West Africa maturing in democratic governance — Veep
The vice-president, Mr Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, has stated that the West Africa sub-region is fast maturing in terms of its capacity to conduct peaceful polls and transitions of governments.
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He cited Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Guinea Bissau as countries that had conducted elections devoid of violence and expressed optimism that the November general election in Ghana would also be peaceful.
According to him, the peaceful conduct of elections within the sub-region was a strong signal of how mature the sub-region had democratically become.
Mr Amissah-Arthur was sharing his perspectives with the Daily Graphic after he had led a government delegation to join other dignitaries at the investiture of the newly elected President of Benin, Mr Patrice Talon, at Porto-Novo last Wednesday.
He was accompanied by the Minister of Transport, Mr Fiifi Kwetey, the National Security Advisor, Alhaji Baba Kamara, a Presidential Staffer, Mr James Agyenim-Boateng and the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia.
The inauguration of the Beninois President is the second to be attended by Mr Amissah-Arthur in less than one week after the investiture of the President of Niger, Alhaji Mahamadou Issifou, last Saturday.
Mr Amissah-Arthur indicated that Ghana would further consolidate its place within the democratic space when the forthcoming elections passed off peacefully, underscoring that “Ghana is an icon to the rest of Africa”.
Commendation
The Vice-President lauded President Talon for an inspiring inaugural address, particularly when he announced his intention not to seek re-election after the expiration of his first five-year term.
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He further commended the President for pledging to the people of Benin to fight corruption and also reduce political animosity in that country, calling for the support of the citizenry to join hands with him to push the nation forward.
General election
Thirty-three candidates, including a former prime minister and two of the country's most powerful businessmen, contested the first round of election to replace former President Boni Yayi.
Key issues in the election included job creation, tackling corruption, improving health and education and boosting the nation's economy. According to the World Bank, 36 per cent of people in Benin live below the poverty line.
The front runner in the election was the Prime Minister, Mr Lionel Zinsou, 61, who stood for the ruling Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin (FCBE) party and had the support of two opposition parties and former President Yayi.
Mr Talon, a businessman, won the second round of presidential election polling 65 per cent of the votes, while the ex-Prime Minister, Mr Zinsou, managed 32 per cent of the votes.
About 4.7 million people were eligible to cast their votes in the presidential polls after Mr Boni bowed out after serving a maximum two five-year terms, making him stand out from the many African leaders who have tried to change their country's constitution to stay in power.
Mr Talon, 57, made his money in cotton and running Cotonou's port, billed himself as the authentic Benonois candidate and was reported to have repeatedly attacked his opponent's dual French nationality.
Mr Zinsou, on the other hand, attended an elite French university and was a speechwriter for the former Prime Minister Laurent Fabius.