Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, presidential candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), on Tuesday affirmed his confidence in the ability of the Electoral Commission to conduct free, fair and transparent polls on Dec. 7, reported the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday.

He said the Electoral Commission (EC)'s track record over the past years and the professional competence of the commissioners and staffs, which the international community attest to, "gives me and my party the guarantee of their ability to manage election 2008, professionally in accordance with international electoral norms."

The NPP presidential candidate said the EC through the preparatory stages of election 2008 has exhibited its tenacity and ability to withstand the storm and to steer the December polls creditably for acceptable results.

He said the involvement of local and international observers, who have been deployed throughout the country, gives him the cause to trust the Commission.

Nana Akufo-Addo urged the media to recognize their constitutional mandate and to conduct their role professionally in accordance with Ghana Journalists Association Code of Ethics for media practitioners.

He commended the conduct of other presidential candidates and political parties during the electioneering campaign, but challenged them to instruct their supporters to exercise restraint in the last few days to the elections.

"We must also pledge our commitment to accept the outcome of the elections, gracefully congratulate the winner and accept defeat, and jubilate with moderation," he added.

He reiterated his call for peaceful election, noting that Ghana has come a long way democratically. According to him, election 2008 offers all democratic stakeholders an opportunity to entrench their democratic credentials and confirm its leadership role in Africa.