Swedru Circuit Court grants bail to two biometric fraudsters

The Swedru Circuit Court has granted bail to two people who attempted to register in the ongoing biometric voter registration exercise in Efutu Municipal Assembly in the Central Region with false information.

The two, George Arthur and Joshua Odoom, tried to register with the house number of Joseph Roland Quainoo, Municipal Co-ordinator of National Disaster Management Organisation but luck eluded them when the nephew of the complainant challenged them about their claim.

The two who pleaded not guilty for deceit of a public officer, would reappear on May 21.

The facts of the case are that George and Joshua attempted registering at the Winneba Sports College registration centre with the house number of the complainant whose residence is popularly known as "Class One Bay".

However the nephew of Mr Quianoo, who is an agent of the National Democratic Congress at the centre challenged the accused persons that he knew members of the household of the complainant and they were not part of them.

He therefore hinted his uncle who caused the arrest of the two accused persons at the Winneba Police Station.

 

GNA

Ghana Elections 2012 Daily News Review - 20th April, 2012

Top Stories from the Newspapers for 20^th April, 2012 include:

1.       Man arrested for voting 15 times

2.       Biometric Registration-updates

3.       Kennedy Agyapong Granted Bail

4.       Kufuor tasks Mills over growing political tension

5.       IEA inaugurates Presidential Debates Committee for Election 2012

Today's review begins with a story in about three news papers about a 47 year old man who was nabbed by the Odorkor police for registering 15 times in the ongoing biometric voters registration exercise. The Daily Graphic on its front page banner, Man Arrested for Registering 15 Times adds that Archibald Laryea was picked up at the Naroda polling station at Sakaman in the Ablekuma North Constituency on Accra Tuesday, when he attempted to register for the 16th time. The Ghanaian Times also reports this under the headline Man, 47, registers 15 times. The Daily Guide further informs us in the headline 'Man Registers 15 times' that when the police arrested him, their main problems were; which of his over 16 cluster of names and ages they should believe. Just as his actual name was in doubt so was his real age because he had many of them.

Updating us on the ongoing biometric exercise, The Daily Graphic reports; 3,829 Biometric Applicants Challenged.  A total of 3,829 had their applications challenged throughout the country as of the end of the second phase of the biometric voters registration exercise. Currently, the Electoral Commission (EC) has registered eight million voters.

Still on statistics, we are told that Greater Accra registers 1,737,663 voters in phases 1&2. The Chronicle adds that the Greater Accra Region has  recorded  1,737,663 in the first  and second  phases of the biometric  voters' registration exercise, according  to provisional results  released by the Electoral Commission (EC) of  Ghana .According  to the Deputy  Commissioner of the EC, Mr. Sarfo Kantaka although the registration at the  initial  stage encountered some problems such  technical and  operational challenges, the  first phase recorded 999,846, while the  second  also registered 737,817 people in the region.

The Chronicle ended updates from the on-going biometric registration in a headline; 6 NPP agents put before court. Prestea Huni-Valley and  the Juabeso constituencies in the Western  Region have been identified as two  constituencies which  have  been  characterized by chaos and violence as the biometric  registration  exercise progresses  day after day. The level of chaos and violence has resulted in the two topping ranking in the region.

The Ghanaian Times on page 3 reports the condemnation of violence by the peace council and its headline; Peace Council Condemns Violence. The National Peace Council has condemned all acts of violence which have characterized the ongoing biometric voters' registration in some parts of the country. It has equally condemned the brutalities meted out to people, irrespective of their party affiliation at some registration centers. Still on that the daily graphic indicated uses the banner Use freedom responsibly-Peace Council in adding that The National Peace Council yesterday expressed worry about the use of the media to create tension in the country.It, therefore, called   on the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) and its affiliate bodies and sister organizations to promote media freedom in a more responsible manner.

Further stories on peace talks as reported in the Daily Graphic bring to our knowledge that Traditional rulers must ensure peace at registration centres. The Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Kraku, has urged traditional leaders to get involved in maintaining peace at registration centres by educating their subjects to refrain from violence.  He noted that areas where violence were recorded fall under the jurisdiction of powerful traditional rulers so he urged them to intensify their roles as fathers and mothers to bring to the fore the consequences of violence. 

With updates from the arrest of the Assin North MP, The Daily Graphic with its headline Kennedy Agyapong Has Been Granted Bail informs readers that there was spontaneous jubilation within and outside the Accra Fast Track High Court Tuesday afternoon, when the Member of Parliament for Assin North, Kennedy Agyapong, was granted bail in the sum of GH¢200,000 with one surety to be justified. The Ghanaian Times also reports this under its front page heading 'Two Bails For Ken'.The New Statesman further informs us that with its banner 'Ken Agyepong granted bail', adding that this followed another round of legal battle between the state and a team of lawyers of the embattled MP and number one anti-corruption crusader against the Mills- Mahama led government. The Daily Guide also reports this in the headline Kennedy freed. In reporting the same story with the caption 'Ken freed… says 'I have no hatred for Voltarians)', the Crusading Guide contributes to this by saying that Vociferous politician and freedom fighter, Kennedy Agyapong, Member of Parliament for Assin North in the Central Region – who was arrested Monday by the police over statements he had made on radio, which were considered treasonable by the security agencies – has emphasized that he has no hatred for people from the Volta Region of Ghana (called Voltarians).

Various concerns have been made by groups and individuals in relation to utterances made by Hon. Ken Agyapong. The Daily Graphic writes that Civil Society groups condemn Kennedy Agyepong. Civil society Groups in the country have condemned the utterances of the NPP Member of Parliamentary (MP) for Assin North, Kennedy Ohene Agyepong. They, however, called on the leadership of the political parties, particularly the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Party NDC) to publicly reprimand and sanction their supporters who insult, incite and malign their political opponents.

The New Statesman also indicated that Kufuor tasks Mills over growing political tension. Former president John Aygekum Kufuor has called on President John Atta Mills to take steps to douse rising tension resulting from the arrest of Kennedy Agyepong, the Member of Parliament for Assin North. Former President Kufuor, who is attending meetings in Washington DC, warned against the escalation of tension, especially in this election year, and appealed to President Mills to instruct the police not to leave any impressions of partisanship in the discharge of their duties.

Other developments in page 4 of The New Statesman also reports brings to our notice that AFAG charges CCG, CDD to be fair. The Alliance for Accountable Governance says it is disappointed by the reactions from the Christian Council of Ghana, the Centre Democratic Development and Kpesah Whyte concerning the arrest of the Assin North MP, Kennedy Agyepong. According to Nana Ayew Afriyie, Chairman of AFAG, Dr, Whyte and the two bodies refused to interrogate what prompted the Member of Parliament to make that statement but rather chose to chastise him in a hypocritical manner.

 

The Heritage reported in its headline; Blood thirsty politicians to be dragged to International courts that the Ghanaian Centre of PEN International, a leading advocate for the freedom of expression and human rights has served as strong notice to politicians and the media to prepare to be dragged to the International Criminal Court of Justice should they fail to ensure violence-free elections come December. According to PEN International, should Ghana's political leaders and the media fail in their duty to safe-guard the peace of the nation and lead the country to bloodshed, they will be made to pay dearly.

Politicians were urged not to sow seeds of discord, The Daily Graphic tells the story; Politicians urged not to sow seed of discord -Page-13.The University for Development Studies (USD), Wa Campus chapter of the Volta Region Students Association, Ghana (VORSAG) has called on politicians not to foster discord among the various ethnic groups in the country. It said the people of Volta Region, and for that matter Ewes in general, saw themselves as Ghanaians first before any other considerations and, therefore, it would not be in the interest of the country for people to preach divisions.

The Heritage ends the day's review with its heading 'IEA inaugurates Presidential Debates Committee for Election 2012'. The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) will on Wednesday April 25, inaugurate a Presidential Debate Committee to organise and host three Presidential Debates for Presidential Candidates of Election 2012.The committee, "IEA Presidential Debate Committee-2012", is expected to map out strategies that would shape Election 2012 and the future of democracy in Ghana and Africa.

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

Follows us on twitter @Ghanaelections

 

 

 

The rush in the first round of the biometric voter registration exercise

The rush in the first round of the biometric voter registration exercise in the Ho Municipality has ebbed considerably as the exercise progresses through the third round.

"We are sleeping" a Registration Officer at the United Pentecostal Registration Centre told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) during rounds of some Registration Centres in the municipality on Thursday.

Officials at the Centres were either conversing or lay their heads on their tables resting while a few others were attending to one or two people who called to register.

The Registration Officers told the GNA that majority of the prospective voters seemed to have registered during the first round because they thought the exercise was for 10 days.

Overall an average of between 40 and 60 people were registered at a Registration Centre daily since the exercise entered the third round. At the heavily populated Anlorkordzi area the number of those registered at the Anlorkordzi Temporary Booth declined progressively from 87 people on the first day of the third phase to 60 on the second day and 50 on the third day.

No Challenges were filed against anybody at the Centres visited. At the United Pentecostal Centre near the Stadium four people whose Ghanaian nationality were said to be in doubt could not be registered because they were unable to get the mandatory two registered voters each to guarantee for them.
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 Source: GNA

Voter Registration Exercise resumes at four centres in Jomoro

The Biometric Voter Registration Exercise, which was suspended at four centres in the Jomoro District before the start of the third phase following faulty printers resumed on Tuesday.  

The Jomoro District Electoral Officer, Mr Kwabena Asante, who told the GNA in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Half Assini said all the machines were repaired in Accra and rushed to the respective centres.

The Centres are at New Town, New Kabenlasuazo, Elubo and Half Assini.  The third phase of the exercise started on Sunday, April 15. He said the exercise is currently going on smoothly at the centres in the District.

Mr Asante said the team at Metika and Asukro that had completed their registration exercise because of the small size of the population had been deployed to areas where all the people could not register during their turn.

Mr Asante said so far a total of 46,379 out of the 71,284 eligible voters have been registered since the exercise started in March 24. It ends on May 5.

He called on the public to cooperate with the registration teams to ensure the successful completion of the exercise.

Source: GNA

Ghana Elections 2012 Daily News Review - 19th April, 2012

The daily review today has the following top stories:

1.       Court declines to hear Kennedy Agyapong's case

2.       Chief Justice appoints electoral officers

3.       NDC, NPP pledge to maintain peace at Odododiodoo

4.       Youth urged to stay away from violence

The news about Kennedy Agyapong's case being declined by the Adjabeng magistrate court in Accra fills covers the pages of the dailies. The Daily Graphic under the headline Ken Agyapong faces three counts explains that The Adjabeng District Magistrate's Court in Accra yesterday said it had no jurisdiction over the hearing of a treason case against the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parlaiment for Assin North, Kennedy Agyapong. The Chronicle also adds that the refusal to hear the case brought before the court according to the magistrate, Patricia Quansah, followed a circular from the Judicial Secretary dated June 17, 2008, to all judges that first degree felony cases should be transferred to the Chief Justice, for her direct appropriate judges to adjudicate the case. The paper states this under its banner Court declines to hear treason case. Similarly, the Daily Guide states that Judge rejects Kennedy. The Ghanaian Times is not left out as it informs readers that Court refuses Jurisdiction on its front page, adding that an Accra Magistrate's Court yesterday declined jurisdiction over the treason case brought against the Member of Parliament for Assin North, Kennedy Agyapong who is accused of inciting and making inflammatory comments. Finally on this issue, the Crusading Guide's caption Ken's case in limbo further adds that the trial of the New Patriotic Member of Parliament for Assin North, Kennedy Agyapong on charges of treason and genocide yesterday suffered a 'legal stagger' as trial judge Patricia Quansah declined the jurisdiction to hear cases of such magnitude at the magistrate court.

One other issue covered by two of the papers is the Chief Justice's appointment of registration officers. We start with the Daily Graphic, which states that the Chief Justice, Mrs. Justice Georgina Theodora Wood has appointed supervising high court judges in the 10 regions as Chief registration review officers. According to the paper, The Directive is in the exercise of the power conferred on her by Section 19 of the Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations 2012 C.I.72; this it covers under the headline Chief Justice appoints registration review officers. In a similar headline "CJ appoints Chief Registration officers", both the Ghanaian Times and The Chronicle add that their main function is to determine appeals against the decisions  of District Registration Committee made in respect of  claims, Objections  and challenges that may arise during  the ongoing  biometric  registration  exercise.

Away from legal issues, we step into the biometric exercise where we are informed that the NPP sets up 'Situation Room' for BVR exercise. The Daily Graphic in reporting this adds that the New Patriotic Party has set up a 'situation room'' at its party's headquarters to receive complaints and information regarding the ongoing Biometric Voters Registration for prompt action. The 'situation room' which operates 24 hours is headed by Mr. Martin Adjei-Mensah, the Director of Research and Elections of the party.

In the same paper, Aspiring MPs have been told not to undermine registration process. The Deputy Regional Minister, Mr. Aquinas Tawiah Quansah has appealed to aspiring parliamentarians to desist from engaging in activities that could undermine the success of the biometric voter registration exercise. Mr. Quansah , the Member of Parliament for Mfantseman West, said most of the misunderstanding at  some  registration centres were the making of aspiring candidates who wanted to use  all  means to win  elections.

UN Women call for peaceful registration, reports the Daily Graphic. The United Nations Entity on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) has described the escalating violence in the ongoing biometric voter registration exercise as intolerable and has, therefore, urged the authorities to carry out immediate, thorough and effective investigations to stop further violence especially as the country prepares for elections. The UN Women says identifying trailing, and punishing anyone who attempts to inflict pain and intimidate others during the electioneering process is critical to end election-related violence.

In a related story, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, has appealed to politicians to desist from encouraging children under 18 years to register in the ongoing biometric registration exercise. The Daily Graphic captures this in the heading Stop registering minors-Dr. Duffuor, adding that he said such acts could create difficulties in the lives of the children involved.

Similarly, the paper reports that Youth advised to stay away from war. 'Don't joke with war. Don't let the adults destroy the future they will not be living in tomorrow. These words by Dr Yaw Perbi, a Motivational Speaker, set the tone for yesterday's policy fair dialogue on the youth in Accra.

Also in The Chronicle, we are told that MP urges youth to eschew violence. The Member of Parliament (MP) for Abokobi-Madina, Alhaji Amadu Sorogho has called on residents of Madina Zongo community to maintain the peace and tranquillity in the country as the 2012 general elections approach. Alhaji Amadu Sorogho also advised the youth not to resort to violence or allow themselves to be used by politicians to perpetuate acts of anarchy. To him, the youth must rather pursue the path of peace and help to make Ghana an example of a good democratic country, saying "if you have never tasted war you won't know the value of peace".

In a related story from The Chronicle, the Convention People's Party (CPP), the party that gave birth to Ghana, yesterday expressed serious concern about the turn of events in the ongoing biometric registration exercise, culminating in the arrest and detention of Hon. Kennedy Agyapong. Speaking to Citi FM last night, the Chairman and Leader of the CPP, Hon. Samia Yaba Nkrumah, MP for Jomoro said "We are very concerned" that Ghana's democracy has enabled her and many others to contribute to the development of the country, and thus must be protected. "Leaders must check their emotions," she said. The paper reports this under its headline Country before party.

Other reports from the Ghanaian Times indicate that a senior Research officer at the center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has vehemently condemned the alleged treason comments made by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) Kennedy Agyapong. The firebrand MP is currently in the firm grips of officials of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) assisting in investigations. The paper states CDD man condemns Kennedy Agyapong's treason comments.

 

 

The Daily Graphic also informs readers that NPC urges law enforcement agencies to be neutral. The National Peace Council (NPC) has urged the security agencies to investigate all violations and violence committed by supporters of political parties and brings the culprits to justice without delay. It also called on the law enforcement agencies to exhibit professionalism and neutrality in the discharge of their duties.

In a related issue from the Ghanaian Times, NEB expresses worry about registration exercise. The National Enforcement Body (NEB) of the 2012 Political Parties Code of Conduct has expressed concern about the activities of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the ongoing Biometric Voter Registration exercise. It noted that the conduct of the two political parties contravened some provisions of the 2012 Political Parties Code of Conduct.

Still on the biometric registration exercise, Ghanaians have been urged to bear with Electoral Commission. The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development and parliamentary candidate for Tema West, Mr. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, has appealed to Ghanaians to bear with the Electoral Commission for its operational challenges such as the frequent breakdown of some of its machines. He said operational challenges were inevitable since this was the first time the EC was undertaking the biometric voter registration exercise.

One other issue raised in the Ghanaian Times is that UE receives more kits for biometric registration. The Upper East Regional Office of the Electoral Commission (EC) has received 20 back up biometric kits in Bolgatanga. Mr. Bruce Ayisi Regional Director of the commission said the kits would support the ongoing registration exercise and also strengthen the capacity of the region to contain problems.

Lastly about the biometric exercise, the Daily Guide brings to our notice that a 27 year old man who was arrested by the Madina Police for double registration during the ongoing biometric voters registration exercise has been sentenced by a Madina magistrate court. The suspect, Samuel Ofori, also known as Kwabena Ofori, was sentenced to ten days' imprisonment in hard labour by the court presided over by Mariama Somoa. The paper reports in the headline Man convicted for double registration

The Daily Graphic on page 17 states that four parties satisfied with registration exercise. The parties –Convention People's party (CPP), People National Convention (PNC) Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) and the Progressive People's Party (PPP), were particularly happy about the public interest and the high turnout at the various registration centres.

In the wake of all the violence associated with the biometric exercise, NDC, NPP pledge to maintain peace in Odododiodio. The leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Odododiodio Constituency have pledged their support to ensure peace in the ongoing biometric voter registration exercise. This followed an emergency meeting by the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Patrick Timbillah with the two parties.

Meanwhile NPP supporters have been urged to remain calm. Mr. Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Tuesday called on its teeming supporters to remain calm in the aftermath of the arrest of Mr. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Member of Parliament for Assin North. According to the Ghanaian Times, 'The NPP makes it absolutely clear that we do not support intemperate statements and actions that can incite and inflame ethnic passions.

Finally, Ghanaians have been warned that Polling stations are restricted areas. The Cape Coast Metropolitan Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr. Anthony Nyame has cautioned that polling stations are restricted areas which must be respected by all. The Ghanaian Times adds that te explained that anyone who did not have any business there should stay away from the premise; this is how we draw the curtains on the day's review.

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

Follows us on twitter @Ghanaelections

Ghana's biometric registration should be open to Ghanaians abroad

Mr  Joseph Kumah, a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Sene District, called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to take immediate steps to register eligible voters  abroad in the biometric registration exercise.  He told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that it would be unfair on the part of the EC if Ghanaians abroad were not registered.
     Mr. Kumah, who is vying for the parliamentary seat of the newly created Sene East constituency, commended Ghanaians for the impressive turnout during the first and second phases of the exercise and urged those who had not been registered to do so.
     Kajaji is the capital of Sene East District, which is among the 46 newly created district and municipalities.

        Mr. Kumah said although the exercise faced some challenges, the way and manner eligible voters conducted themselves was appreciable and appealed to the EC to also do well to address those problems.
     He said the smooth implementation of the biometric system would not only promote fairness in the electoral process especially voting but also "make things easy for the EC in conducting the elections".
     "The biometric voting systems have helped weed out election frauds in some parts of the world including the United States, UK and Germany", he said.
     Mr. Kumah urged followers of political parties to eschew attitudes that had the potential to undermine the exercise and to support the EC to compile a credible register.
     "All electoral malpractices especially rigging, would be a thing of the past if a credible register is obtained", he said and expressed appreciation to political party agents for their impressive conduct so far during the exercise.

     Mr. Kumah urged Ghanaians to preserve the prevailing peace in the country by ensuring that their comments and attitudes during the electioneering campaign did not provoke political opponents.
     He said Ghana had gained recognition internationally for its remarkable strides in democracy and appealed to political parties to allow the law to take its course on members whose actions and inactions turned to endanger national stability.

Ghana Elections 2012 : Group calls for revocation of licences of radio stations inciting hate, violence

A pressure group Forum for Governance and Justice (FGJ) on Wednesday condemned the "reckless ethnocentric comments" by Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, MP for Assin North, and asked the National Communication Authority (NCA) to consider revoking licences of radio stations which incite people to violence according to GNA

    "In condemning the utterances of Kennedy Agyapong, the FGJ calls on the National Peace Council, Christian Council of Ghana, the Muslim Council, all faith-based organisations as well as civil society and human rights organisations to join us in asking the National Communication Authority (NCA) to consider the revocation of the licenses of radio stations which incite people to violence," it said in a statement issued in Accra and signed by Dr Clement A. Apaak, Convener of FGJ.

    "We make this call based on the fact that some Accra-based radio stations were actively inciting people and being used to mobilise party supporters in Accra as well as other regions of Ghana to invade the Police Headquarters, where Kennedy Agyapong was being questioned by the Police CID. Such radio stations are a danger to our national peace and stability."     FGJ recalled the 1994 genocide in Rwanda which was largely enhanced by radio stations.

    "Prior to the genocide, radio stations were used to dehumanise potential victims. During the genocide, radio was used by extremists to mobilise and coordinate killings," the group said.    It said comments of the MP could not be defended under any circumstance.   "Declaring war and calling on people of one ethnic group to harm people from other ethnic groups is genocidal and should not be tolerated.

   "Yet, we must not just focus on his insensitive comments, for which he should be duly held accountable; we must also take action against media outlets, especially radio stations, which have developed the worrying habit of abusing the right to free speech. This right, which includes freedom of the press and other media, should not be used to promote hate speech and to incite violence."  FGJ said as a people, we must reject the promotion of violence by any persons or entities, including media outlets now.