US Ambassador urges Ghanaians to view elections as unity, not rivalry

The United States Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, has said elections can be "messy" as they provide a platform for citizens to express their grievances and concerns about their country and what matters to them. 

“They are messy because they are participatory. Because we are airing grievance and we are airing issues in the way that we feel differently about them”, she stated.

She noted the similarities between the American and Ghanaian elections, particularly in having a former president running against a sitting vice-president. 

"It is wonderful to see Americans and Ghanaians and other friends from other countries together from civilian life and military life, young and old together witnessing a very important democratic moment for the United States," she added.

Ms Palmer explained that, in the United States, elections were not managed by a single National Elections Commission and that there were instead a series of separate elections. 

“In fact, what you see in the United States is not one election managed by a National Elections Commission; it’s many different elections. The Presidential election is, of course, important, but a third of our senators are also elected, as is the entire lower house, or House of Representatives. In Virginia, where I voted, school board members were on the ballot, along with constitutional provisions and bonds. So, there’s a lot more to observe beyond the main event,” she explained.

She emphasised the importance of remembering that elections were not battles between enemies but contests between fellow citizens about the country's future and the issues that matter.

“I was at the national peace council meeting of stakeholders and the head of the National Peace Council stood up and said, remember that this isn't a battle between enemies. It is a contest between fellow Ghanaians or fellow Americans about the issues and about the future of the country and how we want it to go”, she said.

Ms Palmer stressed that once elections are over, it was essential to set aside partisanship and move forward together. 

“And once elections end, we have to be attentive to that. It is hard to put aside that partisanship that motivates us before an election but it is incredibly important and precious. It is something that I am very proud of as an American -our ability to do that”

She highlighted the significance of every vote and encouraged young people to participate in the electoral process. 

“We need to remember that every vote counts, the young people who voted for the first time are learning crucial elections about democracy as they will in Ghana”, she said.

Ms Palmer further noted that, it was through experiences like this, that the youth could learn how fragile democracy could be, how important it is to protect democratic institutions, and how vital it is to fight for them, as they are what makes us Americans or Ghanaians.

“It is what makes America and Ghana peaceful and stable and prosperous. It is that democracy and our ability to hold hands as citizens and move forward together,” she added.