Rawlings reiterates his desire for peaceful polls

Ghana’s former President, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, has reiterated his desire to see a successful presidential and parliamentary election in Ghana next month. The former President said in a meeting with former Zambian President, Rupiah Banda on Thursday, that: “Sincerely I hope we find a solution to the complex issues and hope and pray it will be free, fair and peaceful.” The two former leaders discussed the situation in Mali, with President Rawlings hopeful of a political solution. He called on African leaders to collaborate to ensure a political rather than military solution. President Banda commended the former Ghanaian leader for his continued participation in the political future of Ghana insisting he still had a role to play in campaigning for social and political justice. “It requires so much courage, but of course you are Mr. Courage,” Mr. Banda said. Mr. Banda who left Accra late Thursday was in the country at the instance of the University of Ghana in collaboration with the African Presidential Center in Boston, United States, to deliver a lecture on ‘Democracy and Good Governance in Africa’ at the Great Hall of the university. Prior to their discussions President Rawlings had joined the family and the military leadership to paytheir respects at the burial of the late Air Vice Marshall John Odaate-Barnor a former Chief of Defence Staff and diplomat, at the Military Cemetery in Accra. From: Office of Former President J.J Rawlings