Polling Day simulated in Ho

A simulation exercise covering almost all processes on polling day was undertaken in Ho on Thursday under the auspices of the Volta Regional Security Task Force. It involved the security agencies, polling station officers, officials of the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) and the National Commission for Civic Education, (NCCE). Ballot papers and other election materials were dispatched to six polling stations, Sokode-Lokoe, Stadium, Mawuli Estates, Royal Hospital, PWD and Hill View under police escort. Joshua Wemegah was the Presiding Officer at the Sokode-Lokoe Polling Station where a simulated attempt to snatch a ballot box was foiled by the security and the attacker tactically demobilized and detained. A contingent of the regional Rapid Deployment Force, in full gear, was on standby as part of the exercise.

GNA

 

Nana Akufo-Addo calls for prayers among religious leaders for peaceful elections

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate, has appealed to religious leaders to pray to ensure peaceful elections in December. He said peace, before, during and after the December polls was paramount and stressed the importance of prayer by religious leaders for the electorate to appreciate the importance of peace and avoid violence during the elections. Nana Akuffo-Addo made the appeal in Tamale on Thursday when he met Arabic instructors and told them about the vision the NPP has for Arabic education. "I wish to use this occasion to appeal to Imams and other Men of God to continue to offer prayers for the success of this election and you can do this by coming together to pray for the nation and those who will conduct the elections to come out of the December elections peacefully", he said. Nana Akufo-Addo said education would be his topmost if elected and that Arabic education would be given the attention it deserved and that he would  sit down with the Ghana Education Service (GES) to see how best Arabic could become an examinable subject. He said the erstwhile Kufuor administration instituted an allowance scheme for Arabic instructors but alleged that the present government cancelled it on assumption of office and gave the assurance that the allowances would be restored if he gets the nod.\ Nana Akuffo-Addo said if elected his government would amend the Constitution to make education free from kindergarten to the senior high school and appealed to Ghanaians to vote for him in December to give good governance to the people. He said part of Ghana's oil money would be used to fund education and assured teachers that those who had served for a long period would be given mortgaged houses while those who accept postings to the rural areas would be given special incentives. Sheikh Issah Alhassan, an Islamic cleric, expressed regret that Arabic education over the years had been relegated to the background to the extent that Arabic schools do not benefit from GETFund projects. He said Arabic instructors were lacking in the Islamic schools and that the GES was not making attempts to recruit more Arabic teachers to replace those who had retired and those who died while in active service and appealed to Presidential candidates to pay attention to Islamic education if they win power. Sheikh Alhassan also appealed to the GES to make Arabic an examinable subject as it is with the French language since Arabic speakers in the country outnumber French speakers.

GNA

 

 

IEA 2012 Vice-Presidential debate slated for Tuesday November 6

The 2012 Vice Presidential debate involving four political parties with representatives in parliament is slated for Tuesday, November 6 at Akroma Plaza Hotel, Takoradi, says the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) in Accra.  The debate will also provide a platform for the Vice-Presidential Candidates, to respond to questions on various aspects of the nation's development process. In a statement issued to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, the IEA explained that the debate would take the form of a policy dialogue. They will also point out weaknesses in the policies and programmes of their co-contestants, and present alternatives. The electorate will receive first-hand information on the programmes and plans of each candidate, the IEA stated. The debate also forms part of IEA's effort at consolidating multiparty democracy and promoting issue-based elections in Ghana, the statement stated. The Vice Presidential debate would feature Mr Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, of the National Democratic Congress; Madam Cherita Sarpong, Convention People's Party; Madam Helen Sanorita Dzatugbe Matrevi, People's National Convention and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, of New Patriotic Party.                                         According to the IEA the Vice Presidential Debate will be based on questions received from the public, which will cover the following thematic areas: The Economy, National Development Plan, Job Creation/Employment, Economic Growth and National Debt. On good governance, the questions will focus on Peace and Security, Corruption/ Bureaucracy, Rule of Law, Character and Leadership, and National Development Planning. The Social sector question will include Socio-Economic Infrastructure including ICT, Education, Health, Water/ Sanitation, Food Security, Housing, Electricity and Power, Oil and Gas; Mining, Forestry and Environmental Management. Members of the public are invited to submit their questions to the Presidential Debates Committee through iea@ieagh.org or to short code 1413 on all networks, starting your message with IEA, your name and location. The programme is strictly by invitation.

GNA

NCCE appeals to voters to study manifestos of parties

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) on Friday appealed to voters to study the manifestoes of political parties to enable them make informed choices.    Mr Cletus Abang, the Upper East Regional Director of the NCCE, said this in a speech read for him at a forum on "Civilian –Military Relationship in an election year," organized by the Commission in  Bolgatanga.  He said it was important voters make informed decisions since the election bordered on the socio-economic development of the Country.  Mr Abang appealed to leaders of political parties to educate their members and supporters on the Political code of conduct to prevent violence before, during and after the election.      The Regional Staff Officer of the Upper East Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police Charles Obiri, said plans were being put in place by the Police and other security agencies to contain any disturbances that might occur before, during and after the election. Participants expressed worry about the way and manner some supporters of political parties were defacing their opponents' posters and said if the situation was not checked it could create a problem. They appealed to the Police to check the menace and political parties to also advise their supporters to desist from such negative practices. Participants said they were worried about the closeness of party structures to each other and whilst some said it might lead to clashes, others were of the opinion that it would promote peace and unity among the parties.

GNA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

President John Mahama won IEA debate

President John Mahama has taken a narrow lead as the best performing

candidate in the IEA Presidential Debate held Tuesday in Tamale.

 

Popular votes sampled on three credible websites in Ghana myjoyonline.com,

peacefmonline.com, graphic.com.gh put President John Mahama of the NDC at

5812, Nana Akufo-Addo at 5,767, CPP's Dr Abu Sakara at 1254 with the PNC's

Hassan Ayariga trailing with 113 votes.

 

It must be stressed that the polls are unscientific and may not reflect the

actual situation on the ground.

 

After the stimulating debate spiced with biting exchanges, especially from

the leading contenders in the 2012 elections, President John Mahama of the

ruling NDC and Nana Akufo-Addo of the opposition New Patriotic Party, many

political watchers Myjoyonline.comspoke to, thought Dr Abu Sakara won the

day, but voters, political enthusiasts and users of the internet who voted

in polls of selected websites think otherwise.

 

As at Thursday, November 1, 2012, 12:00 noon, the poll on Ghana's

comprehensive websiteMyjoyonline.com indicated that John Mahama had taken

a narrow lead with 4916 representing 48.11 per cent. Nana Addo had polled

4,237 votes representing 41.47 votes. The CPP's Dr Abu Sakara and PNC's

Hassan Ayariga had polled 978 and 87 votes representing 9.78 per cent and

0.85 per cent. respectively.

 

On the Graphic website, President John Mahama had polled 412 representing

45.3 per cent. Nana Akufo-Addo polled 387 representing 42.5 per cent. Abu

Sakara and Hassan Ayariga polled 99 and 12 respectively representing 10.9

and 1.3 respectively.

 

The story was however different onpeacefmonline.com where Nana Addo had

taken a commanding lead with 1176 votes representing 58.30 votes. President

John Mills followed with 518 votes representing 25.68 per cent. Hassan

Ayariga again trailed with 17 votes representing 0.84 and Dr Abu Sakara

also polled 189 votes representing 9.37 per cent.

 

Who do you think won the debate.

Source: http://www.networkadvertising.org/consumer-education/education-resources

“NDC government will continue to provide skills for ‘Kayeyei” - President Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday said government would continue to build on the progress it had over the years made in the advancement of porters (kayeyei) in the cities. He said in a bid to stem the drift of young girls from the northern sector to the southern sector to engage in the practice, government in collaboration with the Council for Technical and Vocational Enterprise Training had started training the porters in hairdressing and dressmaking. The beneficiaries, he explained, would be made to return home to train others and dissuade them from moving to the urban areas for non-existent jobs. President Mahama announced this at Nanton in the northern region, when he addressed a mini-rally as part of his five-day campaign tour of the northern region. He also called on Gulkpegu Naa, Dakpemah Naa, Bug Lana, Lameshegu Lana, Sheik Bayan, sagnar Naa, Nyankpala Lana, Tolon Regent, Kumbugu Naa, Nanton Naa, Yoo Naa,visited Central Mosque,Ahmaddiyya and Afa Ajura mosques  and addressed students of the Business Senior High (BISCO in Tamale). The President condemned political opponents for advocating the construction of hostels as he said that action could perpetuate the movement of young girls from the North to the southern areas of the country. He challenged the New Patriotic Party to come out to point to the people of Nanton what they did for them in their eight years of governance, adding "It is the NDC that has provided clinics, schools, electricity and will continue to support Nanton and other communities in the country to realize their social and economic potentials. President mahama said apart from the programmes, adequate measures had been put in place to make education accessible, affordable and acceptable at all levels and locations. On electricity, President Mahama said the perennial load-shedding would become the thing of the past by the end of 2012 as government was gearing up to add more power to the current facilities that would empower the country to be self-sufficient and a net exporter of energy. The Chiefs and communities were unanimous in commending government for the provision of school, health and electricity facilities and appealed to government to continue to support them in the areas of roads, potable water and sanitation facilities.

GNA

Political parties must operate within the law-Police

Alhaji Mahama Sampa I, Director-General, Human Resource Development of the Ghana Police Service Wednesday entreated the leadership of the various political parties to "operate within the confines of the law" as the December polls approached.     He said the political parties must give the police adequate notice of political events to enable them to cater for their security needs. Alhaji Sampa, who is a Commissioner of Police (COP), said this at the passing out of 108 general recruits from the Volta Regional Police Training School in Ho. He said no two elections were the same and underscored the need for political parties contesting the December elections to abide by the regulations for another successful election. "Though we have had many successful elections in the country, we still need to work hard for the success of this year's also," Alhaji Sampa said. He said the police was on course and assured of the necessary congenial atmosphere for a free, fair and peaceful election. "We have our deployment plans ready…With the able support of our sister security services…the needed security will be provided for successful presidential and parliamentary elections," Alhaji Sampa assured. He reminded the recruits of the challenging nature of their career and urged them to strongly resist wrong doing, be resilient, tolerant, and honest as well as exercising good judgment to win the trust and confidence of the civilian public. Alhaji Sampa pledged the readiness of the police and other security services to remain accountable to the state, the law and the citizenry by being professional and neutral in the discharge of their duties. General Recruit Samuel Armah emerged as the best recruit.

GNA