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.
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