate oneness. Without peace and stability, Dr Bawumia said, Ghana could not deliver and maintain her enviable status in the West African sub-region as an economically stable society, where democracy and rule of law reigned. He said it was important that the political discourse of the country hinge on issues for "the Ghanaian, electorate to make up their minds on who should govern them". Politicians, he said, could be passionate about development issues but he maintained that the processes of law must be strictly adhered to in order to resolve any difficulty that might crop up during the political process. The media, according to Dr Bawumia, had a crucial role to play in the run-up to the elections and urged practitioners to continue to publish messages that would engender peace and tranquility needed for accelerated development of the country. He said the media had been playing an important role but cautioned that as the election was so close, they needed to examine political messages in order not to let tension mount. "As politicians, we talk and talk but the media must be circumspect in their reportage and do critical analysis to ensure that what they report are not inflammatory," he stated. "None of us is bigger than Ghana; we will go and this country will keep going on; we need to appreciate peace and tolerance," he said. He commended the GCGL for the good work it was doing for the Ghanaian society and said "it is good to see Graphic moving from strength to strength". Mr Gabby Otchere Darko, the Executive Director of the Danquah Institute, who was in the running mate's entourage, also expressed appreciation for the high standard of journalistic work GCGL was doing for the nation." Another member of the entourage, Mr John Buadu, who is also the National Youth Organiser of the NPP, described GCGL as a phenomenal state organisation that had shown the way for the country's national development. "Graphic's example and what you have done for the nation are for all of us to share and be proud of," he stated. The MD of GCGL, Mr Awal, gave the assurance that the company would do everything to unify the country through its publications. "We will create the platform so that we will jawjaw," he stated and stressed that GCGL was ever ready to "work with whoever will partner us to achieve these goals". He said the company was currently producing eight publications, with the latest addition being Graphic Business, which are giving the company phenomenal circulation figures: He said integrity and high standard professionalism were the hallmark of the company and "we intend to keep it as such". At the meeting were the General Manager in charge of Newspapers, Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh; Marketing and Public Affairs Manager, Mr Kwasi Owusu Asare and the Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr Ransford Tetteh. Dr Bawumia's entourage was later taken round the offices of the various newspapers of the" company. Source: Daily Graphic