News making the headlines for today's review includes Ashanti tops in multiple registrations, this Daily Graphic reports says Electoral Commission (EC) has so far detected 8, 121 cases of multiple registration involving 2,864 individuals. According to an official statement on the biometric registration statistic issued by the EC in Accra yesterday, the Ashanti region topped the list with 424 cases, followed by Brong Ahafo region with 411.
The Daily Guide in a similar news item also brings to our notice that EC Grabs 8121 Biometric Cheats. Latest data from the Electoral Commission (EC) indicates that 2,864 people have registered more than 8,000 times in the soon-to-be completed biometric voters' registration exercise. The statistics on the fraudulent practice, popularly referred to as double registration, cover data collated by the EC from about 229 districts across the 10 regions in the country. The figure indicates an average of three registrations per culprit. Double or multiple registration is a serious electoral offense that attracts very strict punitive sanctions.
We learn from the Crusading Guide that the Electoral Commission says it has in consultation with the prison authorities deferred the registration of prisoners in the ongoing biometric voter registration until further notice. A statement issued by Acting Director of Public Affairs, Christian Owusu-Parry in Accra said the deferment has become necessary to give the prison authorities ample time to resolve issues regarding the true identities of some of the inmates. The paper reports this under the headline EC defers prisoners' registration.
Another report from the same paper indicates that the EC will not extend biometric registration deadline. The Electoral Commission has declared it has no intention of extending the biometric voter registration exercise in response to some political parties who have called for an extension following the shortage of materials and the breakdown of equipment at some registration centres. According to the acting Public Relations Officer of the Electoral Commission, Christian Owusu-Parry, the large number of Ghanaians registered indicates that an extension of the registration will not be necessary.
The Ghanaian Times also brings us updates on the biometric registration in its report about matters arising out of the ongoing registration exercise saying that there is shortage of lamination materials in the North.Some registration centres in the Northern Region have run out of lamination materials. The situation has compelled registration officers to register prospective voters without issuing them with voter identification cards.
Away from the biometric registration, Zimbabwe Deputy PM cautions Ghanaians. According to the Ghanaian Times, the Deputy Zimbabwean Prime Minister, Dr. Arthur Mutambara, has advised Ghanaian to ensure that the national interest is served irrespective of which political party wins power in the December general election. Dr. Mutambra, whose country was mired in political controversy, following electoral disputes with its attendant bloodshed, resulting ultimately in a power sharing government, stressed that Ghanaians should strive to be better defenders of the Constitution-the supreme law of the land – rather than challenging it.
Similar to the previous report, the Ghanaian Times also informs us that the Juaboso District Pastor of the Assemblies of God Church , Reverend Amoesi Ainoo, has admonished the youth in the Country not to "allow themselves to be induced with money to foment trouble before, during and after this year's election." Under the headline 'Don't allow politicians to use you to foment trouble', the paper adds that he acknowledged 'peace as a precious commodity which should not be taken for granted'' and therefore, appealed to all well meaning Ghanaians to protect the prevailing peace for accelerated national development.
As Press Freedom Day is marked, the Chairman of the National Media Commission, Kabral Blay Amihere, advised the media to use their platform as avenues for promoting peace and development and not as tools to churn out hate speech and incite violence, the Ghanaian Times reports.
Still in the Ghanaian Times, and on page 22, The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Owen Woyongo, has emphasized that peaceful , fair and successful elections cannot happen in any nation without the active contribution and involvement of workers at each stage of the electioneering process. Mr. Woyongo said this at a grand parade of workers in the region, to celebrate the 2012 May Day which was on the theme: "The role of workers in securing peaceful and fair elections"', adding that 'Successful December polls depend on all'
Ahead of the December polls, the Minister of the Interior, Mr. William Kwesi Aboah, has called on all supporters of political parties to comport themselves during electioneer campaign to ensure peaceful election. According to the Daily Graphic, he also appealed to chiefs to advise the youth to desist from acts that can lead to violence during and after the December election.
Tafo MP reiterates NPP's commitment to peace. The member of parliament for Tafo-Pankrono constituency in the Ashanti region, Anthony Akoto Osei, has given the assurance that the New Patriotic Party will play by the rules during the December 7 elections , even in the wake of the continuous terror being unleashed on the Party's supporters by alleged thugs of the ruling NDC. "We are law abiding citizens of this country, we believe in the rule and constitution of this country and also the party will continue to uphold peace and tolerance and make sure justice is sought at all times ," The New Statesman quotes the MP.
We now move on to political party activities as NPP supporters are disappointed at rally. Disappointment was allegedly written on the faces of hundreds of New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters who turned up at a rally at Bekwai last Tuesday for an advertised rally to kick-start the national campaign of the party. According to the Daily Graphic, this was when it came to light that the party's flag bearer for the 2012 presidential election, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo –Addo, would not attend the rally as earlier advertised.
A presidential aspirant of the Convention Peoples Party, (CPP) Mr. Bright Akwetey, has slammed the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for sacrificing the welfare of Ghanaians forto other secondary matters. He has therefore charged the rank and file of the CPP membership to work hard to recapture political power and use it to fight for the welfare of the citizenry. The Daily Graphic reports this under the banner NDC, NPP fail to seek welfare of people.
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor Wednesday reiterated his firm belief in the ability of the New Patriotic Part presidential ticket of Nana Akufo-Addo and Mahamdu Bawumia to lead the party to recapture political power in the December polls, and further salvage the nation from the current mess it has been plunged into by the Mills- Mahama led National Democratic Congress government. Mr. Kufuor noted that even though he and others were initially not in favour of the selection of Dr Bawumia as the vice presidential candidate of the NPP for the 2008 elections, the party has now realized that the contribution of Dr. Bawumia could lead to victory in the upcoming polls. The New Statesman aptly captures this story with the headline Nana is vindicated by choice of Bawumia.
We draw the curtains on today's newspaper review with the Daily Guide's report that Nana dares Prez Mills. Presidential hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Akuffo-Addo has challenged President Atta Mills to take the first initiative to calm the rising tensions in the country. 'The instrument of law and order are in the hands of the President if he tells them (Security agencies) to do their duty without fear or favour, we would have law and order in the country'', he told Daily Guide at Wednesday's Ferdinand Ayim memorial lectures delivered by NPP 's Vice Presidential candidate, Dr. Mamadu Bawumia.
This daily news review is compiled by African Elections Project (AEP) Media Monitoring Centre, Accra, Ghana.
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