Ghana Decides Tomorrow

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