Hannah Annor writes from Accra
Dec. 27, 2008-Ghanaian electorates would tomorrow, Sunday go to the polls again for the presidential run-off election to choose a presidential candidate to succeed President John Agyekum Kufuor.
None of the presidential candidates attained the constitutional requirement of 50 per cent plus one vote during the December 7 general election, hence the need for the run-off.
The two candidates, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), son of Ghana’s former Head of State, Edward Akufo-Addo and Professor John Evans Atta- Mills of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) are contesting.
Nana Akufo-Addo was a former Attorney-General, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for Akyem Abuakwa in the Eastern region of Ghana whilst Prof Atta-Mills was a Vice President of the Republic during President Jerry John Rawlings regime that handed over to President Kufuor.
The polls which begin at 0700 hours and end 1700 hours started on Tuesday with the Special Voting which involved persons whose services would be needed on duty on the Election Day.
They include officials of the statutory body responsible for the election, the Electoral Commission, security personnel, media and party representatives who would monitor it.
Both candidates have in the last two weeks intensified their campaigns in order to win the presidential seat.
Whilst the NPP goes with the campaign message “Moving Forward’, the NDC is calling for change, using the Akan dilate “Yeresesam”.
In the December 7 polls which attracted lots of commendation for Ghana from the international community and election observers due to peace and tranquillity which prevailed, Nana Akufo- Addo pulled 49. 13 per cent and Prof Atta-Mills had 47. 92 per cent.
A gap of only 102,000 votes separated the two candidates in an election in which eight million people voted.
Nana Akufo-Addo, 64, has a former Deputy Governor of Ghana’s Central Bank, Mamudu Bawumiah as his vice presidential candidate and Prof Mills, 64, has John Mahama, Member of Parliament for Bole Bamboi in northern Ghana and former Minister of Communications under the Rowling’s administration.
Nana is married to Rebecca with 5 children whilst Prof-Atta-Mills also has Naadu as wife with a son.
-End
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Ghana's election shinning example to Africa-says AU Observers
Story: Hannah Annor
Accra, Ghana-Dec. 9, 2008 -Ghana has distinguished herself in Africa by demonstrating that it is possible to run elections in the continent without violence, the African Union (AU) Observer Mission said on Tuesday.
It said Ghana's election was also a big relief to Africa after recent election violence in Kenya and Zimbabwe.
"Ghana has become a shining example at the time when Africa is passing through difficult times in efforts to consolidate democracy," Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, Head of the AU Observer Team, said at a news conference in Accra.
He said the team was impressed with the patience, resilience and high turnout by the Ghanaian electorate during the polls, which proved the country's political maturity.
Dr Salim said the voting process was conducted peacefully and orderly with much vigilance and enthusiasm from both voters and civil society.
He said Ghana's elections also showed the exercise of democracy without fear or favour, describing the process as most inspiring.
Dr Salim thanked Ghanaians and other observers who worked during the elections to help further consolidate the country's democracy.
Touching on the purported delay by the Electoral Commission (EC) in releasing certified results, Dr Salim urged Ghanaians to continue to exercise patience.
He said constitutional provisions indicated that the EC had 72 hours to declare the results and there was no cause for worry, since the EC had not exceeded its mandatory time.
Dr Salim also advised political parties to exercise restraint, have confidence in the EC and avoid declaring the results ahead of the EC.
Political parties, he said, must also learn to accept the election results when they are declared and respect the decision of the electorates.
The team also recommended to the EC to create additional polling stations in order to reduce the long queues during voting to manageable sizes.
On electoral materials, the team asked the EC to ensure that polling stations were well supplied with sufficient materials both for the conduct of the elections and for incidental purposes should voting and counting continue after night fall.
The team said essential voting materials such as booths should also be adaptable to the environment, such as the ability to withstand strong wind or rain.
On voter transfers, the team urged EC to improve on the process of transfers and to ensure that the transfer lists were available at all polling stations.
"The EC should consider listing the names alphabetically to ease reference," it added.
The team also called on the EC to constantly inform the public that it was the only statutory body to announce results.
Political parties should also be less intrusive at polling stations and in particular refrain from being involved with electoral officers in locating voter names in the voters’ register.
The team announced it would issue its full report on the elections soon.
Accra, Ghana-Dec. 9, 2008 -Ghana has distinguished herself in Africa by demonstrating that it is possible to run elections in the continent without violence, the African Union (AU) Observer Mission said on Tuesday.
It said Ghana's election was also a big relief to Africa after recent election violence in Kenya and Zimbabwe.
"Ghana has become a shining example at the time when Africa is passing through difficult times in efforts to consolidate democracy," Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, Head of the AU Observer Team, said at a news conference in Accra.
He said the team was impressed with the patience, resilience and high turnout by the Ghanaian electorate during the polls, which proved the country's political maturity.
Dr Salim said the voting process was conducted peacefully and orderly with much vigilance and enthusiasm from both voters and civil society.
He said Ghana's elections also showed the exercise of democracy without fear or favour, describing the process as most inspiring.
Dr Salim thanked Ghanaians and other observers who worked during the elections to help further consolidate the country's democracy.
Touching on the purported delay by the Electoral Commission (EC) in releasing certified results, Dr Salim urged Ghanaians to continue to exercise patience.
He said constitutional provisions indicated that the EC had 72 hours to declare the results and there was no cause for worry, since the EC had not exceeded its mandatory time.
Dr Salim also advised political parties to exercise restraint, have confidence in the EC and avoid declaring the results ahead of the EC.
Political parties, he said, must also learn to accept the election results when they are declared and respect the decision of the electorates.
The team also recommended to the EC to create additional polling stations in order to reduce the long queues during voting to manageable sizes.
On electoral materials, the team asked the EC to ensure that polling stations were well supplied with sufficient materials both for the conduct of the elections and for incidental purposes should voting and counting continue after night fall.
The team said essential voting materials such as booths should also be adaptable to the environment, such as the ability to withstand strong wind or rain.
On voter transfers, the team urged EC to improve on the process of transfers and to ensure that the transfer lists were available at all polling stations.
"The EC should consider listing the names alphabetically to ease reference," it added.
The team also called on the EC to constantly inform the public that it was the only statutory body to announce results.
Political parties should also be less intrusive at polling stations and in particular refrain from being involved with electoral officers in locating voter names in the voters’ register.
The team announced it would issue its full report on the elections soon.
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