Ghanaians should pray for a peaceful elections

Apostle Richard Ameddour Buafo, Overseer of the Lord's Pentecostal Church International, Nsawam branch, has called on Christians to pray for peace and harmony as the nation the prepares for Election 2012.        

He advised the youth to be God fearing and patriotic so that they would not be lured by unscrupulous politicians to create violence and tension in their communities.      

Apostle Buafo made the call after he led the church members to pray for the well being of the President, ministers, security agencies and politicians as well as the people of Ghana as part of activities marking the 50^th anniversary of the Church.       

Members of the church later presented various food and household items which included bags of rice, biscuits, cooking oil, soaps and second hand clothing, valued at GHC 1,100 and a cash donation of GHC 500 to the Remar Ghana, a non-governmental organisation, operators of the Remar House, , a boarding facility for disadvantaged children, based in Odum  in the Akuapem South Municipality.      

Briefing the GNA at the function, Apostle Buafo said the items were the church's widow's mite to the Remar Home as Jesus admonished Christians to be their brother's keeper.        

Pastor Yao Kofi Valentine, Director of the Remar Ghana, who received the items, thanked the Church for the gifts and called on other organisations to emulate their shining example

 

Source: GNA

Ghana Elections 2012 Daily News Review - 4th May, 2012

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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Political Tolerance Football Gala fixed for May 13

Pro-Image Communications, a media firm has put together a football gala to feature politicians, religious leaders and ex-Black Star players with the aim of promoting political tolerance, peace and unity before, during and after the general elections.    

The event dubbed "Political Tolerance Football Gala 20122" is being organized in collaboration with the National Sports for All Associations Ghana (NASFAAG), Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) with support from the National Sports Authority (NSA) under the theme: "Promoting political tolerance, peace and unity in Ghana before, during and after the 2012 general elections" will take place on Sunday, May 13 at the Accra Sports Stadium.    

According to the organizers, all the political parties in Ghana have been put together in a team known as "Political Stars United" with each party contributing six key players including the chairpersons to play against a select side from MUSIGA, the Media, NASFAAG, Ex-Black Stars Players and Religious leaders in an all play all gala to promote peace and unity in the country.           

Former Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama commended the organizers for the wonderful initiative and urged all to embrace the spirit of tolerant before, during and after the elections to maintain peace and unity.    

He lauded the timing of the event, especially after the biometric registration was dogged by pockets of alleged disturbances  and violence at some centre.    

 Isaac Vanderpuije, Deputy Greater Accra Regional Minister whop launched the programme, described the event as relevant and opportune and encouraged all to work towards achieving a peaceful atmosphere in the country at 'this critical period' in the country's political history.    

Nathaniel Ebo Nsarko, Chief Executive of Pro-Image Communications said the event will help conscientise Ghanaians on the need to accept divergent views irrespective of one's political affiliation.    

The Political Stars United team will feature the likes of Asiedu Nketia – General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Kwaku Afriyie (Sir John) – General Secretary, New Patriotic Party, Hassan Ayariga – Presidential aspirant, People's National Convention, Nii Lantei Vanderpuije - NDC, Bright Akwetey – Convention Peoples Party and the likes of musicians Obuor, Samini, Tinny, Castro, Nana Boroo, VIP, Daddy Lumba, Lucky Mensah to feature for the MUSIGA team.    

The Religious team has the likes of Bishop Charles Agyin Asare, Reverend Gideon Titi Offei, Tony Asamaoh Boateng and Bishop Daniel Obinim and a group from the Muslim community amongst others.

Source: GNA

Ghana Elections 2012 Daily News Review - 3rd May, 2012

We begin today's review with a report from the Daily Dispatch that says 10.8 million Registered. As at the close of business on Monday April 30, 2012, 10.82 million Ghanaians have been registered in the ongoing biometric voter registration exercise. The Greater Accra, as at April 30, had 1,912,609 persons registered, as against the Daily Dispatch's estimated voter population of 1,954,822. Ashanti Region had 1,873,373 voters, Volta – 902,632 and Northern region had 745,718 voters.

The Daily Guide  tells us in the headline Nigerian arrested with biometric voters that a Nigerian with a Nigerian identity card number  0406974 has been arrested and arraigned before the Tema circuit court  'A' for falsely presenting himself to registration officials  at Afienya as  AShaibu Hassan. The Nigerian, whose real name was given as Seybou Hassane Hamidu, according to the court, was a trader at Afienya.

More news on the biometric registration as, the Civic Forum Initiative (CFI), in collaboration with the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), has revealed the positive and negative developments observed at biometric registration centers in 30 constituencies across the ten regions. According to the official press release issued yesterday, the preliminary finding   of the observation has revealed developments that "require both immediate and long term interventions from stakeholders. The Chronicle, reports under the headline IDEG-CFI assess biometric registration exercise.

In other developments, the daily graphic informs us that residents of Tema Community Eight have expressed their displeasure at the breakdown of the Biometric Voters Registration kit allocated to the Community Eight Number Four School Registration Centre in the ongoing registration exercise. For some days the machine has been breaking down while the registration officers have failed to turn up.

The paper further reveals under the heading CAST holds workshop on registration that a body in the Catholic Church, Civic Agenda for smooth Transition (CAST) for Ghana'2012 Elections, has organized a day's workshop on the biometric registration for a number of Catholic Diocesan representatives in the Country .About 35 of the representatives from the Catholic Diocese of Kumasi, Konongo-Mampong, Goaso, Sunyani and Techiman attended the workshop held at the Christian Village near Santasi in Kumasi.

The Member of Parliament for Talensi in the Upper East Region and former Minister of Information, Mr. John Tia  Akologu, has  called on the Electoral  Commission  (EC) to as  a matter of  concern, extend  the  days  for the biometric  registration exercise in view  of the  numerous challenges that  characterized the various phases of the exercise. This was revealed under the Ghanaian Times headline MP wants registration period extended. He said  apart  from  the fact that the  first  phase suffered regular breakdown of machines  and equipment  in some registration centres, the last phase which  would  end on Saturday, May 5,  had been characterized by shortage of materials notably laminates.

Finally on the biometric   exercise, the Daily Graphic brings to our notice that Registration process   is so far smooth –Dr. Glover. A  Member of the council of state for the Volta Region, Dr. Bernard Glover, says the ongoing Biometric Voters Registration exercise has so far been smooth. 'On the whole, the people have shown great enthusiasm and I am impressed'', he said.

In other reports, the Deputy Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Mr. Arthur G. Mutambara, has called on the Ghanaian media to be cautious in their reportage as the country heads for its presidential and parliamentary elections. The Daily Graphic reveals in the heading that Media advised to act with caution in reportage. He said the media had a major role to play in educating, communicating with and informing the public in the crafting of a peaceful state.

We are informed in the Daily Guide that NPP-USA deploys 1,000 observers. The leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the US has disclosed its readiness to protect the sovereign will of Ghanaians in the forthcoming general elections. Consequently, it has announced that more than 1,000 volunteers will be deployed into the country ahead of the elections to monitor proceedings warning that any acts of intimidation by members of the current government will be recorded and presented to the international community.

In the quest for peace ahead of the elections, the Ghanaian Times reports that Labour unions asked to preach against political violence. Dr. Kwaku Agyemang- Mensah, Ashanti Regional Minister, has invited the Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC) and other workers' organizations to join the crusade to protect the national peace before, during and after the December polls. He described as unfortunate the reported incidence of physical attacks and intimidation at the on-going biometric voter registration and said this should give cause for all to sit up.

The Daily Guide in related story states that 'Peace more important than political power'' .The Ghana Peace Campaign for Peace before, during and after year's general election has reminded politicians to always think peace before political power. They said   that as they embarked on their campaign trails across the country, they should seek nothing but peace to ensure free, fair and transparent polls.

Also in the Ghanaian Times, Clergyman calls for peaceful elections .The Right Reverend Edward Ofori Donkor, Bishop of the Sekondi Diocese of Methodist Church, Ghana, has appealed to political parties and churches to ensure peaceful electioneering and credible elections in December. He stressed that the responsibility to maintain the integrity of the 2012 election did not only lie with the Electoral Commission, but Ghanaians who should collectively ensure free, fair and peaceful elections.

Still on the call for peace, and from the same paper, political parties have been urged to ensure high degree of decorum. The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr. Victor Smith, has appealed to political parties to ensure the highest degree of decorum and civility in their electioneering campaigns .He added that political campaigns should be characterized by tolerance, patience, decency and the respect.

Meanwhile, a social engineer, Nathaniel Ebo Nsarko has asked all Ghanaians to be in the league in striving to ensure that the peace that the nation has enjoyed over the years remains intact, unscathed and unhurt before, during and after the elections. Under the Crusading Guide's heading let's fight hate speech and political violence. He maintains that peace is the most important ingredient needed to facilitate any development agenda of the nation and hence it is important that Ghana be in one accord to ensure that the peace that we have is not hurt.

The Ghanaian Times finally adds that, the Centre for Community Studies Action and Development (CENCOSAD) in collaboration with Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights (ARHR), both non-governmental organisations, last Saturday organised a peace march in Accra ahead of the December Election where 2,500 youth are to promote peaceful elections .The event that aimed at engaging the youth positively so as to avoid violence and intolerance during Election 2012 was organised under the theme: Promoting health rights and accountability in a peaceful and fair 2012 elections.

We move onto news from the political parties and the Crusading Guide indicates that Bawumia tackles NDC gov't .Former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana and running mate to Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo for December 2012 Elections, says Ghanaians are experiencing a triple digit inflation in "suffering and pain" despite the fact that the current NDC administration has been blessed with tremendous economic opportunities. Dr. Bawumia who took his time to tackle the economic gains being touted by the Mills /Mahama administration, pointed out that under their watch (NDC), cost of living had risen astronomically and that prices of basic commodities had remained highly volatile in the last three years.

The Ghanaian Times in other developments reports that NPP responds to NDC press conference. The New Patriotic Party has accused the ruling government of being hypocritical on the issue of ethnicity in Ghanaian politics. While it acknowledged that the recent statement by its Member of Parliament for Assin North, Kennedy Agyapong, was intemperate, the party insisted that the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) cannot ride the horse of morality and accuse the NPP of sparking ethnic tension in the country.

A report from the Daily Guide reveals that NDC won't resort to violence. The Ashanti Regional secretariat of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has given the assurance that if would not resort to violence as its members go through the biometric registration exercise despite the alleged brutalities visited on some of its agents by some NPP thugs in the region. The NDC said since the exercise started, its members had been at the receiving end of unprovoked attacks and condemned the NPP for creating confusing in the biometric voter registration exercise in the region.

We wrap up today's newspaper review with reports from the Ghanaian Times that a presidential aspirant of the Convention People's Party (CPP), Bright Akwetey has promised to offer selfless and dedicated leadership to turn the country round .He accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of failing Ghanaians with their policies, which he said, only favoured certain categories of people in the society. The paper quotes in the headline I will positively turn the nation round – Akwetey.

This daily news review is compiled by African Elections Project (AEP) Media Monitoring Centre, Accra, Ghana.

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I Will Ensure Free, Fair, Transparent Elections In 2012 - President Mills

President John Atta Mills says he will "take all necessary constitutional steps to ensure the conduct of free, fair and transparent elections in 2012.

The laws of the land will not be a respecter of status and will be made to deal decisively with any person who will attempt to push the country into a state of anarchy", he warned

He was addressing a mammoth crowd of workers on May Day in Sunyani under the theme, 'Election 2012: the Role of Workers in Securing Peaceful and Fair Elections'.

President Mills noted that the theme for the Day demonstrated Organised Labour's anxiety and willingness to contribute to  a peaceful, free and fair elections, saying, it was "a source of great encouragement to me, since I am determined, with the help of God to do everything possible to make sure that it is so".

He emphasised that it was the collective responsibility of all citizens of Ghana to ensure that the peace that the nation was enjoying was not over-turned by any event and expressed the hope that with the gains chalked on the labour front, "we would not sit idly by and allow the inordinate desire of certain persons to destroy our dear motherland".

The President expressed appreciation to organised labour for its co-operation in maintaining the peace of the country through maturity and forbearance in the pursuit of the rights of working people.

Prof. Mills gave assurance that the Government would not abuse the cooperation and patience of the Ghanaian workforce but would use it to quicken the pace in the delivery of their just rewards.

The President said his administration had demonstrated its genuine concern for the protection of the interest of working people by implementing the Single Spine Pay Policy (SSPP), which had more than doubled the government's wage bill from GHC2.4 billion to GHC5.6 billion.

He said currently 99.23 percent of public sector workers had been successfully migrated onto the SSPP structure, adding, the Fair Wages Grievance Review Committee had been set up to hear the cases of those who had genuine grievances, whilst negotiations over 'market premium' and 'category 2 and 3' allowances continued.

The President pledged that the promotion of decent work and enhancing of social protection schemes would continue to be very high on the development agenda of his administration.

He stressed that his regime would continue to pursue a national development agenda that prioritised the realisation of citizens' rights and entitlements for the enhancement of the nation's democratic development.

Mr Kofi Asamoah, Secretary General of the Ghana Trade Union Congress (TUC), noted that the nation's democratic dispensation had thrived and earned the country enormous international goodwill, saying the country had benefited immensely from that image and goodwill.

He stated that it was a collective and historic responsibility as a nation to protect the democratic order and the gains that had flowed from it in the last two decades, pledging that Ghanaian workers would play their roles in that pursuit.

Mr Asamoah said organised labour would continue to seek fulfillment of workers' aspirations, hopes and achievements of their objectives as labour movement through democratic processes and within the framework of a constitutional democracy and their concern for the welfare of Ghanaians, irrespective of ethnic origin, religion, age and gender.

The TUC's Secretary General expressed the conviction that it was only by deepening democracy that the aspirations of the people for quality education, access to potable water and healthcare, food security, housing, a living wage and other public goods could be assured.

He stated that globally, the Trade Union Movement was generally recognised as a bastion of democracy and of human rights because it concentrated within the collective and organised will of the working people in whose name and the welfare powers of governance were largely supposed to be exercised.

"Workers and their families form the majority of our society and their interests and well-being, which should be at the heart of the democratisation", he added.

Mr Asamoah gave the assurance that organised labour would remain non-partisan as the country organised itself for the presidential and parliamentary elections in December, this year.

He, however, cautioned that "because we have nowhere to run to in the event of civil strife and political violence, the leadership of TUC will not fail to organise and resist any attempt by any group or person who intended to subvert the current democratic dispensation or threaten the peace and stability enjoyed.

Mr Asamoah called on all stakeholders including Government, political parties, electoral commission and the security agencies to ensure peaceful and fair elections in December, emphasising that politics of insults must give way to politics of issues.

Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, in a welcoming address, said the choice of Sunyani to mark the occasion was not by accident because the city had of late become the magnet for national conference, congresses, seminars, workshops, meetings and conventions.
According to him, the regional capital offered a true replica of the peace Ghanaians seek as it displays "its beauty, cleanliness, well planned lay outs with well-lit streets".

The Regional Minister indicated that Brong-Ahafo offered great potential for investment especially in the agricultural sector since "large tracts of unencumbered land" was available for prospective investors to utilize.

Mr Nyamekye-Marfo noted that because of the government's pragmatic and good policies coupled with the relative peace in the Region, some investors particularly, in the agricultural and mining sectors, had commenced operations in the region. He invited more investors into the region to provide jobs for the people.

The Regional Minister expressed the hope that workers would take advantage of the establishment of the University of Energy and Natural Resources which will admit its first batch of students in September/October to upgrade themselves.

GNA

Ghana Elections 2012 Daily News Review - 2nd May, 2012

The newspaper review for today begins with calls for maintenance of peace. The New Statesman's story on Women's group advocates peace says the Young Women for Peace has called on all well-meaning Ghanaians to promote and safeguard the significant progress the nation has made in her democratic electoral processes. In a May Day message signed by Abena Takyiwa Oppong and Affi Agbenyo, both members of the group condemned the various acts of violence that have been associated with the ongoing Biometric Voters' Registration exercise.

Similarly Adwoa Safo urges Ghanaians to preserve the peace we're enjoying. As the curtains on the biometric registration exercise draw closer, the aspiring parliamentary candidate for the Dome – Kwabenya constituency, Sarah Adwoa Safo, has urged her constituents, especially, followers of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who have not registered yet, to go out and register in order to exercise their franchise in the December polls. The Chronicle adds that while doing that, she called on all the various political parties and interest groups in the constituency to do their utmost best to preserve the peace the area was enjoying, and desist from any acts that may mar the electoral process.

Still on the call for peaceful elections, we are told by The New Crusading Guide that CENFAD-Ghana Initiates measures for peaceful elections in Upper East. The Center for Alternative Development (CENGAD-Ghana), a non-governmental organization has initiated some measures to ensure peaceful and transparent elections in the Upper East Region. The NGO, which seeks to promote good governance, is working with sponsorship from STAR-Ghana, another NGO, to collaborate with stakeholders in the region and help achieve the objectives of the program.

The Ghanaian Times reports that 2 NGOs in peace march ahead of polls. The Centre for Community Studies Action and Development (CENCOSAD) Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights (ARHR), both non-governmental organizations last Saturday organized a peace march in Accra ahead of the December elections. The event   aimed at engaging the youth positively to avoid violence and intolerance during Election 2012, was organized under the theme: 'Promoting health rights and accountability in a peaceful and fair 2012 elections''.

 still in the Ghanaian Times, Mr. Lord Larbi, Deputy Ashanti Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has asked Inter-Party Dialogue Committees (IPDC's) to work hard to promote the culture of tolerance in the country. He warned that without tolerance and consensus-building among key political actors, the electoral process could suffer setbacks. The paper reports this under the headline Intensify education on political tolerance.

In an effort to reduce violence ahead of the December general elections, Veep cautions Muslims against election-related violence. Vice President John Dramani Mahama has appealed to Muslims to team up with other religious bodies to educate the youth against engaging in election-related violence that could mar Ghana's democratic dispensation. According to both The Heritage and the Ghanaian Times, he said Islam and the Prophet Muhammed stood for peace and the engagement of Muslims in any such violence could undermine the ethics of peace of the religion and derail the faith of believers all over the world.

The Ghanaian Observer also reports that The Deputy Ministry for Women and Children Affairs (MOWAC), Hajia Hawawu Boya Gariba is cautioning politicians to reconsider any attempt to either use or draw women and children into politics of violence. Under the banner Leave Woman, Children out of Politics of Violence, the Deputy Minister said because of the vulnerability of women and children, government is taking the necessary steps to ensure politicians do not abuse the two categories of people as the December general election approach.

We now move on to news on the biometric exercise as Woman gets arrested for attempting to double registration. Linda Nokoe, 48, is in the grips of the Takoradi police for attempting to register twice in the ongoing biometric registration exercise. The Takoradi District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Huseini Adwinaba confirmed the story to the Ghana News Agency in Takoradi on Monday, The New Crusading Guide reports.

Similar news from the Daily Guide indicates that 3 Togolese Nabbed over Biometric registration. Three Togolese arrested for fraudulently participating in the ongoing registration exercise at Kotobabi in Accra have been charged for electoral offences and will be in court today. Bojreennou Kossi Mawutodji, 29 Kouassi Alaim, 29, both cooks, and Koumako Ablam, 29 residents of   Kotobabi, were arrested and detained at the Kotobabi Police Station in Accra on Sunday, April 29, 2012 for illegal registration.

Still from the Daily Guide, we are informed that the NDC Cries Over Registration Violence. Despite Wide media reports that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is behind the series of violence that has characterized the registration exercise in Kumasi, the ruling Party has responded swiftly, insisting it is innocent. The NDC alleged that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the region was behind all the troubles that had so far marred the national exercise, stressing that claims that the NDC was a violent Party were false.

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has described the setting up of a National Enforcement Body to monitor adherence to the code of Conduct for political parties as a positive development for Ghana's already enviable democratic credentials. The Daily Graphic reports this with the heading EIU lauds creation of National Enforcement Body, adding that the EIU is hopeful that with the creation of the body, which has representatives from all sides to monitor and investigate abuses, it could go some way to ensure that the code was followed.

Five political parties have urged media owners, particularly the radio stations, to ensure quality control over the content of their programmes at all times and desist from granting undisciplined politicians the platform to attack opponents. The parties - the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), the Independent People's Party (IPP), the People's National Convention (PNC), the Convention People's Party (CPP) and the Progressive People's Party (PPP) - therefore called on the media to stop giving prominence to issues that mounted up tension and contributed nothing to the peace and security of the country. the Daily Graphic reports

Away from the media, we take a look at other political party activities as Akufo-Addo Swipes at NDC. The flag-bearer of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, has appealed to Ghanaians to refrain from every act that will derail the peace Ghana is enjoying ahead of the December elections.  In the same report the Ghanaian Observer states that Nana Akufo-Addo in his May Day message to Ghanaian workers said the upcoming elections should be seen as "competition of ideas and solutions to the problems facing our people.

The Daily Graphic on the other hand reports that the National Democratic Congress Volta Caucus in the Ashanti Region has expressed shock at the comments by the Member of Parliament for Assin North Constituency, Kennedy Agyapong, declaring war on all Ewes in the Ashanti Region. NDC Volta caucus expresses shock is the paper's caption in adding that the MP declared war earlier this month inciting Akans against Ewes and Gas, who he believed might have master-minded attacks on some Akans in the ongoing biometric voters registration exercise, particularly in the Odododiodoo Constituency where Ursula Owusu, an Akan was attacked and several Akans in the Constituency were prevented from registering by Gas.

Finally in today's review, the Ghanaian Times informs readers that Government will not sell economy for December elections-Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning and he explains that Government   has no intention to sell the economy and spend frivolously because of elections. He added that expenditure would be firmly controlled to ensure that the government avoided reckless spending in the run-up to the general elections in December.

This daily news review is compiled by African Elections Project (AEP) Media Monitoring Centre, Accra, Ghana.

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Ghana 2012 elections: TUC boss entreats Ghanaians to vote on great ideas

The Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Mr Kofi Asamoah, has entreated all Ghanaians to vote for candidates who have great ideas about creating jobs in the upcoming elections.

He urged the citizens to focus on candidates whose ideas will improve incomes and give access to housing, education, health, electricity, water and sanitation.

The TUC boss was speaking during this year's May Day celebrations held at Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region.

He stated: "We demand of the competing parties and their presidential candidates serious debates over the main issues of our times; a clear vision of the future of Ghana and concrete policy alternatives that have the capacity to transform our economy and lift our people out of the mass poverty to a level where the average Ghanaian can identify with the middle income status of our country."

He urged Ghanaians to exhibit maturity, fairness and transparency in the electoral process, saying it is the collective responsibility of all to ensure the peacefulness of the December polls.

Mr Kofi Asamoah said the workers of Ghana and their leadership are prepared to play their part in ensuring a violent-free election but stressed that the onus lies on government, security agencies, political parties and the Electoral Commission to maintain peace.

He pointed out again, that President John Evans Atta Mills has the "singular responsibility and honour to see Ghana through this election peacefully."

Mr Asamoah challenged the media to exercise circumspection in their reportage and highlight the important issues that directly affect the livelihood of people on the national agenda while helping to banish the politics of trivialities.

He also called on the security agencies, especially the police and judiciary, to exhibit professionalism and eschew favoritism and bias in the discharge of their duties.

The TUC boss also advised the Electoral Commission to be faithful to their constitutional mandate and jealously guard their independence.

 

JOYFM