Kumasi, Dec. 24, GNA - The University Students Association of Ghana (USAG), has commended Ghanaians especially the youth for the maturity and diligence they exhibited during the December 7, 2008 elections. It also lauded the Electoral Commission (EC), security agencies and stakeholders for the professional manner in which they handled the elections, saying this helped to enhance the nation's image in the eyes of the international community.

This was contained in a press statement signed by Mr Maxwell Ofosu Boachie, President of the Association issued in Kumasi on Wednesday. The statement appealed to politicians to refrain from making inflammatory statements and peddling lies that would degenerate into conflicts during and after the December 28 run-off. It also said "politicians should know that politics was about differences in opinions and not war and that they should as much as possible try to tolerate each others' views since democracy thrives on tolerance".

The statement reminded the two contesting parties that in the game of winners, there are losers and for that matter they should respect the decision of Ghanaians and the EC during the presidential elections by accepting the outcome of the polls. It called on Ghanaians, who for one reason or the other could not vote in the December 7 polls to strive to vote this time so that they could be actively involved in the decision making process of the nation for accelerated socio-economic development.