I conceded to Rawlings despite stolen verdict - Edward Mahama

The flag bearer of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Dr Edward Mahama, has assured Ghanaians that he stands for peace no matter the outcome of the December 7 polls.

“I conceded to ex-president Rawlings in 1996, in spite of the stolen verdict. Again in 2000, I was a candidate and was the first to concede and endorse ex-president John Agyekum Kufour for the second round,” he told a gathering of international observers and other dignitaries at a meeting under the auspices of the National Peace Council in Accra on Thursday, December 1.

According to him, he embarked on these acts to preserve the peace of the nation.

He added: “Without peace, the country cannot have development, so everyone should commit to peace”.

Meanwhile, President John Mahama has said Ghana will not be plunged into war under his watch saying he has more to lose than anyone else should that eventuality befall the country and has, thus, pledged his utmost commitment to peace in this year’s presidential and parliamentary elections .

Mr Mahama said Ghana’s democracy and peace are “too precious to be gambled away on the altar of an unbridled quest to attain or to hold on to political power”.

“I John Dramani Mahama wish to state my utmost commitment to peaceful and successful elections,” he pledged, adding: “Indeed, I have more to lose than any of the candidates here if this country breaks out in violence.

“I’ve been involved in politics of this country since 1996. My disposition as a nonviolent person is widely known and acknowledged.

“All through my campaign, I have urged my followers to work for a peaceful election. I’ll continue to do so in the time left, before and after the elections and it’s my wish that my fellow contenders will do so as they wind up their campaigns.

“I pray to the almighty God that it shall not be my portion and that may it not be under my watch that our dear nation Ghana will be consumed by violence.

“I pledge to carry out my dual role both as president of the republic and as a presidential candidate in these forthcoming elections in a manner that shall preserve the peace and stability of our dear nation.

“I declare publicly my respect for the Electoral Commission and the authentic results that shall be declared by this commission. I declare my confidence in the people of Ghana to make a choice of their own freewill of whom to lead them in the next four years.

“…No amount of political power is worth the shedding of one drop of blood of any Ghanaian. Violence cannot be a reflection of a genuine desire to serve. I have absolute confidence in Ghana’s capacity to successfully clear the upcoming democratic hurdle on 7 December, 2016 and stay the course of economic and democratic transformation that I have initiated over the last four years,” he said.