Headlines flooding the newspapers today include the following:
1. Third phase of biometric registration begins, more people register
2. Ofosu Ampofo cautions Ghanaians on peaceful elections
3. Ghanaians educated on biometric registration
4. MFWA Schools Media on Elections
5. Political Parties to be scrutinized for transparency
6. Violence in Odododiodoo ends
The third phase of the biometric registration exercise began throughout the country yesterday devoid of the technical problems, anxiety and long queues that were associated with the first and second phase of the exercise. The exercise, which began slowly in the morning because most people were going to church, picked up in the afternoon after church services, particularly at registration centres in Accra. The Daily Graphic reports in the headline 'Third phase of registration begins' and adds that Over 8 million register to vote. The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced that over eight million persons had been registered by the end of the second phase of the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR), as against 6.5 million persons anticipated. There would therefore be no need to extend the period of BVR.
On page 16, Ghanaians have been encouraged to 'Register to ensure impressive turnout '. Mr. Bright Akwetey , presidential aspirant for the Convention People's Party (CPP),has appealed to all eligible voters to participate in the ongoing biometric voters registration exercise to ensure an impressive turnout in the upcoming general election. He observed that the exercise was a panacea to all electoral malpractices and advised the Electoral Commission and the judiciary to prosecute all those who registered twice during the first phase to deter like-minded others.
Ghanaian Times on its page 11 headline Eastern Region educated physically challenged on biometric registration tells us that the Eastern Regional Branch of the Electoral Commission has organized a sensitization program on the biometric registration exercise for the physically challenged in Koforidua. The sensitization was to educate them on what the biometric registration entails and the processes they would go through at the centers.
Still on voter registration education, The Daily Dispatch informs readers that MFWA Schools Media on Elections .Given the need for democratic reforms and the problems usually associated with elections in Africa, 'Media Foundation for West Africa' (MFWA), a non-governmental organization (NGO), has organized a two-day' 'media and Elections in Africa' conference to produce a handbook on professional coverage of elections. According to the Executive Director of MFWA, Prof. Kwame Karikari, the conference would bring together renowned experts on media and elections from ''Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, and newly South Sudan'.
As the third phase of the registration exercise begins, The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo has advised Ghanaians to maintain peace and order during the December polls. According to Mr. Ofosu Ampofo, there have been flaws in the ongoing biometric exercise which if not checked will affect the 2012 elections negatively because a lot of people will not have the opportunity to vote, The New Crusading Guide indicates. The Ghanaian Times reports this in the headline, Ofosu-Ampofo visits Tema registration centers adding that The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), Mr. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, has directed all metropolitan and district chief executives to provide sheltered seating arrangements at all the centers where the current biometric voter registration exercise is taking place.
According to a story headline on page 10 of the Daily Guide, Two communities chase electoral officers.Agou and Jumbo, two communities in the Volta Region, also known as No Man's Land ', on Sunday chased away Electoral Commission officials seeking to register eligible voters as they continue to boycott all national elections related activities. Registration officials fled to safety from the rampaging community members to protect life and registration equipment.
Electoral Officers cry over unpaid allowances, page 15 headline of the Daily Guide reports. The third Phase of the biometric registration exercise has started across the country. Report from the Upper east Region indicated that registration official at some registration centers were agitating over unpaid allowances and other unpaid allowances and other promises.
The Daily Guide 's report on violence thus; Two communities chase electoral officers. Agou and Jumbo, two communities in the Volta Region, also known as No Man's Land ', on Sunday chased away Electoral Commission officials seeking to register eligible voters as they continue to boycott all national elections related activities. The registration officials fled to safety from the rampaging community members to protect life and registration equipment.
The New Statesman informs us that 2 NPP serial callers attacked at Odododiodoo. After Madam Ursula Owusu , NPP parliamentary candidate for Ablekuma South , was assaulted by men suspected to be NDC members, two New Patriotic Party serial callers have also been attacked. Known on the airwaves as Odehyee and Efo Rawlings Park , they were on Friday beaten by alleged supporters of Nii Lante Vanderjuye NDC parliamentary candidate for Odododiodoo, without provocation their offence is that they have been criticizing Mills-Mahama government
Still on Odododiodio The Chronicle brings to our notice that Odododiodoo violence over.The violence that has characterized the ongoing biometric registration exercise on the Odododiodoo constituency has finally come to an end, with the two main political parties committing themselves to a peace accord, initiated by the Greater Accra Regional Police Command. The ruling National Democratic Congress(NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party(NPP) at a meeting held on Friday at City Engineers, near Mantse Agbona, resolved to immediately halt the violence and give room for peace to prevail in the ancient fishing community in the Metropolis
Minority Leader: Investigate all reported cases of violence. The Minority Leader, Mr. Osei Kyei - Mensah- Bonsu has called on the police to investigate all reported cases of violence at the biometric voter registration centers and bring the offenders to justice. He said they should not be allowed to get away with their disgraceful and criminal conduct, The New Statesman reports.
Similar reports on page 4 also states that NPP-Germany condemns 'barbaric' attacks on NPP members. The Germany branch of the New Patriotic Party has condemned what it described as '' the unprovoked senseless and barbaric'' attack on the party's Parlaimentary Candidate of Ablekuma South , by thugs of National Democratic Congress at the Tarzan Registration centre last Wednesday. In a release signed by Kwaku Anane –Gyinde, Director of Communications, the group stated:'' we shamed that such acts of violence are deliberately being encouraged and perpetrated by an elected government whose first duty is to protect and defend all Ghanaians irrespective of their political affiliation.
Further reports in The New Statesman indicate that PPP Women chastise Mills over registration violence. The Women's wing of the Progressive People 's Party has expressed its disapproval at the assaults and total moral breakdown that has characterized the ongoing biometric registration exercise accusing the Mills-Mahama government of being reluctant in dealing with the perpetrators. The women noted that what was happening in the country could pose grave security threats if left unchecked especially as the December 7 election approaches.
Political Parties to be scrutinized for transparency, the New Statesman reports, adding that the manifestos of the various political parties and the independent candidates contesting in the December 7 poll are to be subjected to intense scrutiny to enable eligible voters to make informed choices. The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), under the 'Using the media to enhance transparency and accountability of the 2012 election project', would create the platform for all political parties and independent candidates to present
We close today's review with news from the New Statesman as Ghanaians are cautioned "don't allow politicians to use you". The Chereponi District Chief Executive, Alhaji Mohammed Seidu Issah Abass, has advised the youth to resist attempts to be manipulated by politicians. "You should refuse to go along with those who intend to incite you to cause confusion", he charged them.
This daily news review is compiled by African Elections Project (AEP) Media Monitoring Centre, Accra, Ghana.
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