As we begin today's review of the newspapers, news from the Chronicle reveals that Rawlings could lead NDC to defeat – activist. The continuous attacks on the Rawlingses by some leading personalities in the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) have sparked concern within the Akatamansonians, with a member of the communication team warning such acts could spell doom for the party in the 2012 polls. According to Prince Komla Bansah, a member of the communication team of the NDC, without the presence of the former first couple of the land on the campaign trail of the NDC, the chances of the umbrella family winning the December polls was very slim. "We shun the Rawlaingses at our own peril," he noted.
Also from the Chronicle is news that indicate that Vice President John Dramani Mahama has made a passionate appeal to the good people of Ghana to, as a matter of urgency, give President John Evans Atta Mills another four years to implement the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government's "Better Ghana Agenda." Speaking at the climax of the (Aboakyir) Live Deer Hunting Festival at Winneba on Saturday, John Mahama told the large crowd that it was imperative for Ghanaians to give President Mills a second chance, because former presidents Jerry John Rawlings and John Agyekum Kufuor spent eight years in office, adding that such an opportunity would offer Ghanaians a better platform to make comparisons. The paper informs us under the headline Give Mills another four years.
We are informed by the Ghanaian Times and the Daily Graphic that Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has appealed to Ghanaians to vote massively for the party in this year's polls since the government has lost focus. This, he said, would enable the NPP to continue with its pro-poor and social intervention programmes to alleviate the plight of Ghanaians, describing the current socio-economic situation in the country as "not encouraging". Both papers quoted him as saying NDC Has Lost Focus.
We are told again by the Ghanaian Times that PPP has best policies for the youth – Devine. Mr. Devine Nkrumah, National Youth Coordinator of the People's Progressive Party (PPP), has said his Party had the better policies for the youth than all other political parties clamoring to rule Ghana. Mr. Nkrumah said this during the inauguration of new executives of the Progressive Youth Movement (PYM) for the Polytechnic Nurses Training College, School of Hygiene and E.P University College.
In other reports, the New Crusading Guide reveals under the quote Don't fall for NDC's propaganda. Beleaguered politician and son of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah – who was removed from office as the acting National Youth Council boss by the leader of the National Democratic Congress and President of Ghana, John Evans Atta Mills – has now decided to pitch camp with the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).Seeing this decision by Sekou as strange, the Minister for Works and Housing, Mr. Enoch Teye Mensah, has in a sharp reaction, described the move by the former as "joke of the century".
Away from that, Labour Council cautions EC to stay neutral in 2012 elections. The Ghanaian Times informs readers that, the Agona District Council of Labour has cautioned the Electoral Commission (EC) to stay neutral in officiating the 2012 Presidential and Parliamentary elections. The council said any show of support by EC officials for any party could spell doom for the country.
Another report from the same paper brings to our notice that the Greater Accra Regional Inter-Party Dialogue Committee has called on all political parties to abide by the code of conduct for political parties, to ensure free, fair and non-violent election in December. This was disclosed to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra at the weekend, by Mr. Prosper Largble, Deputy Greater Accra Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education, after the second Greater Accra Regional Inter-dialogue meeting in Accra at the weekend.
In Daily Graphic readers are informed that Women contestants for 2012 elections low-Gender activists. Gender activists have bemoaned the fact that only 35 women have so far won parliamentary primaries to contest the December 2012 parliamentary elections in 28 constituencies. They contended that although the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) was yet to complete elections in some parts of the country, the situation was not likely to improve significantly , and therefore , called on the electorate to vote massively for female aspirants in the areas where women were contesting to ensure that they were all elected into parliament.
Ahead of the December polls, the Omanhene of Gomoa Akyempim, Obrifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobea II has suggested to the Electoral Commission to publish the list of registered voters constituency by constituency to prevent rigging in the December 7 general election. The Omanhen noted that political parties would be scared to attempt rigging if they realized that the public had been made aware of the number of voters registered in each constituency.
In relation to Skirt and blouse voting the Ghanaian Times and the Daily Graphic informs that group roots for Victor Smith. A group in the Abuakwa North Constituency of the Eastern Region had decided to support Mr. Victor Smith the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the constituency, in the December elections. The group recently decided to vote 'skirt and blouse' in the December election and has now adopted the name 'Mpuntuo Papabi kuo '(development association) in support of Mr. Smith who they claimed was more development-oriented.
In other news the Daily Graphic indicates that Mrs. Samira Bawumia, wife of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential running mate, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, has stressed the need for the party to focus on issues, rather than going what she called' the National Democratic Congress' way of attacking personalities. Under the quote NPP must focus on issues she reminded the youth that a better Ghana could not be guaranteed under the NDC and asked to have faith in the NPP to help change the fortunes of the Nation.
Meanwhile, the paper also quotes the Acting Chief Justice as saying be fair in adjudication of electoral disputes – Ag Chief Justice .The acting Chief Justice, Justice William A. Atuguba, has advised judges and magistrates to be fair and transparent in the adjudication of electoral-related disputes. Such a disposition, he stated would assure Ghanaians that the judiciary was in position to defend and enforce the constitutional rights of qualified voters.
Updates on the biometric exercise indicate that the Gomoa West Electoral Officer, Mr. Stephen Bertino Baabereyir, has urged media practitioners to stop making Ghanaians perceive the just ended Biometric Voters Registration (BVR) as violent exercise.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Apam on the success story of the exercise in the District, Mr. Baabereyir said it was unfortunate that some media practitioners had decided to concentrate their reports on some few challenges that the exercise faced.
Again, the Brong Ahafo Regional Superintendant of the Assemblies of God Church (AGC), Rev. Emmanuel Kwasi Mensah has called on the clergy not to use the pulpit to advance the course of any political party. He has therefore, charged them to remain neutral in their deliberations to insulate the Church from engaging in partisan politics.
In ending today's review the Daily Graphic reveals that a justice of the Supreme Court, Mr. Justice Jones Dotse, has advised judges and magistrate to strictly apply the requisite sanctions against persons found guilty of electoral offences. He said by strictly applying the needed sanctions against such people, the use of machomen to cause electoral violence in parts of the country would be consigned to history and the number of people who engaged in double registration would be reduced to the barest minimum.
This daily news review is compiled by African Elections Project (AEP) Media Monitoring Centre, Accra, Ghana.
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