The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stated that despite the democratic feat that Ghana has chalked on the continent of Africa, “it would be hypocritical and dishonest for anyone to try and paint the picture as though Ghana has become a paradise” because of democracy.” This was contained in a press release from the NPP Headquarters in Accra. Nana Addo is reported to have explained that “there still remain serious social, economic and political concerns that need to be addressed in the country in the times ahead.” Nana Addo who is in Berlin, Germany, for the Africa Conference 2011 as the Keynote Speaker was speaking on the theme: “Africa’s Role Model? Democracy and Elections in Ghana”. The release said Nana Addo believes Ghana’s status as Africa’s role model is still “an ongoing process that requires eternal vigilance, relentless support from all and a regular enhancement of both the intrinsic and extrinsic elements and benefits of democracy.” The NPP flagbearer said “after many years of experiments, the Ghanaian people have come to accept that living under democratic accountability, backed strongly by the rule of law is the best way for Ghana’s forward movement and a sure road to prosperity.” He is said to have identified two ways African countries can enhance their democratic process: “the task ahead for democracy in Africa is two-fold: (i) to keep improving the integrity of our electoral process; and (ii) to use the democratic platform to create a society of aspirations and opportunities for every citizen, regardless of social background.” Nana Addo said, “it is, therefore, extremely important that we have, in Ghana and elsewhere in Africa, a trusted electoral process, where elections will be regarded as reasonably credible, free and fair, even by the losing side, and to ensure that the results of future elections in the country are trusted and accepted, Ghana is in the process of employing the use of a biometric voter register for the 2012 elections and hopefully in 2016, the use of a better and safer voting system through electronic voting.” He is quoted as saying: “the stakes for power in Ghana have been heightened by the discovery of oil in substantial quantities and the leader who will emerge out of next year’s elections will have a much bigger basket with which to address the problems of the nation and with this rise in the stakes, it is absolutely critical that the right architecture for our elections are fully established for a free, fair and transparent election so that the results will be readily acceptable.” He said “we must do everything to avoid a crisis or anything of the sort in Ghana and therefore we must complete all the necessary processes required to conduct a modern, free, fair and transparent election acceptable to all.”