The daily review today has the following top stories:
1. Court declines to hear Kennedy Agyapong's case
2. Chief Justice appoints electoral officers
3. NDC, NPP pledge to maintain peace at Odododiodoo
4. Youth urged to stay away from violence
The news about Kennedy Agyapong's case being declined by the Adjabeng magistrate court in Accra fills covers the pages of the dailies. The Daily Graphic under the headline Ken Agyapong faces three counts explains that The Adjabeng District Magistrate's Court in Accra yesterday said it had no jurisdiction over the hearing of a treason case against the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parlaiment for Assin North, Kennedy Agyapong. The Chronicle also adds that the refusal to hear the case brought before the court according to the magistrate, Patricia Quansah, followed a circular from the Judicial Secretary dated June 17, 2008, to all judges that first degree felony cases should be transferred to the Chief Justice, for her direct appropriate judges to adjudicate the case. The paper states this under its banner Court declines to hear treason case. Similarly, the Daily Guide states that Judge rejects Kennedy. The Ghanaian Times is not left out as it informs readers that Court refuses Jurisdiction on its front page, adding that an Accra Magistrate's Court yesterday declined jurisdiction over the treason case brought against the Member of Parliament for Assin North, Kennedy Agyapong who is accused of inciting and making inflammatory comments. Finally on this issue, the Crusading Guide's caption Ken's case in limbo further adds that the trial of the New Patriotic Member of Parliament for Assin North, Kennedy Agyapong on charges of treason and genocide yesterday suffered a 'legal stagger' as trial judge Patricia Quansah declined the jurisdiction to hear cases of such magnitude at the magistrate court.
One other issue covered by two of the papers is the Chief Justice's appointment of registration officers. We start with the Daily Graphic, which states that the Chief Justice, Mrs. Justice Georgina Theodora Wood has appointed supervising high court judges in the 10 regions as Chief registration review officers. According to the paper, The Directive is in the exercise of the power conferred on her by Section 19 of the Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations 2012 C.I.72; this it covers under the headline Chief Justice appoints registration review officers. In a similar headline "CJ appoints Chief Registration officers", both the Ghanaian Times and The Chronicle add that their main function is to determine appeals against the decisions of District Registration Committee made in respect of claims, Objections and challenges that may arise during the ongoing biometric registration exercise.
Away from legal issues, we step into the biometric exercise where we are informed that the NPP sets up 'Situation Room' for BVR exercise. The Daily Graphic in reporting this adds that the New Patriotic Party has set up a 'situation room'' at its party's headquarters to receive complaints and information regarding the ongoing Biometric Voters Registration for prompt action. The 'situation room' which operates 24 hours is headed by Mr. Martin Adjei-Mensah, the Director of Research and Elections of the party.
In the same paper, Aspiring MPs have been told not to undermine registration process. The Deputy Regional Minister, Mr. Aquinas Tawiah Quansah has appealed to aspiring parliamentarians to desist from engaging in activities that could undermine the success of the biometric voter registration exercise. Mr. Quansah , the Member of Parliament for Mfantseman West, said most of the misunderstanding at some registration centres were the making of aspiring candidates who wanted to use all means to win elections.
UN Women call for peaceful registration, reports the Daily Graphic. The United Nations Entity on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) has described the escalating violence in the ongoing biometric voter registration exercise as intolerable and has, therefore, urged the authorities to carry out immediate, thorough and effective investigations to stop further violence especially as the country prepares for elections. The UN Women says identifying trailing, and punishing anyone who attempts to inflict pain and intimidate others during the electioneering process is critical to end election-related violence.
In a related story, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, has appealed to politicians to desist from encouraging children under 18 years to register in the ongoing biometric registration exercise. The Daily Graphic captures this in the heading Stop registering minors-Dr. Duffuor, adding that he said such acts could create difficulties in the lives of the children involved.
Similarly, the paper reports that Youth advised to stay away from war. 'Don't joke with war. Don't let the adults destroy the future they will not be living in tomorrow. These words by Dr Yaw Perbi, a Motivational Speaker, set the tone for yesterday's policy fair dialogue on the youth in Accra.
Also in The Chronicle, we are told that MP urges youth to eschew violence. The Member of Parliament (MP) for Abokobi-Madina, Alhaji Amadu Sorogho has called on residents of Madina Zongo community to maintain the peace and tranquillity in the country as the 2012 general elections approach. Alhaji Amadu Sorogho also advised the youth not to resort to violence or allow themselves to be used by politicians to perpetuate acts of anarchy. To him, the youth must rather pursue the path of peace and help to make Ghana an example of a good democratic country, saying "if you have never tasted war you won't know the value of peace".
In a related story from The Chronicle, the Convention People's Party (CPP), the party that gave birth to Ghana, yesterday expressed serious concern about the turn of events in the ongoing biometric registration exercise, culminating in the arrest and detention of Hon. Kennedy Agyapong. Speaking to Citi FM last night, the Chairman and Leader of the CPP, Hon. Samia Yaba Nkrumah, MP for Jomoro said "We are very concerned" that Ghana's democracy has enabled her and many others to contribute to the development of the country, and thus must be protected. "Leaders must check their emotions," she said. The paper reports this under its headline Country before party.
Other reports from the Ghanaian Times indicate that a senior Research officer at the center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has vehemently condemned the alleged treason comments made by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) Kennedy Agyapong. The firebrand MP is currently in the firm grips of officials of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) assisting in investigations. The paper states CDD man condemns Kennedy Agyapong's treason comments.
The Daily Graphic also informs readers that NPC urges law enforcement agencies to be neutral. The National Peace Council (NPC) has urged the security agencies to investigate all violations and violence committed by supporters of political parties and brings the culprits to justice without delay. It also called on the law enforcement agencies to exhibit professionalism and neutrality in the discharge of their duties.
In a related issue from the Ghanaian Times, NEB expresses worry about registration exercise. The National Enforcement Body (NEB) of the 2012 Political Parties Code of Conduct has expressed concern about the activities of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the ongoing Biometric Voter Registration exercise. It noted that the conduct of the two political parties contravened some provisions of the 2012 Political Parties Code of Conduct.
Still on the biometric registration exercise, Ghanaians have been urged to bear with Electoral Commission. The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development and parliamentary candidate for Tema West, Mr. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, has appealed to Ghanaians to bear with the Electoral Commission for its operational challenges such as the frequent breakdown of some of its machines. He said operational challenges were inevitable since this was the first time the EC was undertaking the biometric voter registration exercise.
One other issue raised in the Ghanaian Times is that UE receives more kits for biometric registration. The Upper East Regional Office of the Electoral Commission (EC) has received 20 back up biometric kits in Bolgatanga. Mr. Bruce Ayisi Regional Director of the commission said the kits would support the ongoing registration exercise and also strengthen the capacity of the region to contain problems.
Lastly about the biometric exercise, the Daily Guide brings to our notice that a 27 year old man who was arrested by the Madina Police for double registration during the ongoing biometric voters registration exercise has been sentenced by a Madina magistrate court. The suspect, Samuel Ofori, also known as Kwabena Ofori, was sentenced to ten days' imprisonment in hard labour by the court presided over by Mariama Somoa. The paper reports in the headline Man convicted for double registration
The Daily Graphic on page 17 states that four parties satisfied with registration exercise. The parties –Convention People's party (CPP), People National Convention (PNC) Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) and the Progressive People's Party (PPP), were particularly happy about the public interest and the high turnout at the various registration centres.
In the wake of all the violence associated with the biometric exercise, NDC, NPP pledge to maintain peace in Odododiodio. The leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Odododiodio Constituency have pledged their support to ensure peace in the ongoing biometric voter registration exercise. This followed an emergency meeting by the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Patrick Timbillah with the two parties.
Meanwhile NPP supporters have been urged to remain calm. Mr. Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Tuesday called on its teeming supporters to remain calm in the aftermath of the arrest of Mr. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Member of Parliament for Assin North. According to the Ghanaian Times, 'The NPP makes it absolutely clear that we do not support intemperate statements and actions that can incite and inflame ethnic passions.
Finally, Ghanaians have been warned that Polling stations are restricted areas. The Cape Coast Metropolitan Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr. Anthony Nyame has cautioned that polling stations are restricted areas which must be respected by all. The Ghanaian Times adds that te explained that anyone who did not have any business there should stay away from the premise; this is how we draw the curtains on the day's review.
This daily news review is compiled by African Elections Project (AEP) Media Monitoring Centre, Accra, Ghana.
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