On Monday, President Yayi Boni of Benin described Ghana as a model of African democracy, one that would continue to be a model of peace and unity for her neighbours and encourage them to achieve lasting growth and development. He said that Ghana’s sixth successful and peaceful election would continue to ring bells in countries battling to chart a permanent path to democracy and provide them with better development alternatives. President Yayi Boni, appearing in his capacity as Chairman of the African Union (AU), made these statements during a visit to President John Mahama at the Castle, Osu, where he congratulated the president and commended Ghanaians on a peaceful election. Mr. Yayi Boni also extended President Mahama an official invitation to the African Union heads of State meeting slated for January 2013 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Also on the agenda for his visit is a meeting with Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who placed second in the election. He commended Ghana’s Electoral Commission for implementing the biometric voter registration and verification systems for the first time in the nation’s history, adding that he hopes to see the system improved in subsequent elections. President Mahama commended him for his timely visit to the country, barely 24 hours after Mahama was declared president elect. He promised to run an open, all-inclusive government and appealed to all stakeholders to play their roles responsibly. President Mahama announced that government would shortly establish a transition team to ensure a peaceful and smooth transition between regimes next month.