A workshop  by the United States Pre-election Assessment Mission to find solution to  post election violence has ended successfully in Accra with delegation calling on African leaders to do more to remove the plights of their citizens by building a strong and effective institutions and sustainable democracy.

Speaking at a news conference organised by the delegation in Accra, the Senior Advisor for Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, said:

"The report by other bodies from electoral processes as well as democratisation in Africa has proved that at different levels we have made progress. The trend is positive"

It is not as fast as it should be, because after elections then come the real work of building strong institutions," she added

The former Vice-President for Africa at the World Bank who lauded positive trends in Africa's electoral processes, however, said a lot of work was necessary to eliminate post- election crises on the continent.

"Without strong institutions, it is difficult for governance to be effective...there is still a lot of work to be done." she reiterated.

"I think the citizens are becoming very active, very engaging and demanding more. Citizens have to demand more. Democracy is not elections for people to become excellencies. No, they must deliver what governance is all about. It shouldn't be a four year ritual,"


According to her, the electorate should be proactive as well as develop mechanisms in the governance process to ensure sustainable leadership succession.

Ghanaians will be heading to the polls in December to elect both presidential and parliamentary candidate for the next four years, beginning 7 th January 2017

By Abdul Malik/ghanguardian.com