The flag-bearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has made a passionate appeal to Ghanaians to vote for peace on Sunday. He said whatever the outcome of the polls, Ghanaians must endeavour to entrench the democracy, peace and tranquillity prevailing in the country. In an interview with the Daily Graphic yesterday, Nana Akufo-Addo said Ghana had travelled a long way to deepen the present political dispensation and so nothing must be done to set the clock of progress backwards. He said the struggle for democracy had been long and protracted, adding that thankfully democratic governance, the rule of law, freedom and civil liberties were working, and expressed the trust that events during the December 7 elections would affirm the trend. He said it was vital for Ghanaians to turn out massively on Sunday to exercise their franchise and contribute to the peace and unity of the nation, saying, "This is the essential bedrock for any future growth and prosperity." He said Ghana was the only country Ghanaians had and so there was the need not to through the voting process in peace, not in pieces. Reminding Ghanaians of prospects ahead of the nation, Nana Akufo-Addo said, "Prospects for the nation have never been brighter than today". He said Ghana was developing in freedom and that it was on the threshold of being transformed into a modern educated society, where everything worked for the good of the society. "What happens on Sunday will be an important step towards the realisation of the 'Moving Ghana Forward' agenda to join the comity of advanced nations in our generation,” he said. The NPP flag-bearer said he was confident that the good people of Ghana would overwhelmingly vote for him because, in his view, "there is a general recognition that the NPP government under President J.A. Kufuor has "performed well in many areas of national endeavour, including good governance, education, health care and infrastructural development and generally delivered on its promises". He said he had the strong conviction that come December 7, Ghanaians would “willingly” and “seriously” look at extending NPP’s mandate to continue with its vision outlined in its 2008 manifesto. He said he was gratified that all along the NPP had focused on an issue-based and insult-free campaign which had gone down very well with the electorate. "If we are to move Ghana into a social transformation where the development of the nation will hinge on industrialisation, access to expanded education and value added products, then the NPP is best placed to ensure that,” he said. As a leader who had, over the last years, demonstrated commitment to the fight for individual civil liberties, freedom and the rule of law, Nana Akufo-Addo pledged to provide for Ghana exemplary leadership where Ghanaians would be mobilised to support the process of social transformation and growth of the economy. Source: Graphic