20101216
africanews

Ghana President Professor John Evans Atta Mills has called on Moslems and Christians in his West African country to pray for the people of neighbouring Ivory Coast to compliment the human efforts being made to solve the crisis. The trouble in Ivory Coast started after last month's run-off election, which the Electoral Commission said Mr Ouattara won by 54% to 46%.

Mr. Outtara's rival, Laurent Gbagbo refused to concede defeat, and the Constitutional Council of that country annulled some results from the north and declared Mr Gbagbo the winner.

In a statement signed by the Minister of Information, John Tia Akolugo, President Mills urged Moslems and Christians all over the country to carry out special prayer and intercession for the people of Ivory Coast between Friday the 17th and Sunday the 19th of December 2010 when they visit their mosques and churches .

The statement said even though the President believes in the use of diplomacy to resolve the crisis in Ghana’s Western neighbours, he trusts in the efficacy of the “role the Almighty can play when we all call on him and ask for His divine intervention”.

The statement further stated that President Mills is of the view that the impasse in Ivory Coast has implications for Ghana and that religious people must offer “special prayers to back the human efforts of our leaders in finding a solution to the political stalemate”.

On Thursday Alassane Ouattara's backers tried to march on the headquarters of state TV, but clashed with troops loyal to his rival, Laurent Gbagbo, resulting in the death of about 20 people.

The BBC reports that supporters of one of the two rival presidents in Ivory Coast say they intend to take to the streets again.