Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has asked Ghanaians to use the 2012 general elections as an opportunity to prove that the country is an African success story whose best days are yet to come. In an exclusive letter to the Daily Graphic, he said, "beyond party differences, there is the greater national interest at stake. After the elections, we shall have to work together across party lines to pursue the development of our country. Much remains to be done to ensure a better future for our children. We cannot afford to let them down." He explained that since 1992, Ghana has risen above electoral complications to conduct five elections that yielded two peaceful transfers of power between parties, making the country a beacon of electoral and political stability in Africa. "As a result, we have prospered. We are an open country with a vibrant press and an active civil society. Investors, from home and abroad, applaud this stability, which creates a sound investment climate. We can be proud of this record," he said. Annan said that the 2007 disastrous Kenyan elections, which came as a major economic setback and a blow to the country’s reputation and future, should serve as an warning to Ghanaians to ensure that the December 7 election is peaceful. "We must keep this experience in mind as we head to the polls. All Ghanaians - young and old, women and men- have a part to play in this democratic exercise. Whether as officials or journalists, policemen or judges, party members or voters, we must strive to ensure that these elections are respectful, transparent and peaceful," he said. Although the 2012 presidential campaign in the United State had been tumultuous and hard fought, Annan hopes that the civility with which Mitt Romney conceded defeat will be emulated here in Ghana. "This willingness of the loser to accept defeat gracefully and the victor to show respect for the losing side is one of the hallmarks of a stable democracy," he pointed out. Furthermore, he said, elections must be about ideas and personalities, not money. "The State must ensure that campaign funding is both regulated and transparent to avoid the perception that votes can be bought or the result unduly influenced by the rich and powerful.” According to him, for an election to have integrity, it must be free and fair in terms of preparation and execution; politically motivated violence must not play a part. "But victory also comes with responsibility. The winner must safeguard the rights and well-being of his defeated opponents and supporters. He must avoid a winner takes all mentality that stores up resentment and risks later conflict." Annan said that evidence gathered by a global commission of eminent individuals showed that elections conducted with integrity empowered women, encouraged the fight against corruption, ensured greater services to the poor, improved governance and helped to end violent conflict. However, he is also well aware of the dangers of flawed elections, which in recent African history have sometimes degenerated into violence and civil war. "While most countries today hold regular elections, many do not meet the criteria of elections with integrity. As a result, each election becomes a potential flashpoint rather than a moment of national debate, reflection and, ultimately, unity," he added.