EC bears a heavy responsibility in Election 2012 – Sheikh Basha

Sheikh Dr Ibrahim Basha, an Islamic Scholar in Tamale, has observed that the Electoral Commission (EC) bears a heavy responsibility in the maintenance of peace and stability in the December Presidential and Parliamentary polls.

He said the disorder that was associated with the recent Biometric Voter Registration Exercise in relation with broken down biometric registration gadgets, made it imperative for the EC to set its house in order to avert a repetition during the December 7, General Election.

Sheikh Basha who made the observation at the launch of the 13-member Monday Civic Campaign Report Council, by Northern Ghana Aid (NOGAID), a non-governmental organisation in Tamale, said the commission should provide backup equipment to all the polling stations, to stall any potential violence.

The report being sponsored by Star Ghana is part of NOGAID's Northern Region 2012 Multi-party Democratic Governance Support Project.

The Project aims at streamlining the activities of political parties in the region, which had been a flash point of political violence to ensure incidence free elections.

Star- Ghana is a multi-donor polled funding mechanism being supported by DFID, DANIDA, USAID and EU to increase the influence of civil society and parliament in the governance of public goods and service delivery with the ultimate goal of improving the accountability and responsiveness of government, traditional authorities and private sector.

Sheikh Basha said if the breakdown of equipment during the registration exercise, which lasted for weeks could spark trouble then what about the casting of votes, which is supposed to be done in less than a day.

"If this should happen on Election Day in some of the strong holds of some political parties, it will create a big confusion in the country," he warned.

Sheikh Basha noted that the breakdown of the biometric registration machines in some registration centres should be a case study for the EC.

He asked stakeholders in Election 2012 to play their roles effectively and efficiently and according to the laid down rules and regulations, since the successful conduct of elections had always being a collective responsibility.

Sheikh Basha called on the political parties especially the ruling National Democratic Congress and the ruling New Patriotic Party to cooperate with EC for peaceful and stable elections.

He also cautioned the youth not to allow themselves to be used by self-seeking politicians to foment trouble, before, during and after the polls.

 

GNA

Ghana Elections Daily News Review - 11th June, 2012

We begin today's review with updates on the just ended biometric mop up exercise and Daily Guide reports that Biometric register mop-up ends. The two-day mop-up exercise of the biometric voters' registration has ended in some three districts in the Upper East Region and other parts of the country on the quiet. The mop-up exercise, which started on Saturday, June 9, 2012, was to allow people who could not register in the main exercise to do so.

Similarly the Daily Graphic also brings to our notice that Mop-up registration useful-EC. The Electoral Commission (EC) has described the two-day limited biometric voters registrations mop up as generally successful and peaceful. The exercise, which took place in eight out of the 10 regions last Saturday and Sunday, was meant to enable eligible voters who could not participate in the main exercise for various legitimate reasons to do so.

News from the Chronicle reveals that the Director General of Administration, Commissioner of Police (COP) Rose Bio-Atinga, has assured the general public that the Ghana Police was ready to provide them with maximum security to ensure violence-free society, irrespective of anyone's political affiliations. According to her, "providing security in the country, especially during election, is a special task and needs a lot of sacrifice, hard work, neutrality and dedication by the police to maintain law and order, so as to ensure that all activities are carried out in a serene atmosphere for a successful election.

Away from that we are informed by the Ghanaian Times that NDC supporters have been told to uphold the peace .The Information Minister, Mr. Fritz Baffour, has advised supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to desist from acts likely to jeopardize the peace the country is enjoying. He was addressing a rally organized by the Greater Accra Regional branch of the NDC in Accra at the weekend to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the party.

The Ghanaian Observer informs readers that Bawumia Nails NDC over SADA Debacle. The vice  presidential  candidate of the main  opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr.Mahama Bawumia, has  pledge the NPP's  commitment  to the  development of the  three Northern regions  to bridge  the development  gap  between  the south and the north when Nana Akufo-Addo wins the December elections. Speaking  at the 48th Annual  Delegates Congress of the Northern  Students  Union in Bolgatanga on Saturday , Dr. Bawumia  stated that North had been neglected for  a long  time  and chronicled the origins of the  underdevelopment of the North.

The Daily Graphic informs us that PNC  to set up bodies  to hire  and fire-Ayariga The  flag  bearer of the People's National Convention (PNC), Mr. Mahama Ayariga, has stated that  stated Ghanaian technocrats and experts  .from various fields will be  in charge of the hiring and firing  of board members and heads  of state institutions. further reports that this innovation which will be one of the means  through  which the  PNC  will offer transparent leadership if it  gets the nod in this  year's  elections is to  insulate  such state agencies from unnecessary governmental control and ensure that they  undertake  their  functions without  fear or favour to engender the necessary development.

We end today's review the New Crusading Guide's report that the New Patriotic Party vice presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is warning Ghanaians to be careful of what he describes as deceptive promises made by politicians in the run to the December elections. Nana Addo's running mate who was heavily lashed over his recent lecture on the state of the economy said instead of solving problems, those promises were only for electoral advantage and that they are usually not achievable.

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

Follows us on twitter @Ghanaelections

 

 

 

 

A.M.E Zion Church pledges to lead the crusade for peaceful election

Reverend Peter E.T Sefogah, Presiding Pastor of Aggrey Memorial A.M.E Zion Church, has pledged the church's commitment to ensure Ghana continues to enjoy peace before, during and after the elections. He said peace and development of the nation had always been the priority of the church and would therefore work effectively towards sustainability for national development. To be agents of peace, he said, the church had charged all its members to live at peace with others, seek only the truth and be truthful to God. "Our members have been well educated on the importance of peace and the need to take active part in the up-coming general elections in December", he said. Rev Sefogah said this when speaking at the closing ceremony of the 113th Session of the East Ghana Annual Conference in Accra on Sunday. The conference on theme "Look into your Hands-Our God is Able" was aimed to access the performance of the church and to plan towards the future. The occasion was also used to assign Pastors to lead the churches in the various localities of the eastern Ghana district. Rev Sefogah said it would be suicidal for Ghanaians to think that the country was matured enough not to slip into troubled situations saying "we all need to act as agents of peace." He said it was critical for Christians to uphold the principles and values of the Bible and should be bold to advice political leaders and their supporters to see themselves "as one people championing the same cause". "We must let the political players know that there are rules and regulations in the game which needed to be respected to ensure peace and development", he said. He called on Christian have to play a vital role to unite the nation no matter one's political or ethnic affiliation for socio-economic prosperity.
GNA

Ghana Elections Daily News Review - 8th June, 2012

We begin today's review with the Daily Guide and it indicates that Brong Ahafo registers 1.2m Voters. A Total of 1,248,348 voters have been registered to exercise their franchise in the impending December 7 presidential and parliamentary elections. The Brong Ahafo Regional Director  of the Electoral Commission (EC) George Gyabaah, who  disclosed this  to  Daily Guide in an  exclusive interview in Sunyani, said  the provisional figure of over 1.2m voters was capture in  the recently-held biometric  voters registration exercise.

The Ghanaian Times reports that a National Elections Taskforce will soon be established to facilitate a conducive environment, for Elections, 2012 to take place, the inspector General of Police, Mr. Paul Tawiah Quaye has assured Ghanaians. The Taskforce made up of the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Armed Forces, National Security, and Bureau of National Investigations. Electoral Commission, Immigration Service, Customs Excise and Preventive Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Prison Service, the Research Department of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

News from the Daily Dispatch reveals that Ashanti PPP on low education in Cocoa growing areas. The Ashanti Regional branch of the Progressive People's Party (PPP) has decried the poor state of education in the cocoa growing areas and other deprived communities in the country and called for urgent measures to address the problem. They therefore reiterated the assurance that when PPP led by Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom  is voted into power  in the 2012 elections, their education policy would be free ,compulsory , and continuous from kindergarten up the Senior High School (SHS) level to help improve the standard of education as well as making it possible for everybody  to access education.

 More news from the camp of PPP as the Ghanaian Times reports under the headline Dr. Nduom: I will create jobs that the presidential candidate of the Progressive People's Party (PPP) Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom has asked Ghanaians to vote for a candidate who has the   potential and capability to create jobs in the country. He said that the electorate would no longer be interested in hearing false promises from politicians who are not business oriented and end up creating phantom jobs.

In other developments, Daily Graphic informs readers that Independent   aspirant eyes Ofoase –Ayerebi seat. A 36 year-old pastor, Rev. Dr. Jerry Asiedu  Appiah , has expressed his intention to stand  as an  independent  parliamentary  candidate for the  Ofoase-Ayirebi Constituency in the Akyemansah District  of the Eastern Region in the December 7, 2012 presidential and parliamentary polls. Rev. Dr. Appiah (a.k.a Teacher Appiah) who hails from Akyem Ayirebi made his intention known in Ayirebi in an interview with the Ghana News Agency.

Meanwhile, the Daily Guide brings to our notice that New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo has urged party supporters to fully support their parliamentary candidates to ensure success in the December polls. Under the heading Nana calls for Unity. He said  such  unflinching  support will complement  the hard  the party  has done  to guarantee victory  in the upcoming  elections.

The Chronicle informs us that DAASEBRE OGUAKRO Osei Bediako II, Omahene of Sabronum Traditional Area in the Ashanti Region has advised Ghanaians to desist from partisan politics and remain united as one people and support the government. According to him, partisan politics impede development and progress in the country.

From the same paper, Poilticians cautioned against exploitation of youth. An ISLAMIC scholar in Kumasi has called on politicians to leave the youth out of acts that might set the nation ablaze before, during and after the December elections. Sheik Dr. Ismail Saeed Adam, who  is also the Director-General of Sakafia Islamic Education Complex  in Kumasi, noted that  the youth  are the viable  seed of tomorrow's leadership and should not be  destroyed today by politicians, who are lusting  after power at the expense of nation building.

Finally in today's review and still from the Chronicle Politicians  cautioned to be circumspect with promises .Rev. Dr. John B. Gharty, the General Secretary  of Assemblies  of God (A/G), Ghana, has cautioned politicians to be wary  of their  promises in order not find  them  wanting  after they are voted to power. He noted that  with  the elections drawing  near , it is  common  for some politicians  to intentionally  promise the electorate heaven  in order to influence  the conscience of the  people , even  though  they are conscious  some  of them  are not  relevant  and  unachievable.

  

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

Follows us on twitter @Ghanaelections   

 

Ghana Elections Daily News Review - 7th June, 2012

In today's review, news from the New Crusading Guide indicates that a National Elections Taskforce would soon be set up to facilitate a conducive security space for free, fair and credible elections in the December general polls, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Paul Quaye has assured Ghanaians. He said the taskforce will draw its membership from the Ghana Police Service, Armed Forces, National Security Coordinating Council, Bureau of National Investigation, Electoral Commission, Immigration Service, Customs Excise Preventive Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Prisons Service and the Research Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the Ministry of Food and Agriculture with the Police playing a leading role.

From the same paper, readers are informed that Cape Coast falls for PPP. Following the impressive and successful launch of the party's 2012 parliamentary and presidential campaigns in Elmina in the Central Region, the Progressive People's Party (PPP) moved to the Cape Coast constituency where it showed off its strength in the capital town of the Region. The party's procession with three brass bands and asafo groups from the Robert Mensah Stadium to the Ato Austin Gardens near the Cape Coast Castle was a wonderful sight to see.

From the campaign train , the  Ghanaian  Times reveals that the Progressive People Party (PPP) last Friday received a warm reception from the electorate, when its flag-bearer, Dr. Papa  Kwesi  Nduom led  a team  to tour  three constituencies in the  Eastern Region. The team included the national secretary, Mr. Kofi Asamoah –Siaw and national committee member Mrs. Mary Ankomah Boakye-Boateng. The paper quotes under the headline Nduom takes campaign to ER.

The Inspector  General of Police , Mr. Paul Tawiah  Quaye  has assured political  parties  and the  electorate  that the  police  will not  discriminate against  any group  or persons  in the discharge of its  duties  during  and after  the 2012  general  election. Under the Daily Graphic's quote Police won't discriminate- IGP assures .He said the police would not display bias or partiality but continue to remain accountable to the State and Ghanaian.

The Chronicle brings to our notice that NPP strategizes to win Atti Mokwa seat .The Central  Regional  Organiser of the New Patriotic  Party (NPP), Agyei  Baffour , says  the party  was working  hard  to captured the Atti Mokwa parliamentary  seat  from the  ruling  National  Democratic Congress (NDC ) in the December 7 general elections. Speaking  to the Chronicle  on Wednesday  Baffour  said the NPP  candidate , Dr. Francis Owusu Mensah , possessed enviable  qualities that had  attracted the  constituents to give  him the nod.

CPP to kick start Election 2012 campaign on June 12.The Convention People's Party (CPP) has unveiled series of activities to kick start its Election 2012 campaign. Daily Graphic Further reports that as part  of electoral activism  to gain momentum for the  June 12  official  launch , leading members of the party, including  Dr. Abu  Sakara Foster, CPP  flag bearer and Ms. Samia Yaba Nkrumah , leader and Chairperson, recently  paid a visit  to Nkroful , the  birth  place  of President , Osagyefo  Dr. Kwame  Nkrumah.

In another report from the same paper we are informed that the Gomoa West Coordinating Director Mr. Peter Antwi –Boasiako, has cautioned teachers not to turn their classroom into political platforms, where they engage in partisan politics. "You will lose the respect of students who do belong to your political divide, "the District Coordinating Director said at a get-together organized at Apam by the District Director of Education, Ms Augusta Sarpong for head teachers in Gomoa West. The paper quotes under the headline don't use classroom for partisan politics'.

Away from that, security measures ahead of the December  was revealed by the chronicle that Tema Police promise tight security for December elections .In order to create a more  congenial environment for the up-coming general  elections throughout  the Tema region , the Tema  Regional  Police  Commander, DCOP Maxwell Atingane , has  held  a meeting  with representatives of the various political  parties in the Metropolis. The meeting  was to assure  them  that  his administration had  put in place  measures to ensure  an accident –free period , before  during  and after the December  general  elections.

We end today's review with the Daily Graphic's headline Do not take peace for granted – Nana Egyir. The Chief  of Gomoa  Nkoransa, a  traditional  area near  Apam , Nana Abobo Egyir V, has cautioned Ghanaians against  taking  the peace in the  country  for granted. He said  disturbances  recorded during  the recent  biometric  voters  registration  exercise  were warning  to Ghanaians  that anything  at all could  happen  if they  down played the peace the nation  was enjoying.

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

Follows us on twitter @Ghanaelections                

Inter-Party Dialogue Committee calls for media support

Volta Region's Inter-party Dialogue Committee has called for media support and co-operation in preparing the ground for peaceful political activities and conduct of peaceful elections in December.

Mr Joseph Nuertey, Volta Regional Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) who chairs the Committee made the appeal at a meeting between the Committee and media representatives in Ho.

He said the Committee could not do much without the support and co-operation of the media Mr P.P. Apaabey Baba, Acting Volta Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) that convened the meeting, said much sacrifice was required from all stakeholders in mobilizing resources in support of the Committee's work.

He said the Committee intended to hold radio discussions, public forums and drama among others to carry its message of peaceful political activities and elections to the populace.

Mr Baba said District Inter-Party Dialogue Committees had been asked to draw action plans for incorporation into a regional plan of action.

Monsignor Anthony Kornu, Chairman of the Committee for Enforcing Political Parties Code of Conduct in the Volta Region, urged the media to help moderate the conduct of political activities in the region.

He appealed to hosts of political discourses on radio to moderate the language used by their guests and those who phone in."Words are like bullets which cannot be gathered once they are fired", he said.
 
GNA

NGO suggests IPAC should be made statutory body

Sociaserve-Ghana, a non-governmental organization, has suggested that the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) should be made a statutory body and its existence guaranteed by law.
"The legal status will cement the collaboration between the Electoral Commission (EC) and IPAC for a credible election," Ms Rita Y. Ntoso, Socioserve-Ghana Programme Manager, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview after the inauguration of Kweabibirem IPAC at Kade.
 She said the situation where deliberations and suggestions made at IPAC were implemented at the discretion of the EC because the IPAC was not a statutory body had to end.
Addressing members of the Committee, Ms Ntoso said dialogue and cooperation between political parties was a sine qua non for the sustainability of peace before, during and after elections.  
 She appealed to political parties and other democratic stakeholders to periodically engage in social and recreational activities to bridge the political gap "as all political parties seek the welfare of the state and its people".
 Inaugurating the Committee, Ms Esther Sakyibea, Kwaebibirem NCCE District Director, reiterated the need to use Election 2012 to consolidate the nation's democratic gains. "The December polls will be yet another test for the resilience for Ghana's democratic credentials".
She said it was important for all stakeholders to hold discourse at different fora to engage each other in pursuit to achieve a free, fair and violence free elections in December".
The Kwaebibirem IPAC is chaired by Reverend Isaac Abukari of the Christian Council of Ghana.
The inauguration formed part of a project titled: "'Know Your Aspiring Member of Parliament," currently being implemented in nine  out of the 29 constituencies in the Eastern Region of which Kade is included
 
GNA