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

Ghana Elections Daily News Review - 6th June, 2012

Making the headlines in the dailies today is news from the political party terrain and the Daily Guide informs us that JJ Won't Campaign. The Member of Parliament (MP) for Lower Manya Krobo and leading  member of the ruling National Democratic  Congress (NDC), Teye  Nyaunu has  disclosed that former  President  Rawlings  will not  campaign  for  the  ruling  party  in the December polls. Speaking  on Kessben FM in Kumasi, he said  the  Mills-led government  has not  added any value  to the lives of  Ghanaians  since  it assumed office  more than  three years ago  therefore  he does  not think Mr. Rawlings would  mount  the campaign platform  to urge  the populace  to renew the mandate of the  NDC.

The Ghanaian Times however reports that the former spokesperson for the defunct Armed Forces Revolution Council (AFRC), Major Rtd. Boakye Djan, says the Mills administration will win the December elections without the contributions of NDC founder Jerry John Rawlings. According to him, the Mills-led administration had done a lot to deserve a second term in office. The paper quotes him as saying we will win without Rawlings.

Away from that, we are told still by the Ghanaian Times that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Friday expressed worry about the intermittent power outages in the Country and blamed the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the current deficit in the nation's energy supply. The NDC alleged that the NPP in its eight year term in office was negligent and failed to give the needed attention to the energy sector.

We now move to some campaign activities as NPP takes measures for victory. The Central Regional youth organizer of the New Patriotic Party, Mr. Francis Ejaku Donkoh, has said the party will reclaim all the seats it lost in the 2008 elections, come December 2012. The Daily Guide adds that according to him, the party's hierarchy had over the  last three years identified the difficulties that led  to their  abysmal  performance in the 2008 polls and had put in place  measures  to ensure  that they post a  better result in this year's  elections.

The Daily Dispatch also reports on page 9 that the Presidential Candidate for the Progressive People 's Party (PPP), Dr. Paa Kwasi Nduom, has appealed to Ghanaians  to give PPP a chance in the upcoming general  elections  to transform the nation within only four years. Dr. Nduom , the founder of PPP, made  this appeal at the National launch  of the party's  campaign train, where  he observe that  the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and  the ruling  National Democratic Congress (NDC) have  been in power since 1992 and "have  done  nothing good  to transform the nation so there  is the need for Ghanaians  to vote  massively  for the PPP to transform  the nation beyond  recognition."

News from the Daily Graphic indicates that the Central Regional Youth Organizer of the ruling National Democratic Congress, Mr. Sampson Ahianyo, has said the many pro-poor initiatives implemented by President  J.E.A Mills had won  more support for the party in the region. In this connection, he had argued that the party would consolidate its control of the region by winning more parliamentary seats come December 2012. The paper reports this under the banner Pro-poor initiatives to win more support for NDC.

 

Finally on campaigns, the Ghanaian Times brings to our notice that the Convention People's Party (CPP) on Tuesday unveiled series of activities to kick-start its Election 2012 campaign to be launched on June 12. 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, paid a visit to Nkroful, the birth place of late President Osagyefo Dr. Kwame  Nkrumah  recently.

We end the daily review with news from the Daily Graphic which indicates that a Renowned evangelist  and President  of the world wide Miracle  Outreach  Lawrence Tetteh has  observed  that  some  politicians  have develop the spirit  of arrogance lately, calling  on Ghanaians  to reject  them. According  to him, God in his own way had appointed the one  who would  lead Ghanaians  come 2013  and beyond so people  should do away  with  the Spirit  of intolerance, personality  attacks , insults  tribalism and divisive  politics. The paper quotes him as saying Reject Politicians with Arrogant Spirit.

 

 

 

Ensure level political playing field - Church Youth

The Youth Ministry of the Lighthouse (Central) Assembly of God Church in Kumasi has called for fair play and responsible conduct by all Ghanaians to ensure the success of the upcoming general polls.
They condemned the violence during the biometric voter registration, the continued polarization and intolerance, and said these must end.
 A statement read by the Reverend Joseph Appiah, an Associate Pastor of the Church, said lessons must be learnt from the bitter experience of other African countries like Liberia, Sierra Leone and La Cote D'Ivoire to avoid pitfalls.
 This was after hundreds of youth from the various branches of the church had gone on a two-and-a-half hour peace walk along some principal streets in Kumasi.      
 They held placards carrying messages such as "Peace is more precious than electoral victory", "Peace, and not shattered lives", "Peace today, peace tomorrow, peace forever", "Say yes to peace, and no to violence", and "War is expensive, peace is priceless."
The statement said "we pride ourselves as a nation after God's own heart, this is truism but we should know that we are not more righteous than the countries that have suffered the ravages of political and ethnic violence."
 It therefore reminded the political parties to focus their electioneering campaigns on issues that affect the ordinary people and not on insults and vilification.
 The media should also be objective, balanced and fair in their news reports. They must do away with unnecessary sensationalism likely to have far-reaching repercussions on the nation's peace.
 It also called on the security agencies to be professional and to deal decisively with individuals and groups out there to undermine the electoral process.
 The Electoral Commission (EC) on its part must do everything to create level political playing field to make the outcome of the December poll credible and acceptable to all the parties.
The statement called on religious bodies to continue praying for peace, unity and the tranquility of the nation.
"Religious leaders should preach tolerance and peaceful co-existence and desist from using the pulpit to engage in partisan politics."

GNA

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

News making the headlines in the dailies today includes the launch of PPP'S campaign over the weekend. Reports from the Daily Graphic, Ghanaian Times and the Ghanaian Observer indicate that the Progressive  People's Party (PPP) launched its  National campaign for  the 2012 Presidential  and Parliamentary elections  at an impressive  rally held at Elmina  in the central Region on Saturday, 2^nd June with thousands and thousands  of people  in attendance. The party used the occasion to announce its community-based campaign right after the inaugural ceremony .The PPP showcased many of the PPP'S youthful Parliamentary candidates from all the ten regions of the country.

News from the Crusading Guide reveals that four constituencies in the Kassena Nankana East Electoral area of the Upper East Region have dragged the Electoral Commission (EC) and six others to the Accra Human Rights court for allegedly not organizing the biometric registration exercise in their areas. The communities were represented by their elders namely, Aberinga Aligbo, elder of the Atosale people, Azungra Abuo, elder of Azaasi people, Azinyegre Anafo, elder of Abempingo people and Ayariga Awunge, elder of Akukongo people. The paper reports this under the headline EC sued over biometric.

The Ghanaian Observer informs readers under the quote NPP Free Education Is Possible that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary candidate for Bongo Constituency, Madam Diana Assure Aburiya, has said that the free Senior High School (SHS) policy of the party would not be a mirage when Ghanaians give the NPP their mandate come December 7 this year. Madam Aburiya said the NPP has been tried and tested for it policies and when it is given the mandate it would deliver on it promises.In other reports the New Statesman indicates that NPP women pray for party and nation. The Sekondi-Takoradi Women's wing of the opposition New Patriotic Party last Friday organized an All-night prayer session to seek divine intervention and victory for the party and its presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo come December. Dubbed 'Ye sere Nyame', the women also used the occasion to pray for God's protection and blessing for the party's presidential running mate, Mahamudu Bawumia, Members of Parliament, aspiring Members of Parliament and the nation as a whole.

Electorate poised to vote NPP in 2012-Akufo Addo. According to the Daily Guide, the Ghanaian electorates are poised to vote the New Patriotic Party (NPP) into power in 2012, the Flagbearer of the NPP, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stated. However, he told the members of the party that there was no room for complacency but that hardwork and unity were required to propagate the party's message of hope to every nook and cranny of the country.

The paper in another report informs us that Youth of the Convention People's Party (CPP) and the People's National Convention (PNC) have said the two Nkrumaist parties risk losing their relevance in Ghanaian politics beyond the 2012 elections if they fail to merge.  According to them, Ghanaians voters would not take the two seriously since they continued to prolong their unity talks even they had both shown interest in merging.

Still from the Daily Guide, Former President Rawlings has warned that unless the National Democratic Congress returns to June 4th principles of truth, transparency, and accountability, which formed the basis for the formation of the party victory in the 2012 elections, will be an illusion. According to him, the NDC under President Mills has neglected those values and principles which had led to a number of corrupt activities taking place in clear violation of the promise made to Ghanaians that made them vote he Atta Mills administration into power in2008.

Meanwhile Ghana's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Professor Kwaku Danso-Boafo, has urged Ghanaians to use the forthcoming general election to demonstrate to the world that Ghana is mature in her democratic dispensation.  Under the headline Let's show Ghana's maturity in democracy .He said  Ghana  had the chance  to consolidate  the gains  of  democracy  in the crucial December elections.

We end today's review with the Daily Guide's headline Central Region to reject NDC –NPP regional organizer. The Central Regional Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Francis Edjaju Donkoh, says the Central Region will reject the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in this year's elections .He stated that the various in-house surveys conducted by the NPP indicated that the NDC would not win more than five parliamentary seats out of the 19 seats in the region.

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

Follows us on twitter @Ghanaelections