Top Stories from the Newspapers for 12th April, 2012 are as follows;
1. Biometric Registration Updates; Rules and Regulations , Sanctions
2. EC clears air on allowances
3. Presby Church to hold forum on election 2012
4. CPP to elect a flag bearer
The Ghanaian Times begins today's newspaper review as Ghanaians have been cautioned to abide by the rules of registration exercise. The NPP Parliamentary candidate for the Okere Constituency, Mr. Dan Botwe, has called on members of the political parties to abide by the rules and regulations of the registration exercise in order to make it peaceful. He advised that there should not be chaos or violence at any registration centre, and called on the potential voters to exercise restraint for the registration to be completed peacefully.
More news on page 12 of the same paper indicates that Asonomaso-Nkwanta residents complain about registration process .Residents of Asonomaso- Nkwanta in the Kwabre East Constituency have raised concern about the biometric voter registration process in the area and called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to act quickly to put things right. Since, last Sunday, registration of voters in the community had stopped because of the breakdown of the machines and the people are threatening to hit the streets in a massive demonstration against the Electoral Commission.
Still on page 12, and hitting on religion, the paper reports that Christians must desist from double registration' Mr. Samuel Kweku Obodai, the Member of Parliament for Agona West, has cautioned Christians against double registration in the on-going biometric voter registration exercise. He said double registration, apart from being ungodly, could also lead to imprisonment.
The paper further states that EC to sanction registration officers who close early. The Electoral Commission (EC) has said it would sanction registration officers that close before 6pm.Speaking to the GNA in an interview in Takoradi, Mr. Steve Opoku-Mensah, the Western Regional Director of the EC, said he had received complaints from prospective registrants that they were refused registration by some registration officers because the officers claimed they had closed for the day's work even though it was not 6pm.
A subsequent report on from page 12 tells; IGP has done nothing wrong. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has responded to calls by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the Inspector General of Police, Paul Tawiah Quaye, to resign. The NDC General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, who spoke to a news briefing in Accra yesterday, described the NPP's demand as ridiculous".
Still on the registration exercise, The Daily Graphic 's front page headline preview to us as Man jailed 14 days for attempted double registration. A 22-year-old resident of Agona Inkum in the Central Region has been sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment for attempting to register twice in the ongoing biometric voters registration exercise. The convict, John Quaye, was also slapped with a fine of GH¢2,400 by the Agona Swedru Circuit Court or in default serve 12 months' imprisonment with hard labour.
In a related story on page 1 of the Graphic, Prisoners to be registered in fourth phase .The Electoral Commission (EC) in collaboration with the Ghana Prisons Service has set up a working committee to thrash out the problems of identifying qualified prisoners for the biometric voters registration. Consequently ,all prisoners eligible to exercise their franchise in the December 2012 general election will be registered during the fourth phase of the biometric registration exercise from April 24 to May 5,2012.
Police urged to curb tension, chaos headline on page 17 of the Daily Graphic .The New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament for Okere, Mr. Dan Kwaku Botwe, has asked the police to immediately follow up issues that would create tension and chaos at the biometric registration centres.He said the police acting only after a report had been made to them had not been helpful since the delay normally resulted in tension and in some instances chaos at some of the registration centers.
Registration official remanded in custody, page 17 of the Graphic further reports. A Registration official in the ongoing biometric registration exercise has been remanded in custody for stealing a hand –held scanner .Mohammed Ibrahim, 38 is said to have stolen the hand- held scanner on March, 29 , this year and given it to a trader at Nima for safekeeping.
On page 17 of the Graphic Registration process at Asukese halted. The Biometric Registration process at Asukese C.M.B shed at Europa farms in the Tano South constituency was halted for almost seven hours last Tuesday following a disruption by the Constituency Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Mr. Asare Antwi.Mr. Antwi in the company of some party activists was at the registration centre to prevent some people from registering , with the simple reason that those involved were settler northern farmers who had been working at Europa Farms for the past eight years and that they were not from the place and were not Ghanaians..
With regard to religion, the Daily Graphic reports on page 19 thus prosecute those involved in double registration. The Parish Priest of the St. Michaels & All Angels Anglican Church Korle-Gonno, Rev.Canon Samuel Ofei Ankrah is calling for the arrest and prosecution of all those who engage in double registration during the ongoing biometric voters registration exercise.
''I will pray for God's intervention for the arrest and prosecution of all those involved in double and prosecution and those who will attempt to do so during the ongoing registration exercise,'' he told his congregation in Accra when he delivered his Easter sermon on the significance of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection. Similar reports on religion shows on page 19 as Presby Church to hold forum on election 2012 The Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Faith Congregation Madina Estate will hold a forum on Sunday to educate its members on peaceful election. It is dubbed Election 2012, ensuring peace and credibility-the role of the Religious bodies Electoral Commission, Media Politician and Security Services.Rt Rev. Prof Emmanuel Martey Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana will chair the forum.
Away from religion page 16 of the Daily Graphic brings to our notice; EC releases allowances for registration officers .The Electoral Commission (EC) has released the levels of allowances to be paid to temporary staff engaged for the ongoing Biometric Voter Registration exercise. Registration Supervisors(RS) and their Deputies would be paid GH₵500.00 and GH₵400.00 per month each for three months respectively, however all other officials would be paid for the period of the registration and NOT for months.
The Daily Guide reports similarly on page 7 headline that EC clears air on allowances. The Electoral Commission (EC) has cleared the air about allowances of temporary staff engaged by the commission for the biometric voter registration exercise. In a statement signed by the Acting Director, Public Affairs, Christian Owusu-Parry, the Commission stated that with the exception of the Registration Supervisor and Deputy Registration Supervisor, who would be paid monthly for three months, the rest of the allowances would be one-time payments for the whole registration exercise.
Away from the biometric registration, and ending the day's review, page 11 headline of The Ghanaian times ends the days review saying; CPP to elect a flag bearer. The Director of Communication for the Convention People's Party (CPP), Nii Armah Akomfrah says "barring any unforeseen circumstances, the CPP will go to congress to elect our flag bearer in a fortnight". In an exclusive interview with Joy News TV, the CPP's Director of Communication said the original scheduled date for the party's congress clashes with the ongoing biometric registration exercise being undertaken by the Electoral Commission hence the postponement.
This daily news review is compiled by African Elections Project (AEP) Media Monitoring Centre, Accra, Ghana.
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