President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says the significant improvement in the country's democratic dispensation, particularly under the Fourth Republican Constitution, has ushered in a new dawn of participatory governance. 'The voices of women, youth, and marginalised groups, which were often silenced during the years of military rule, are now heard loud and clear,' he noted. Addressing the Ghana Bar Association's (GBA) annual conference in Kumasi, the President said that the inclusive political landscape had brought all identifiable groups on board, with Parliament becoming more representative and civil society more engaged than ever before. Ghana has witnessed one of the longest periods of democratic rule under the Fourth Republic, after the First, Second and Third Republican Constitutions were torpedoed in military coups in 1966, 1972 and 1981, respectively. Since 1992, the country has emerged as the beacon of democracy in sub-Saharan Africa, upholding the rule of law to the letter to enhance politica l stability and sustainable growth. The country's democratic credentials are at stake as Ghana goes to the polls on December 07, this year, in an election described by political pundits as one of the most keenly contested General Elections. The polls come at a time when the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, is reeling from a fractured union and declining democratic tenets, following the spread of violent extremism and military coups, especially in Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali. In the run up to the elections, President Akufo-Addo has assured the populace of a peaceful, fair, and transparent exercise. 'Elections are not merely a democratic ritual; they are the very lifeblood of our political system. They are the mechanism through which the people exercise their sovereign will, choose their leaders, and hold them accountable,' he stated. The President was optimistic the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) would retain power, elaborating the successes chalked in various sectors of the economy over the last seven years. 'The NPP's path to victory is through a robust defense of its exceptional, proven track record in office and the continuing modernisation of Ghana's future, championed by our excellent presidential candidate and his dynamic running mate,' he remarked. Source: Ghana News Agency