Presidential candidates must be humble in victory

In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra, she explained “that once the candidates accept defeat, their supporters will calm down and there will be peace but when they refuse to accept defeat, their supporters will take advantage to disrupt the peace”.

Ms Shooter admitted to the heightened tension in the country prior to the elections but described it as worrying and urged calm.

With a few days to the elections, the presidential candidates are putting in their last minute efforts in their quest to win the hearts of the people to vote them to power.

The process has resulted in some skirmishes in some parts of the country and noted that until “we are able to quell them, they might spread to other areas”.

Ms Shooter reminded Ghanaians of the credentials of the country in the comity of nations and noted that “this is not the time to take the country back to the dark days”.

“Election is not a do or die affair”, she said adding that “We must note that in every contest, no matter how keenly contested it is, there will definitely be losers and winners and no matter how unfortunate the situation might be, the outcome must be accept by all”, she said.

Ms Shooter said losing should be a lesson “because it provides the losers the opportunity to go back to the drawing board to re-strategise and at the appropriate time, they can excel”.

She said Ghana had found a new resource, oil, which could help transform the fortunes of the nation.

Against this background, she called for unity among the people to be able to harness the potential of the resource.

On the youth, she asked them to desist from allowing themselves to be used by politicians for their selfish interests.

“We as youth have a future and we must do things to provide a safe haven for us and not destroy our beloved country”, she said

She used the opportunity to wish all the candidates well in their endeavours.

Story by Charles Benoni Okine