Ghana Elections 2012 Daily News Review - 30th April, 2012

The following are Top stories from the Dailies for today's review;

1.       CPP PC  promises politics of inspiration

2.       Christians urged to avoid acts of violence

3.       "Walk the Talk" - Ashanti NPP tells IGP

4.       COMOG calls  on NDC, NPP to show  commitment to peaceful elections

5.       Bawumia campaign visit to Malata  Market

We begin today's review with the CPP promising politics of inspiration.  A report from the New Statesman has Kabu Okai Davies, the Convention People's Party parliamentary candidate for Korle Klottey constituency in the Greater Accra Region, has stated that Ghana is at a crossroad and that the nation needs political leadership that can inspire the people. Okai Davies added that Ghana is in search of a true leader who has confidence, conscience and the credentials to   communicate his vision and galvanize the imagination of the whole nation onto the pathway of prosperity.

In a relation to campaign issues, The Ghanaian Observer under the headline PPP shakes Central Region   says the Presidential candidate of the Progressive   People's Party (PPP) Dr.  Papa Kwesi Ndoum, has kick-started his nationwide tour with an address to chiefs and people of Gomoa Nyanyano Awutu Senya Beraku and Apam, all in the Central region. On the same tour, the Daily Graphic brings to our notice that Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom received a rousing welcome during his central regional tour where an enthusiastic crowd gathered at the Kasoa Junction and vantage points to welcome him amid drumming and dancing and followed him all the way to Gomoa Nyanyano where he promised clean campaign during the 2012 elections.

Finally on campaign tour, The Daily Graphic reports in the headline Bawumia visits Malata Market and its environs, last Friday and brought the market to a standstill as he was interacting with market women and also sought for and support from the various groups in the area. Accompanied by his wife, Samira; former Greater Accra Regional  Minister Sheik I.C Quake ; the National Youth  Organiser of the NPP, Madam Rita Asobayere, Dr. Bawumia, the running mate for the NPP flag bearer first called on the Chief and elders of  the Hausa Community  in Malata to seek  their prayers and support for the upcoming campaign and elections.

Away from the campaign tour, The Chronicle updates us on the biometric registration. The paper quotes the Vice President in the headline "EC has no excuse for faulty biometric equipment".  John  Dramani  Mahama revealed that the  government had  released enough funds  for the  biometric  registration, and  for that matter reports of faulty equipment  were not  due  to financial issues, but  purely  in relation with the  procurement process of the EC.

Meanwhile, President of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs and Paramount Chief of the Gonja Traditional Area, Yagbonwura Tuntumba  Sulemana Jakpa Bore Essa has tasked the ruling government to Fulfil campaign promises made to the people of the north and further demanded that government should honour its pledge to tar roads in the northern region particularly that of the eastern corridor and the Fufulso-Sawla roads.

In other reports on the registration, Daily Guide under a headline Minster Spray Cash at Polling Stations alleges that Alfred Tia Sugri, Deputy Minister of food and Agriculture, who doubles as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Nalerigu-Gamabaga, disrupted the on-going Biometric registration exercise  at the market polling station in his constituency at about midday on Saturday. The minister, who was in the company of some constituency executives of his party, upon arrival at the Polling station, threw money into the air for officials and eligible voters to grab.

Reports on violence is also reported in the same paper as it claims the Ashanti Regional New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused Dr. Kwaku Agyeman Mensah, the Ashanti Regional Minister, of instigating violence that has characterized the registration exercise in the Region. The NPP consequently asked the regional minister to bow his head in shame for presiding over rot which has recently made the region notorious. The report was revealed under the headline NPP Fingers Minister in Ashanti Violence.

In the same vein, Ashanti NPP accuses NDC and condemned "the senseless violence" that had characterized the biometric registration in the region. It said the political image of the region had been dented by reports that put the region at the top of the list of reported cases of violence and intimidation. The Daily Guide newspaper reports.

In other developments, the New statesman has the New  Patriotic  Party calling on the  Inspector General  of Police (IGP) to  deliver on his assurance  to arrest  and bring  to justice  thugs  causing  confusion  at the biometric  voter registration centres. The appeal was made  by  Mr. Frederick Fredua Antoh, Ashanti  Regional  Chairman of the NPP, after a physical  attack and destruction of registration equipment and  materials at the Kronom SDA registration centre in the Suame  Constituency  in Kumasi by a criminal gang  on Thursday asked the IGP to walk the talk.

The Volta Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Lawrencia Kpatakpa says the EC is not sabotaging the registration exercise in the region, but working round the clock to ensure its success. The paper further states in the headline "We Are Not Sabotaging Volta Region" and she added that the EC is not National Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party (NPP), and Convention People's Party (CPP). "All we know is that Ghanaians are registering in the Volta region like any other part of the country, so how can the EC deliberately sabotage registration of Ghanaians".

Amidst reports of foreigners taking Part in the registration exercise, The Heritage in a headline Niger national nabbed has it that a Twenty-three-year-old Niger national is standing trial at the Tema Circuit Court "A" for registering in the on-going biometric registration exercise with a fake name at Afienya, a suburb of Tema. Seybou Hassane, who registered with the name Shaibu Hassen, says he undertook the registration based on the recommendation of the assemblyman of his area.

Christians  urged to avoid acts of violence a headline report  by  the daily Graphic tells that the   Bishop of the Sekondi Diocese of the Methodist  Church, Rt. Reverend Edward Ofori  Donkor, has advised Christians to avoid  acts of hooliganism and violence during  the biometric  voters registration exercise. He also reminded the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that God would not forgive them if through their selfish ambitions they destroyed the nation through politics.

Further on the call for peace, The Ghanaian Times tells in the headline that COMOG calls on NDC, NPP to show commitment to peaceful elections. The Coalition of Muslim Organisations, Ghana peace-loving Ghanaians and all political parties, particularly the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to demonstrate their commitment to a peaceful campaign devoid of acts that have the tendency to create violence and instability. It also entreated all the 151-member institutions and organizations of COMOG, all peace-loving Ghanaians not to themselves to be persuaded by any rabble-rouser or agent provocateur to make utterances that might push the nation into anarchy.

The Centre for Alternative Development (CENFAD-Ghana) is collaborating with stakeholders in the Upper East Region to ensure a free, fair transparent and peaceful general election. As indicated in the paper's headline CENFAD-Ghana organizes workshop on peaceful elections. Against this background, the NGO which promotes good governance, with sponsorship from STAR-Ghana, organized a regional stakeholders meeting at Tongo in the Talensi-Nabdam District.

The paper further carries the headline Gomoa West Inter-Party Dialogue Committee inaugurated. The Gomoa West District Inter-Party Dialogue Committee, has intensified its public education to ensure violence –free biometric voter registration and December 7 election. The committee is made up of representatives of the political parties, the Electoral Commission, the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), security agencies, youth groups and representatives of religious groups, and has been formed to resolve election-related disputes, and ensure peaceful, free and fair registration and elections.

This daily news review is compiled by the African Elections Project (AEP) Media Monitoring Centre, Accra, Ghana.

Follows us on twitter @Ghanaelections

Ghana Elections 2012 Daily News Review - 27th April, 2012

We begin the day's newspaper review with a report from the Daily Graphic that says 'Phase three of biometric registration 10.5 million register so far'. The Electoral Commission (EC) reports that it has registered 10.5 million prospective voters at the end of the third phase of the ongoing biometric voters registration exercise.  With this provisional figure, the EC says it is on course to achieve a successful biometric voters' registration, which ends on May 5, 2012. The same paper, in a separate voter registration news informs readers that a Farmer has been convicted for double registration at Sefwi  Fawokabra, near Akontonbra in the Sefwi-Akontonbra District in the Western  Region. The Convict, Tahiru Issifu, pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced to a fine of 250 penalty units amounting to GHc 3,000 in default; he will spend the next 18 months in jail.

The New Statesman tells us that the Coalition for the Development of Ghanaians (CODGHA) on Wednesday appealed to the Electoral Commission (EC) to reconsider its decision of not extending the Biometric Registration exercise. "We believe that the process should be extended by at least a minimum of five days in constituencies that frequently experienced breakdown of biometric kit", the paper quotes using the headline CODGHA calls for extension of biometric registration exercise

On extension of the voter registration exercise, the Crusading Guide's headline EC may extend registration exercise if… brings to our notice that the Electoral Commission has revealed that people who were not able to register in the ongoing biometric registration exercise due to broken down equipment will be given a lifeline to register after the closure of the exercise. The EC's Acting Director of Public Affairs, Christian Owusu Parry disclosed this in an interview with Joy FM on Thursday.

As the third phase of the voter registration exercise has ended, the Crusading Guide makes it known that there are Mal-functioning biometric registration machines in Tema. Mr. Gabriel Manu, the Tema Metropolitan Electoral Officer, has disclosed that out of the 80 biometric registration machines given to the Tema metropolis, 9 of them were not functioning during this phase and those machines have been sent back to the Greater Accra Regional Office of the Electoral Commission for replacement.

More news on the biometric registration as EC sets up committee to deal with registration challenges. The Electoral Commission has said that structures will be put in place after the biometric registration exercise to make provision for citizens who never had the chance to register. The New Statesman reports the Acting Director of Public Affairs of EC, Christian Owusu Parry as saying.

We are informed in the Daily Graphic that Vice-Prez cautions minors not to register. The Vice President, Mr. John Dramani Mahama has warned youth under 18 years against registering in the on-going biometric voters registration exercise. He said false registration would affect their future chances of seeking employment and other opportunities since their ages on the data system captured by the biometric voter's registration would conflict with their real ages.

Finally on the biometric registration, the Public Agenda indicates that CODECO criticizes EC officials on identify check of registrants. The coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has noted that a lot of the laid-down procedures in the registration exercise including identity check of registration were not adhered to in some registration centres. Some of the laid-down procedures that were not heeded to include unauthorized persons not interfering with the exercise; the challenge procedure and equipment set up on time. On identity check, (CODEO) noted that the criteria for eligibility were not strictly. adhered to. Identification documents or guarantors were not demanded at some polling centres in the rural areas and in communities in the urban areas where residents appeared to know one another.

Ghanaians have been urged to 'Reject politicians who use intemperate language'. The University of Ghana Students Representative Council (SRC) has called on electorates to vote against political leaders who galvanize people to perpetrate violence.  "If such leaders truly love and care for the people, they would seek peace first and not their personal political advantage", the Ghanaian Times quotes Mr. Daniel Thiombiano Lompo, the SRC president. The Daily Graphic also carried this news under the headline 'Vote against politicians who seek violence'.

Also on the front page of The Heritage, Ghanaians have been urged to reject anybody or group of persons who preach hatred and incite one ethnic group or against another as the nation prepares for the up-coming December genera l election. The paper under its banner, Reject Hate Mongers, and has the Forum for Governance and Justice (FGJ) stating that one of the key elements of development is peace and therefore it is the duty of every individual to safeguard the peace the country is enjoying.

The Okyenhene, Osagyefo  Amoatia Ofori Panin, has charged Ghanaians not  to follow politicians blindly since they will not remember them  after the  December 7 elections. The Okyenhene was speaking at the launch of the Ghana Peace Campaign 2012, an initiative aimed at promoting peace before, during and after the 2012 Elections. The Daily Graphic captured this news in the headline "Don't follow politicians blindly".

The Ghanaian Times in a related development states that Gender advocates condemn political hate speech. Gender Advocates from the Upper West Region have condemned the flagrant use of hate speech which has characterized the political environment, as the nation prepares towards the sixth general election in December. "We are worried as mothers and women about the increasing cases of violence and hate speeches, which are gradually gaining momentum in our national politics.

In spite of all the concerns raised on hate speeches, the Public Agenda informs us that there is No specific Law on Hate Speech in Ghana. The Paper adds that there is no legal instrument available in Ghana to address the growing abuse of the freedom of expression by politicians by way of deterrence, says Mrs. Angela Aboagye-Dwamena, a lawyer. She is reported to have stated that the country's jurisprudence is yet to provide legislation that focuses on the use of hate speech to incite individuals and groups to violence.

The Heritage announces that IEA Presidential Debates Committee inaugurated. The institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) Presidential Debates Committee for Ghana's 2012 presidential election was inaugurated in Accra on Wednesday. It forms part the IEA's efforts to promotes issue based and violence free elections.

ICC to examine petition over Ken Agyapong is what the Daily Graphic says in reporting that the International Criminal Court (ICC) says it will examine the merits or otherwise of a petition submitted by the  Ghana Coalition for the ICC on the genocide statements  made by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North, Mr. Kennedy  Agyapong.  Joy FM report yesterday said the ICC had given some indications of its intention to consider the petition.

We now move on to some news from the political parties as the General Secretary of the opposition New  Patriotic Party, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, has stated that tribal politics in the contemporary Ghanaian Political history could be traced to the ruling National Democratic Congress. According to him, the NDC had always traced its root to the PNDC regime of 1981, an era that was greatly characterized by tribal politics and nepotism.

Meanwhile the Ho Central NDC accuses NPP. The Ho Central Constituency of the National Democratic Congress has accused the New Patriotic Party of a plot to buy the Biometric Voters Registration cards being issued to prospective voters in the Volta Region with the aim of disenfranchising supporters of the NDC. The Daily Graphic explains that according to them, the NPP, in their desperate attempt to win power at all cost, and to give meaning to their grand design of trying to reduce the voter turnout in the Volta Region, have resorted to bribery and subtle ways of influencing some of their NDC agents to be used as conduits.

The last headline that brings us to the close of today's newspaper review is news from the Chronicle that Two NDC execs arrested. The Ashanti  Regional executives and some sympathizers of the ruling  National Democratic Congress (NDC) yesterday stormed the Suame Divisional Police Headquarters after news broke out that two of their party  agents at the Suame constituency had been arrested in connection with disturbances at a registration centre in the constituency. The two executives of the ruling party at the time of filing this report, were still in police custody after they were arrested in connection with violent disturbances that led to the destruction of two  electronic machines at a registration centre at Kronum in the Suame constituency.

This daily news review is compiled by African Elections Project (AEP) Media Monitoring Centre, Accra, Ghana.

Follows us on twitter @Ghanaelections

 

Man sentenced for attempted double registration

The Bibiani Circuit Court on Wednesday sentenced Tahiru Issifu to 18 months imprisonment for attempting to register twice in the ongoing biometric voter registration exercise.

Giving the facts of the case, DSP Raymond Kofi Erzuah told the court presided over by Mr. Emmanuel Ankamah that the convict first registered at Sefwi Fawokabra on March 27 this year.

He added that on April 24, the convict attempted registering for the second time at Sefwi Asant'
GNA

Transparency International to monitor Ghana’s abuse of incumbency, political corruption during election

Transparency International's local chapter, the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) in collaboration with Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) and Centre for Democratic Development-Ghana (CDD) on Wednesday launched a project to monitor abuse of incumbency and political corruption during Election 2012.

Activities under the project are aimed at promoting electoral integrity by engaging the electoral process to enhance election transparency, equality of opportunity, credibility and peace in Election 2012.

Mr Vitus Azeem, Executive Director of GII indicated that the integrity of the electoral process was threatened if the Government's power and resources were used to the advantage of a candidate contesting with another.

He noted that the character of abuse of incumbency and its manifestations were the greatest impediments to democratic consolidation in any country, including Ghana.

"Election 2012 proves to be a critical test of Ghana's democratic institutions, therefore the confidence in the democratic process will depend largely on the transparency and credibility of political campaigns in order to gain broad acceptance and legitimacy, regardless of the outcome."

Mr Azeem explained that the project was the institution's contribution towards a credible and peaceful election, where the coalition sought to use the monitoring project approach as an early warning mechanism.

He said findings of electoral impropriety would be communicated to electoral stakeholders and the general public through avenues including the media for prompt action.

Mr Azeem indicated that this was to prevent the situation where government officials exploited State resources and their governmental powers for illegitimate private gains at the expense of both the public and their political competitors during elections.

He said a manual had been designed to aid the 35 trained observers under the project who would undertake intense monitoring of political activities in some selected constituencies as well as in selected media institutions, commencing from May 1 to November 30, 2012.

Mr Azeem said the primary goal was to initiate a set of interventions that would ensure that Election 2012 was conducted in a peaceful and fair atmosphere.

"This means that every effort must be made to restrain parties from doing anything that will give advantage to one party and put the other at a disadvantage," he said.

The  Rev. Dr Fred Deegbe, Chairman of Christian Council of Ghana, launching the manual for monitoring the process, underscored the importance of ensuring a fair and level playing field for all contesting political parties in Election 2012, to ensure a credible outcome.

He said it was important that Ghana sustained her infant democracy to ensure national development.

Rev. Deegbe appealed for the collaboration and support  of all stakeholders, and urged the media to analyse the outcome of issues that would be reported by the observers, without personalising them, to bring about change.

Source: GNA

    

Ghana Elections 2012 Daily News Review - 26th April, 2012

Top stories from the Newspapers for 26^th April, 2012 are as follows;

1.       IGP poised to maintain peace

2.       Police, workers urged to maintain peace

3.       National Chief Imam cautions Ghanaians against violence

4.       IEA  stages  3 Presidential

5.       NDC takes a swipe at the NPP

6.       Ken Agyepong Sent to ICC

 

News making the headlines today indicates that the Inspector General of Police yesterday read the riot act and stressed that the police will deal with anyone or group that attempts to breach any law of the country before, during and after the December general elections. The Ghanaian Times reports this under the headline 'IGP warns trouble makers: WE'LL DEAL WITH THEM' and added that he therefore, urged Ghanaians to respect and use the existing police structures in addressing all grievances. The Daily Graphic quotes the IGP, Mr. Paul Tawiah Quaye as saying "We in the police will do everything within our power to jealously and religiously to protect this peace by effectively and efficiently discharging our duties under the constitution without fear or favour". The paper reports this with the headline Police will deal with troublemakers. The Chronicle  under the headline We'll deal with troublemakers and the Crusading Guide under the headline IGP Awakened that the Inspector General of Police, Paul Tawiah Quaye, has served notice the police will not treat anyone beating war drums in Ghana with kids' gloves, because they want to "jealously guard" the prevailing peace. The paper further adds on another page with the headline No acts of impunity, saying that the Ghana Police Service has warned that it will not tolerate any act of impunity before, during, and after the December general elections, and that it would discharge its duty without fear or favour. The Daily Guide however takes a completely different angle to this issue as it uses the caption IGP Defends Police explaining that the Inspector General of Police, Paul Tawiah Quaye has assured Ghanaians that the country is not in tatters as some people want to portray. Mr. Quaye cautioned that critics should not take the calmness of the police as weakness as their comments would  not in any way  daunt  their resolve  to stay  committed to ensuring that they  enforce  the law  fairly  and passionately without  regard  to position, power, religion social or political status.

In a related story, the Daily Guide informs readers that The National Enforcement Body of the 2012 Political  Parties Code of Conduct  has urged  the  Ghana Police Service to act  independently without  fear or  favour  in the discharge of its duties. With its headline Police Urged to be Independent, it further states that as the general elections draw closer, it noted that it is important for the police are seen as fair tactical and firm in arresting and prosecuting offenders irrespective of political party affiliation.

Police must enforce laws firmly to avert acrimony is what the Daily Graphic says on the front page, elaborating that the anticipated violence and acrimonies threatening to overshadow the biometric voter's registrations and the December elections could be averted if the security services enforce the laws fairly and firmly, a former Supreme Court Judge, Professor Justice A.K.P. Kludze, has stated. "If fairness and firmness are exhibited by the law enforcement agencies, the population will have confidence in the system. The electorate can then be expected to express its will in an atmosphere devoid of intimidation".

Still on maintaining the peace in the nation the paper tells us that Organized Labour has called on workers across the country to be advocates of peace before, during and after the December 2012 general election. Under its caption, be advocates of Peace – Workers Urged, the paper adds that it said the political affiliation of workers should not break their resolve as=t ensuring that the country remained peaceful after the elections.

The Daily Graphic also reports that EC official dies in boat accident. A member of the biometric voters' registration team serving communities in the Jomoro District in the Western Region died last Tuesday when the canoe in which he was travelling with his colleagues capsized on River Tano. The incident occurred between Alebuale and Mpasem when the outboard motor. Powered canoe rammed into a rock, causing it to overturn.

An interesting development in the Ghanaian Times reveals that Children 'arrest' dad for registering twice. The desire to acquire a new National Health Insurance card has landed Mr. Commey  Larteh, 88,in trouble as he  joined the wrong queue at Tema New Town and ended up being registered the second time for the biometric voter's identity card. Rejoicing that he had obtained a new card, Mr. Larteh, on getting, proudly waved it to his children.

CODEO says registration exercise has been peaceful. An interim observation report on the ongoing Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) exercise released by the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) in Accra on Tuesday, has described the exercise as quite peaceful. It said there were, however, a few registration centres, particularly in Urban areas, where some violent incidents were recorded but over all violence had not been widespread, the Ghanaian Times reports.

The paper further reports on page 6 that the National Chief Imam cautions Ghanaians against violence. Dr. Shiekh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, National Chief Imam, has called on Ghanaians to refrain from violence and the use of intemperate language in the media .He has also appealed to politicians to lead exemplary lives as role models for their supporters.

The Daily Graphic also states that NCCE, EC must work against electoral violence. The Member of Parliament for Manhyia, Dr. Matthew Prempeh, has said the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the Electoral Commission will share the blame if they fail to educate citizen on how to avert violence in the December election. He has therefore cautioned the two institutions to be mindful of their responsibilities as bodies enjoined by the constitution of the Republic of to reduce the populace on their civic end electoral rights as well as their responsibilities.

We are told on page 6 of the Daily Graphic that IEA will stage 3 Presidential Debates. The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has revealed that it will be organizing three presidential debates for presidential candidates of the four political parties with representation in parliament. The debates will be held in Accra, Takoradi and Tamale before the general elections in December 7.

In relation to the use of intemperate language, it further reports on page 17 with the headline NDC, NPP blamed for use of intemperate language that speaker at a forum to depend in the country have condemned the use of foul language that has characterised the country's political discourse. The speakers who blamed members of the two leading political parties – National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party – for the rising political tension asked the leadership of the parties to lead lives that would serve as role models for their followers rather than inciting them to engage in violence acts.

The National Democratic Congress has condemned what it describes as politics of ethnicity by the opposition New Patriotic Party. According to the NDC, recent comments by leading members of the NPP, rallying the youth of that party to resort to the use of pestle, stones and guns, coupled with the latest rampage resulting from fallouts of Mr. Kennedy Agyepong's arrest clearly point to the implementation of an orchestrated and well rehearsed agenda, meant throw the nation into chaos. The Daily Graphic reports this under its banner NDC condemns politics of ethnicity.  The Chronicle similarly reports this with the headline NPP has dirty record – NDC adding that according to the NDC, all the ills that have characterised the ongoing biometric registration exercise, ranging from intemperate language, and violence to ethnic politics, could comfortably be laid at the doorsteps of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP). The Daily Guide in reporting this uses the caption NDC Hacks NPP. The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu-Nketia has accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of looking for triggers in the ongoing biometric registration exercise to unleash the terror it has planned on innocent citizens. He said where those triggers didn't exist; the NPP sought to manufacture them with the active connivance of some media houses. 

We draw the curtains on today's review with a report from the Daily Graphic that Ken Agyepong Sent to ICC. The Ghana Coalition for the International Crime Court (ICC) has petitioned the court to investigate the genocide statements and ethnic-cleansing pronouncement of the Member of Parliament for Assin North, Mr. Kennedy Agyepong. The petition was presented by three members of the coalition, Mr. Francis Kojo Arthur, Mr. Eric Akomayi and Mr. Fortune Sase.

 

This daily news review is compiled by African Elections Project (AEP) Media Monitoring Centre, Accra, Ghana.

Follows us on twitter @Ghanaelections

 

 

 

Police is poised to undertake duties profesionally during Election 2012 - IGP

Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, Inspector General of Police, on Wednesday assured stakeholders, especially the political parties, electorate and the public that the Ghana Police Service is poised to undertake its duties professionally during Election 2012.

     He therefore warned that the service would deal decisively with any person or group of persons who breached the law before, during, and after the general election.

     The IGP said all commanders at the regional, divisional, district and unit levels are well-informed of their responsibilities, and have been directed to be conscious of their professional approach to law enforcement.

    "The service would not discriminate against any person, or group. We would not be biased towards any political groupings. We would continue to display out neutrality. We would stay glued to our legally accepted position of being accountable to the law and the people of Ghana," he added.

      Mr Quaye gave the assurance when welcoming Minister of the Interior, Mr William K. Aboah, and Ghana to the Police Headquarters in Accra.

     He said it was a important for the citizenry to realise that maintenance of peace and security was a shared responsibility hence, the active and constructive cooperation of stakeholders was paramount.

      Mr Quaye noted that the police service had attached much seriousness and importance to the ongoing biometric registration exercise, which was one of the important, processes preceding the 2012 general election, adding that so far only a few unfortunate and avoidable incidents had been recorded.

      He said the police service had instituted investigations into all the incidents, with some culprits imprisoned, others still pending before the courts and the rest being sought for to face the law.

      Mr Quaye said despite the inexcusable incidents, the exercise had been generally successful so far from the security point of view, adding that he was confident that the remaining period would be devoid of any such incidents.

      "Ghana is at peace with herself and we in the police service would do everything within our power to jealously and religiously protect this peace by effectively and efficiently discharging our duties under the Constitution without fear or favour," he added.

      The IGP called on the media to be circumspect in their reportage and feed the people with accurate and development-oriented information that would keep them focused as a country, especially as the elections got closer.

      He appealed to the National Media Commission, Ghana Journalists Association, Independent Broadcasters Association, Editors Forum and other Civil Society Organisations to support the police service.

        Mr Quaye appealed to Ghanaians to feel free and secure to undertake their socio-economic activities, since the police would professionally, ethically and democratically deal with any threat to the peace and security of the country that might arise.

 

 

GNA

Man sentenced for attempted double registration

The Bibiani Circuit Court on Wednesday sentenced Tahiru Issifu to 18 months imprisonment for attempting to register twice in the ongoing biometric voter registration exercise.

Giving the facts of the case, DSP Raymond Kofi Erzuah told the court presided over by Mr. Emmanuel Ankamah that the convict first registered at Sefwi Fawokabra on March 27 this year.

He added that on April 24, the convict attempted registering for the second time at Sefwi Asantem, a different registration centre but the vigilance of the electoral officer lead to his arrest.

The prosecution said the convict pleaded guilty during interrogation and was convicted on his own plea.

He was thus slapped with a sentence of 250 penalty units, the equivalence of GHc3000 or serve an 18 months' prison term with hard labour to serve as a deterrent.

Source: GNA

Ghana Elections 2012 Daily News Review - 25th April, 2012

Some of the top stories from the newspapers today include:

1.       Labourer convicted for registering 15 times

2.       Man arrested with 20 voter ID cards

3.       Biometric registration updates

4.       Security agencies told to maintain neutrality

5.       CPP launches campaign for Korley Klottey

6.       NDC will not tolerate intemperate language –Veep

 

One story making the headlines in most of the news papers is the conviction of the labourer who registered 15 times in the ongoing biometric registration exercise. The Ghanaian Times and the Daily Guide report that the 47-year-old labourer who registered 15 times in the ongoing biometric voter registration and assaulted a police officer, was yesterday fined a total of GH¢6,600 or in default serve two years and nine months jail term under the banners Labourer convicted for registering 15 times and Multiple Registration suspect fined GHc6,600, respectively. The Chronicle also captures this in the headline 47 yrs old man jailed for registering adding that the accused person, Emmanuel Archibald Laryea, who claimed to been suffering from mental problem, was yesterday ,convicted on his plea of guilty on charges of registering more than once at registration centres, and causing harm at the District Magistrate Court.

 

In a related development, Ghanaian Times reports with its headline Man, 48, caught with 20 voter IDs that a Ho Magistrate's Court has remanded a 48-year-old man in police custody for unlawfully possessing 20 voter's registration cards in the ongoing biometric voter registration exercise. Wisdom Gawoe, who resides at Shia, near the Togo border, was arrested last week for offence and put before the court. The Daily Graphic adds that Wisdom Gawoe a party polling agent for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at Shia, was arrested by the Ho Municipal Police Patrol Team for collecting biometric voter identity cards from people under the pretext that they contained errors that had to be corrected. The paper uses the caption Man with 20 biometric registration cards remanded. The Daily Guide however uses the caption NDC Agent Grabbed in reporting the same story.

 

The paper similarly informs us that the Airport Police have arrested a Registration Officer in the ongoing biometric registration exercise for allegedly registering a list of names believed to be 'ghost' names given to him on sheet of paper. The suspect, Emmanuel Dua, in charge of Ayawaso West Registration Centre, was arrested near the Bank of Ghana flats at Roman Ridge upon a tip off by the police. The paper uses the headline Registration Officer Arrested, in reporting the incident.

 

News from the Heritage indicates NGO starts project to boost public confidence in biometric register.  Save-Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) committed to improving on good governance practices at the grassroots level has embarked on a project dubbed: "Credibility Watch," in three constituencies in the Upper West Region. The project will whip up voter confidence in the ongoing biometric voter registration exercise.

 

In other stories on the biometric registration The Chronicle informs us under the headline Dunkwa MCE Happy with bio registration That the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Upper Denkyira West, Peter Kofi Ashia, has commended residents of Dunkwa-On-Offin and its surrounding communities for their high sense of commitment to peace, since the beginning of the biometric voters' registration exercise on March 24, 2012. According to the paper, on Monday, Mr. Kofi Ashia maintained that since the exercise begun, the electoral officers, political party agents, as well as prospective voters, had comported themselves very well, making the exercise peaceful in the area.

 

The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to clarify what it means for someone to be ordinarily resident and therefore eligible to register in a given electoral area. The call has become necessary as a result of the misunderstanding of that provision which has created tension in some constituencies in the ongoing Biometric Registration Exercise. The Daily Graphic states this under the headline Clarify ordinarily resident status –CODEO.

 

Still on the biometric registration and in the Daily Graphic indicates on page 17 that 'NDC  must  commit resources to BVR exercise' .The National  Democratic  Congress parliamentary candidate for the Karanga Constituency in the Northern Region, Mr. Alhassan Sualiyu Dandawa, has  urged his party to commit  more  resources towards getting more eligible voters registration exercise. He said this was crucial it the party was to win the 2012 election.

 

In other developments, The New Statesman reports; EC's David Kanga Retires –Page2.The deputy Chairman in charge of Finance and Administration at the Electoral Commission, David Kanga, Monday retired from the Commission, bringing to an end 19 years of series to at the EC.Having reached the constitutionally mandated age of retirement, Mr. Kanga who was deputy Chairman of the EC in charge of operations met his staff Monday to inform them about his departure.

 

Away from the biometric registration, the Daily Graphic indicates under the banner GT Accra CPP condemns   violence that the Convention People's Party (CPP) has expressed dismay at incidents of violence resulting in fatalities in the nationwide ongoing biometric voters' registration exercise. The Greater Accra Regional Executive Committee of the CPP expressed worry in a statement signed by the Regional Secretary of the group, Mr. Paul Kwame Anaman.

 

The paper similarly brings to our notice that Political parties pledge commitment to peace. Representatives of political parties in the Country have expressed concern about the recent violence that has characterized the political landscape and pledged their commitment to promote peace. They underlined the paramouncy of peace to the development of the country and urged all political actors, including the security agencies, to act in the interest of peace.

 

More efforts to maintain peace in the country as Quantson calls for urgent action to safeguard national security. A former  National Security Co-ordinator  Mr. Kofi  Bentum  Quantson has  underscored the  urgent  need for security agencies and the government  to take steps  to control threats of violence in the run-up to the  December general  election before  they degenerate into crisis. The Daily Graphic indicates that according to him, it was important to realize from a security standpoint that currently the state of national cohesion was not enviable hence the need for an urgent proactive action.

 

The Daily Dispatch uses the headline Peaceful elections means collective responsibility as it explains that Mr. Seth Anane  Amankwaah, Dormaa  Ahenkro Municipal Director of the Electoral Commission  has called on Nananom, Ghana Muslims Association, the National Peace Council and other related organizations to add their voices in advising Ghanaians that General Elections is about expression of ideas but not war.

 

Still on safeguarding the peace of the nation, the Ghanaian Times also added in a headline 'Security agencies told to maintain neutrality' that panellists at a workshop on the theme, 'towards free, fair and violence-free elections: Holding our security forces accountable', have urged security agencies to maintain a positive posture of professional efficiency and demonstrate neutrality. They have indicated that the success, or otherwise of the 2012 elections will depend predominantly on how comprehensive and effectively security was provided, since security breaches can result in conflict and damage beyond repair.

 

The Daily Graphic reveals in the headline 'Don't dabble in partisan politics; Local assemblies urged that a traditional ruler in the upper West Region has expressed concern about the active involvement of district assemblies in partisan politics. 'District assemblies in Ghana have transformed themselves into political zones which every concerned Ghanaian must be worried about, Kuoro Baarecheh Nlowie Baninnye II acting President of the Zini Buwa Traditional Council, observed.

 

Reports from the Daily Guide indicate that NDC, NPP Youth Outgun Police. Two nights of sporadic gunfire between some youth of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at Changli a suburb of Tamale seems to have left many wondering if the  safety of residents can be guaranteed ahead of the December polls. Youth of the two political archrivals brandished sophisticated weapons Thursday and Friday as they engaged in sporadic shootouts outgunning the police.

 

In a related development, The New Statesman also informs readers that Buabeng Asamoah takes on Mills over Ken Agyepong. A Deputy Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party, Yaw Buabeng Asamoah, has expressed disgust at the recent comments made by the vice President John Mahama during the Ashanti Regional TEIN conference at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.Speaking to Shamima Muslim on Eye Witness news, the deputy communication director said the Vice President should have rather used the opportunity to calm the political tension in the country following the comments made the Assin North MP, Kennedy Agyepong, rather than repeating what the MP, and further belittling the suggestion given by former President Kufuor.

 

IPR bemoans intemperate language in politics  is the headline used by the Daily Graphic in indicating that the Council of the Institute of Public Relations (IPR) Ghana has cautioned political and opinion leaders to be circumspect in their utterances, particularly when addressing a mass of people, no matter the channel of communication. It expressed worry about the alarming use of intemperate and intolerant language by politicians and political spokespersons.

                                                  

The paper also tells us that the Upper West Regional Second Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Hafiz Bin Salih, has stated that the NPP is not an ethnic centred political party.He, therefore, insisted that use of the unfortunate comments by Mr. Kennedy Agyapong, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North, as a propaganda tool by the ruling National Democratic Congress to discredit the NPP, would not wash. It states this in the headline NPP not an ethnic-centred party-Salih.

 

Other reports by The Ghanaian Observer indicate that CPP Launches campaign for Korle Klottey. A ceremony at Osu on Saturday 21^st April 2012 launched the candidacy of Dr. Kabu Okai-Davis to contest for the Parliamentary seat for the Korle  Klottey. In an unopposed contest for the primaries, the candidate for Korle Klottey was acclaimed and the campaign was launched by the CPP Greater Accra regional Chairman, Dr. Fleischer.

 

The Heritage ends the review with its story that troubled residents of Kabu in the Akuapem North district of the Eastern region have threatened to disfranchise themselves from the up-coming December 7, 2012 presidential and parliamentary elections if they continue to sleep in darkness for the next eight   months. It further reports with the headline No light, no vote that the residence who are peeved and have sworn never to participate in general elections have hoisted a big banner in the centre of the town with the inscription "Kabu, no light no vote".

 

This daily news review is compiled by African Elections Project (AEP) Media Monitoring Centre, Accra, Ghana.

Follows us on twitter @Ghanaelections

 

Ghana Elections 2012 Daily News Review - 24th April, 2012

The following are the top stories from our dailies today:

1.       Biometric Registration Exercise –updates

2.       Veep condemns Agyapong's comments

3.       CPP poised to win 2012 polls-Akwetey

4.       Set up Committee to monitor Political Discussions on Air

 

The day's review begins with news on the biometric voters' registration exercise as today marks the end of the third phase. The Ghanaian Times reports that the biometric registration exercise is not a guarantee of the existing capacity which the country has built over the years on managing a peaceful and transparent election Dr. Emmanuel Akwetey, Executive Director of the Institute of Democratic Governance, has said. He explained that even with an improved electoral register, some political parties would like to use "some tactics" to win the elections, and predicted that it would result in some pockets, of violence, the paper reports adding that 'Biometric registration won't guarantee transparent polls'.

 

The New Crusading Guide under its banner EC Boss Drops Bombshell reports that the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan, has confirmed the general fear of most Ghanaians that the biometric registration process could not be as reliable as expected. The Chairman said on peace FM's morning show yesterday that although several hitches had been reported prior to the completion of the whole registration exercise; it did not stop him from describing the whole process as successful.

 

Following several incidents of multiple registration, The Electoral Commission (E.C.) is to publish the names and pictures of all those found to have engaged in double registration, in the national dailies after the exercise ends on May 5. The Ghanaian Times in the headline E.C. to publish names, photos adds that those identified by the police would be arrested and prosecuted, and their names expunged from the voters register before the general elections in December.

 

In other developments on the registration exercise, The Daily Guide indicates that Registration Officials Have Been Sacked. The Volta Regional Officer of the Electoral Commission (EC), Lawerncia  Kpatakpa has disclosed that a number of registration officials in the region have been sacked while others have been reshuffled. She said some have also resigned for personal reasons and as such will also be replaced.

 

Still on the registration exercise, some individuals landed themselves in courts in connection with the missing registration laptop. The Ghanaian Times explains that. The Biometric Registration Exercise -- deviants before court. The Agona Swedru Circuit Court on Thursday remanded into prison custody, a hawker from Accra who stole a laptop being used for the Biometric Voter Registration exercise at Agona Swedru Roman Catholic School Centre. Samuel Baa (a.k.a) Kwame Yeboah, 29, pleaded guilty to three charges of causing damage, unlawful entry and stealing.  

 

Meanwhile, the registration exercise continues to record incidents of violence despite tight security systems. The Daily Guide brings to our notice on a page 6 that NDC Activist Attacks Registration Officer. The Akropong Police have arrested David Ofosu, an activist of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), for attacking a registration officer at the Nsuta registration centre in the Okere constituency. Briefing the Ghanaian News Agency in a telephone interview on Sunday, the Akropong Divisional Police Commander, Owusu Nsiah, said on Tuesday April 17, some people, numbering about 33, went to the registration centre but the agents of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) suspected them to be imported from Yilo Krobo and thereby challenged them.

 

Finally on registration, the Ghanaian Times reports in the headline Greater Accra CPP Condemns Registration Skirmishes that the Convention People's Party (CPP) has expressed dismay at incidents of Violence in the nationwide ongoing biometric voter registration exercise. The Greater Accra Regional Executive Committee of the CPP, expressed the worry in a statement signed by Mr. Paul Kwame Anaman, the regional secretary.

 

Away from the registration exercise, the Daily Graphic takes us to the recent hate speech by the MP for Assin North which has evoked debates from so many angles. Veep condemns Agyapong's comments is the caption the paper used in reporting to readers that the Vice-President, Mr. John Dramani  Mahama, has expressed the government's disgust at the veiled attempts by the New Patriotic Party, including its leading members, to rationalize the highly ethnocentric and warlike statement of embattled Assin North Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Kennedy Agyapong.Stating  the government 's position on the issue for the first time, Mr. Mahama said 'President Mills, myself and the entire government condemn Agyapong's statement''.

 

We then move on to a story in The Chronicle about IPR's position on foul and intemperate language. The Institute of Public Relations, Ghana (IPR) has observed with increasing alarm and mounting concern the levels of intemperance and intolerance politicians and political spokespersons are dragging political discourse and public speaking in our warm and friendly country.In spite of all exhortations and appeals, the language of politics in the country is assuming a colour and tone which is creating a lot of discomfort and anguish to all well meaning Ghanaians.

 

Amidst violence that characterised the ongoing biometric registration, leaders from diverse groups and organization have met to address the possible threat of peace in the country. The Chronicle adopts the headline Peace Council, Political parties confer in informing us that the National Peace Council (NPC) has met with representatives of the political parties to determine possible threats to the upcoming elections, and also develop strategies to help address these threats. The meeting comes on the heels of controversies that have surrounded the on-going biometric registration exercise, which has often resulted in violence.

 

Mr. Sanja Nanja  district Chief  Executive  (DCE) of the Atebubu  Amanten district Assembly and aspiring member of parliament (MP)in that area has called on all Ghanaians  irrespective of one's political  background to ensure  that peace takes its rightful position as the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections draw near. The paper further states in its headline let's ensure peaceful general elections that speaking exclusively to the Daily Dispatch after this journalist had toured almost all the 33 polling stations in the district, Mr. Nanja cautioned politicians and other leaders in the country to be mindful.

 

Still on the call for peace, the Ghanaian Times reports that government has been urged, as a matter of urgency, to form a national committee to monitor inputs of panel members and hosts of radio programmes and recommend sanctions where necessary, in order to safeguard the peace the nation is enjoying. Apostle   Kofi Nkansah Sarkodie, popularly called Brother Sark, the General Overseer of the Open Arms Minister in Kumasi, who made the, noted that the proposed committee (regional and districts), would ensure the sanity of the air- waves towards achieving total peace in the run-up of the elections. The paper states this in the caption Set up Committee to monitor Political Discussions on Air.

The Daily Graphic in a similar report uses the headline Condemn policies that retard growth – Urges Archbishop Sarpong in explaining that religious institution in the country has been urged to condemn policies and practices of political parties that do not contribute to the growth of the economy. The Catholic Archbishop Emeritus, Peter Kwesi  Sarpong , said  it was the key  to promoting  healthy political life  in the church and  maintaining Ghana's hard earned international reputation as a  beacon of  Africa thriving democracy.

 

From the call for peace we move on to the Daily Graphic's story that tells us that PPP wants political debates broadened to include all registered parties. The Progressive People's Party is greatly disturbed by the continuing use of 'political parties with representation in Parliament'' as a means of determining which parties deserve attention; and which should participate in formal and informal activities this election year. 'Even though such criteria may have been used in the past, there is no reason to continue,'' the PPP argued.

 

As elections draw nearer, a presidential aspirant of the convention People's Party (CPP), Mr. Bright Akwetey, has said the party is now well poised to win this year's presidential and parliamentary elections. CPP poised to win 2012 polls-Akwetey is the Daily Graphic's heading used to inform us that according to him, as a third force, well mobilized with numerous packages, especially for the poor, it had  become the only  alternative  to either the National Democratic Congress (NDC) or the New Patriotic Party (NPP) which  he said  had not only failed Ghanaians but had also worsened their plight.

 

The Daily Guide on page 10 reports that NDC Man Not Perturbed By Antics.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Anthony Afenyo has confirmed he will be contesting the Ashaiman seat as an independent candidate after failing to clinch the position during the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Primary. He has told Daily Guide in a telephone interview the rumours making the rounds that he would pull out from the race were untrue.

Daily Graphic further reports that PNC to be tough on members. The People's National Convention (PNC) will go beyond the proposed naming and shaming and sanction its  members who use intemperate language to foment  trouble. According to the PNC Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan, naming and shaming such offenders was not enough.

As we round up today's review, The New Crusading Guide brings to our notice that the odikro, Nene Narteh II and the people of Abenado, a village near suhum in the Eastern Region, have vowed not to take part in the up-coming general elections if the town's Presby Primary school continued to be in a deplorable state, since according to them, it could cause havoc any time. The paper reports this in the headline No School Block No Vote --- Abenabo Citizens Cry Out .

This daily news review is compiled by African Elections Project (AEP) Media Monitoring Centre, Accra, Ghana.

Follows us on twitter @Ghanaelections

Third phase of biometric voter registration ends on April 24

The final and fourth phase of the biometric voter registration exercise nationwide for Election 2012 would begin on Thursdsay, April 26, when the third phase ends on Tuesday, April 24 at 1700 hours at the various polling stations across the country.   

When Ghana News Agency visited some registration centres at Ayawaso East Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, the registration machines for the exercise were all in good working condition and officials were busily working without any difficulty.    

However, the long queues that characterised the exercise during the first and second phases were absent as few people were spotted waiting patiently to be registered.

Mr Yakubu Bukari, Registration Officer at Vonat Bakery Polling Station, said the centre registered 610 as at 1000 hours, adding that the exercise was smooth devoid of any violence.

Mr Samuel Ahorlu, Registration Officer at Frankies Annex One, said the centre had so far registered 712 applicants, no incidents were recorded and both the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party agents were cooperative.  

Ms Fulera Ibrahim, Registration Officer at Frankies Down, said turn-out at the beginning of the third phase was encouraging but the number reduced two days to the end.

Ms Ibrahim said the polling station registered 626 applicants and the exercise had moved on smoothly with the registration materials in good working order.

Some of the prospective applicants waiting to be registered told the GNA that they were quite satisfied with the manner the exercise was going on as they spent less time in the queue than happened during the first phase.

The exercise involved the use of biometric technology to capture the bio data and other details of the voter to prevent multiple registrations, multiple voting and other malpractices.

Source: GNA

 

Ghana Elections 2012 Daily News Review - 23rd April, 2012

Top stories from the Newspapers for today 23
rd April, 2012 are as follows.
1.       NPP, NDC Clash
2.       Anti-genocide demo hits Accra
3.       CEPA, AGI, Labour warn Political Tension Unhealthy
4.       Biometric registration-Updates
Following current reports on the hate speech by
 Hon. Ken Agyepong ,Assin North MP,
The New Crusading Guide  reveals----
 NPP, NDC Clash--- Over Use Of intemperate Language
 on page 3.The detention and subsequence release of New Patriotic
Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Assin North in the Central
Region, Kennedy Agyepong who has been charged with treason felony,
terrorism and attempted genocide, seems to have opened a kind of worms
as the two leading political parties in the country have resorted to
recalling and recapturing some intemperate statements made by their
political opponents. While Jake Obetsebi –Lamptey , National Chairman
of the opposition NPP per a press statement issued over the weekend
  catalogued a litany of reckless statement emanating from officers of
the governing party, Richard Quashigah, National Propaganda Secretary
of the National Democratic Congress thought the NPP had no moral
justification to condemn anybody.
In a related development,
The Chronicle reports
; Ken Agyapong's outburst exposes institutional flaws -page 13.A
former deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Osei Assibey Antwi says
  the recent outburst of the Assin North Member of Parliament(MP),Mr.
Kennedy Agyapong, following disturbances during the biometric
registration exercise in the Odododiodoo constituency
  and other parts of the country, has
  helped to prick national consciousness, and awakened stakeholders
from deep slumber. He said Mr. Agyapong should be spared the bashing
and seen as a concerned citizen raising issues that needed to be
addressed because, at least, his outbursts had come to save us
(Ghanaians) from a rather volatile situation.
With more on Ken Agyapong's hate speech, the forum for governance and
justice (FGJ) has urged Ghanaian s to reject speeches that incites
violence.
The Heritage reports in page 2 with the headline
Anti-genocide demo hits Accra.The Forum for Governance and Justice
(FGJ) has served notice that as part of their contribution towards
mobilizing Ghanaians to reject hate-speech and incitement to violence,
it intends to hit the streets to embark on a peaceful march against
alleged genocidal comments made by the embattled Member of Parliament,
Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.
Meanwhile, the two major political parties in the country, NDC and NPP
have been cited as being notorious for verbal abuse.
The Chronicle indicated in a page 2 headlined;
NDC,NPP notorious  for insults .The Two major political parties in the
country , the party in government, the National Democratic
Congress(NDC),and largest opposition party, the New Patriotic Party
(NPP),are the worst culprits in the use of intemperate language that
is
  threatening the peace of Ghana.
Ahead of the December 2012 Elections, the Media Foundation for West
Africa (MFWA) has embarked on a daily monitoring of campaign language
by politicians and activists across thirty one radio stations in the
country, and the first week of monitoring has revealed that' more than
a third of the adversarial, harsh and provocative tones were used by
discussants/callers who are affiliated to the NPP (35.7%) and NDC
(35%).
Amidst recent political tensions,
the  Daily Graphic  carries the headline;
CEPA, AGI, Labour warn Political Tension Unhealthy-page1.The Executive
Director of the Centre for Policy Analysis (CEPA) and the President or
the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) say the rising political
tension can undermine investor confidence in the local economy. While
the CEPA boss, Dr. Joe Abbey, attributed the fall in the value of the
cedi to the high demand for the dollar due to fears of political
uncertainty regarding the December polls, Nana Owusu-Afari said no
businessman would invest in areas where there was persistent conflict.
Religious groups also expressed concerns in condemning insults and
violence in the country
 the
Daily Graphic uses the headline ;
Church condemns hooliganism, mob actions in politics-page 17.The
Chairman of the Asante Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana
(PCG), Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni- Frimpong, has condemned the insults,
hooliganism and mob actions that had characterized the current
political development of the country .He said the situation posed a
lot of security challenges to the national and must not be
entertainment in any way.
Commenting on tribal politics, the chief of Abomfrem also had his say
in a page 2 headline by the Chronicle; Chief
cautions politicians against tribal politics. Politicians have been
cautioned against using the media to drag the country into a tribal
war in the run up to electioneering campaign towards the 2012
elections. Nana Kusi Adjei Mensah I, Chief of Abomfrem and Krontihene
of Nkawie
  in the Atwima Nwabiagya District, condemned the use of the media by
politicians to create tension in the country to achieve their selfish
interests.
We resume reports on the biometric registration with current development
from The New Crusading Guide reveals;
I Have a Psychiatric Problem – man With 15 Voter IDS Tells Court –Page
7.Emmanuel Archibald Laryea, labourer who was arrested with 15
biometric voter identity cards, has been arraigned before an Accra
Magistrate Court. Laryea, who pleaded not guilty, was charged with two
counts of engaging in multiple registrations and causing harm to Lance
Corporal William Afedor by biting his thumb.
The Ghanaian Times states in page 11 with the; Rush
for biometric registration ebbs -.The rush in the first round of the
biometric voter registration exercise in the Ho municipality has ebbed
considerably, as the exercise progresses through the third round.'We
are sleeping', a Registration Officer at the United Pentecostal
Registration centre, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) during rounds of
some registration centres in the municipality on Thursday.
In other developments on the registration exercise,
The new statesman reports;
Chief Imam wants Christian-Muslim partnership to curb registration
tension -page3.The Ashanti Regional Chief Imam, Imam Abdul Mumuni
Haroun, at the weekend called for a stronger partnership between the
Muslim and the Christian communities in efforts
  at ensuring an end to the current political rumpus that has
characterized the ongoing biometric registration exercise. He has also
challenged leaders of the two religious bodies to be fair in their
praises and criticism of political leaders, warning that a mistake on
the part of religious leaders in their utterances could trigger chaos.
Meanwhile
, NPP worried about halt of registration at centres in Weija-revealed
in page 4 of the same paper. Albert Sam, Weilja Constituency Chairman
of the New Patriotic Party, Friday expressed worry over the breakdown
of biometric registration equipment at some registration centres in
the area. He said centres including Adu Gyamfi School at Sowutuom,
Pank Secondary School and Awoshie and Anyaa Market had suffered the
problem for four days.
The Ghanaian Times further reports that
Ashaiman Muslims take measures for violence-free elections -page12.The
Council of Muslim Chiefs
  and Imam has met with the Ashaiman Divisional Police Command and
other stakeholders in the municipality as part of efforts to put
measures in place to have an election free of violence in the
community.The Head of the Beriberi Community who was also the chairman
for the occasion, Alhaji Masa-wudu Nuhu,said the gathering was also to
get all persons to bring their ideas on board to see how best to
foster unity, peaceful co-existence and tolerance among members of the
various political parties.

In a related story by the same paper it states;
Ashaiman records violence free voter registration-Page 15.The Ashaiman
Municipality has not recorded any acts of violence in the ongoing
biometric voter registration exercise and the Municipal Chief
Executive,Numo Addinortey Addison,has described it as 'heart
warming''.He said ;Despite the fact that
  residents wake up as early as dawn, and even in some cases at
midnight, to join
  very long queues, and sometimes registration materials running out,
they have been comporting themselves until it is their turns and this
is an effort worth applauding.''
Still on the biometric registration, The
Daily Guide indicates;
Biometric Laptop Thief Remanded -page 15.The Agona Swedru Circuit
Court on Thurday remanded a hawker from remanded a hawker from Accra
who stole a laptop which was being used for the biometric registration
exercise at Agona Swedru Roman Catholic School Centre into prison
custody. Samuel Baah aka Kwame Yeboah 29, pleaded guilty to three
charges of causing damage, unlawful entry and stealing.
Away from the registration, The Daily Graphic reports;
CPP congress delay is worrying – page 16.The Asante-Akim North
Consistency Chairman of the Convention People's Party, Mr. Kwabena
Anarfi has observed that the delay in the part going to congress to
elect its flag- bearer for the 2012 elections is part for a grand
strategy to ultimately merge the part with either the National
Democratic Congress or New Patriotic Party. According to Mr. Anarfi,
the CPP constitution says the party should go to congress to elect its
flag- bearer two years before the general election but said "it is
eight months for the general elections to take off but as at now
nothing is happening.

In other stories from the same paper, page 16 bears the headline;
PPP to embark on nationwide tour. The Progressive People's Party (PP),
led by its Presidential aspirant, Dr, Papa Kwesi Nduom, the national,
regional and constituency executives, will begin a national tour of
all the 10 regions this week. This national tour will enable the PPP
to state its case directly to people in small community group
meetings, on radio stations and at places of work.

In a subsequent development, the paper reports;
CPP Congress for May 12 – Page 17 .The convention People's Party (CPP)
has set May 12, 2012 for its congress to elect one of the two
aspirants to lead the party in the 2012 presidential elections. The
National delegates would choose between, Dr. Abu Sakara Foster, who
was the running mate on 2008 and Mr. Bright Akwetey, a veteran lawyer
and a former aspirant.

In ending the day's review from
the Daily Graphic, a headline in page 16 states;
NCCE Inaugurates dialogue Committee in Accra. The Accra Metropolitan
Assembly branch of the National Commission for civic Education (NCCE)
has inaugurated an Inter-Party Dialogue Committee aimed at ensuring
incident- free elections in the 11 constituencies. The committee which
is made up of representatives of political parties will act as a
buffer in the constituencies to stem the tide
   of unnecessary suspicions an anxiety among political parties.
This daily news review is compiled by African Elections Project (AEP)
Media Monitoring Centre, Accra, Ghana.
Follows us on twitter
@Ghanaelections

Ghana Elections 2012 : President Mills will win again- Vice President

Vice President John Dramani Mahama has predicted that president John Evans Attah Mills would win the 2012 election.      He said the President had done a lot of good work in his first four years and that he was confident the electorate would return him to power.     Vice President Mahama said this when he addressed a durbar of chiefs and people at Garu-Tempane in the Bawku East District of the Upper East Region. Vice President Mahama also inaugurated 20 boreholes at a cost of GH¢200,000 at Kpatia, 10 Nissan pickups, one six-classroom block at Naate, tricycles and a Community-based Health planning Service (CHPS) at Yabrago all in the Garu-Tempane District.

     Vice President Mahama said in spite of the war-mongering pronouncements, this year's elections would be very peaceful, free and fair.

     He warned against election violence as that could undermine the solid democratic credentials the country had gained over the years and appealed to the people to participate in the ongoing biometric voter registration exercise.

 

     Vice President Mahama said the Bolgatanga/Bawku road needed to be upgraded and as part of the eastern corridor road project, funding had been secured for it to start.

 

     "However, while we wait for the road to be upgraded, there has been a budgetary allocation for the maintenance of 25 kilometers of the worst portions of the road and soon contractors would be on site to kick start the work", he said.

     Vice president Mahama said the number of development projects that had taken place in the Garu-Tempane District and the Upper East Region was unprecedented, adding that over 800 boreholes had been dug in various communities in the Region.

GNA

 

NGO starts project to boost public confidence in Ghana's biometric register

Save-Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) committed to improving on good governance practices at the grassroots level has embarked on a project dubbed: "Credibility Watch," in three constituencies in the Upper West Region.

     The project will whip up voter confidence in the ongoing biometric voter registration exercise.

     The three beneficiary constituencies of the project are; Nadowli, Wa East and Lambussie-Karni.

     The $50,000 project is being funded by Star-Ghana an NGO based in Accra.

     Mr Kingsley Kanton, Save-Ghana Executive Director made this known in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Wa at the weekend.

     Mr Kanton said the project aims to increase public interest and the active participation of more than 40,000 eligible voters including Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), the vulnerable and the marginalised in the society within the three targeted constituencies.

     It would also reduce the incidence of violence during the registration period and also in the main General Election in December.

     The Save-Ghana Executive Director said his organisation had entered into partnership with the National Commission for Civic Education to carry out the public education.

     The two organisations will encourage all women and PWDs to register to enable them exercise their civic responsibility in the elections.

     Mr Kanton said the NGO is conducting a baseline survey to assess peoples' attitudes towards party politics in rural communities.

      The organisation would also identify issues critical to the increase of public participation in party politics as well as opportunities and threats bordering on the participation of women, the youth, the disabled and disadvantaged communities in governance and multiparty issues.

     The findings, he stated would be made public immediately after the end of the survey.

 

GNA