The outgoing Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), Rt. Rev Professor Emmanuel Martey, has urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to “tread cautiously on all matters relating to this year’s general election.”

“As the 2016 elections draw closer, it may be helpful to remember how close the nation came to disaster after the 2012 elections and to recognize that peace has to be engineered on all fronts. We must note that since elections are fundamental building blocks of democracy, free and fair elections are central to the legitimacy of democratic governance. We therefore wish to advise the EC to perform to the satisfaction of all stakeholders,” he said.

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He added: “We cannot ignore the numerous hiccups that cast doubtful clouds over the EC’s performance during the past several months in relation to the production of a credible voters’ register. We only hope that the Commission would live up to its responsibility as a transparent, accountable and credible institution.”

The outspoken Moderator also urged all and sundry to avoid intemperate language, saying “We should not forget that we have a common destiny and need to be wary of what we say to and about one another.”

“We appeal to all political parties to refrain from the culture of insults, and avoid contemptuous and provocative pronouncements that tend to breed bitterness and resentment. As the nation approaches this year’s elections, the General Assembly appeals to all Ghanaians to allow peace, tolerance and understanding to prevail in all our discussions and actions,” the outgoing moderator said.