GRi Newsreel Ghana 01 - 12 - 2000
Security personnel advised against assuming duties of electoral officers
Concerned citizens call for ban on night
political rallies
Lartey entrenches
his 'domestication' concept
Nineteen aspiring MPs withdraw from race
Accra (Greater Accra) 01 December 2000
Eight days before Ghana's elections, 19 parliamentary candidates have withdrawn from the contest. Most likely, the withdrawals will help the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the December 7 parliamentary elections.
At least two of the candidates have indicated they will support the candidates of the NDC).
They are the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) candidate for Chereponi, Alahji Abubakar Shaibu Malba, and the People's National Convention's (PNC) candidate for Odododiodio, Baba Imoro.
The others are nine independent, three from the United Ghana Movement (UGM), two each from National Reform Party (NRP) and PNC, and one each from , EGLE and Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP).
Information available to the Ghana News Agency shows that it is too late for the political parties to replace the candidates. The deadline for nominations was September 15.
Electoral regulations on withdrawal state that a candidate may withdraw at any time prior to the day before election by personally writing to the Electoral Commission (EC).
The regulations state further that if the notice of withdrawal comes after the ballot papers and related election notices have been printed, the candidate's name will remain on the ballot papers and related notices and the candidate will lose the deposit paid at the time of nominations.
The candidates who withdrew are:
UGM - West Mamprusi, Saibu Mohammed Awalu; Cape Coast, James Aggrey; and Ayawaso East, Bismark A Abagli.
NRP- Akan, Peter Kwasi Edison Ansa, and Nadowli North, Domayele Marcel Aston.
PNC - Gukpegu/Sabongida, Amusa Fuseini.
EGLE - Nkoranza, Thomas Owusu-Ansah (the party's only candidate). GCPP- Effutu, Alex Kweku Aidoo.
Independent - Korle Klottey, Maclean Akuffo; Sawla/Kalba, Bajanju A Sey; Bantama, George Kwasi Boadu; Birim North, Emmanuel Oti Obeng; Kintampo, Alhassan
Seidu Harrison; Ho Central, Lt Col Stephen B Ashun; Shama, Hayford E Lamptey;
Anlo, Goyimwole Enukomeko Kpodo; and Akuapim South, Wayak Gbeckor-Kove.
According to figures compiled by the Ghana News Agency (GNA), 1,063 candidates are now contesting the December elections. This represents 73.3 per cent increase in the 1996 figure of 780.
The figures show that 55 candidates are contesting as independent. Seven political parties are supporting the rest.
They are NDC,NPP, CPP, NRP, PNC, UGM, and GCPP. In 1996, a total of 57 candidates ran as independent. Eight political parties supported the rest.
The breakdown shows that the NDC is contesting all 200 seats this year and has nominated about 75 per cent of their sitting MPs for re-election.
NPP is contesting 197 seats, CPP 191, NRP 171, PNC 143 and UGM 103. GCPP is contesting two seats, Ablekuma Central in Greater Accra and Navrongo Central in the Upper East Region.
The Greater Accra Region has 22 seats, Eastern Region 26, Western Region 19, Central Region 17, Ashanti 33, Brong Ahafo 21, Northern 23, Volta 19, Upper East 12 and Upper West eight.
Significantly, the UGM has fielded candidates in only 15 seats in Greater Accra, 10 in the Eastern Region, four in Western Region, seven in the Central Region, 16 Ashanti and eight in Brong Ahafo.
Ashanti Region has the highest number of candidates with 175. That compares to 110 in 1996. Upper West has 36 candidates compared to 28 in 1996.
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Wa (Upper West) 01 December 2000
Mr David Walenkaki, Commissioner of Police in charge of Special Duties, on Wednesday advised security personnel not to usurp the functions of election officials on polling day but concentrate on maintaining law and order.
He told them to refer all enquiries on the voting procedure to returning officers at the polling stations.
Mr Walenkaki gave the advice when he addressed a forum of police personnel organised by the Upper West Regional Police Commander at Wa.
The Commissioner, who is also the election security co-ordinator for the three northern regions, was on a three-day working visit to the region to assess security arrangements for next week's general election.
Mr Walenkaki urged the police not to desert or leave their duty posts under the pretext of going out for food, water or any other needs since some bad elements could take advantage of that to cause mischief.
He told them to be firm and vigilant and have the courage to withstand party functionaries who might want to dictate their wishes to them at the polling stations.
Mr Francis Kwaku Agyemang, Regional Police Commander, assured the public that the police and the security services in the region were firmly prepared to carry out their functions on polling day and expressed the hope that the general election would be incident-free.
He called on the leadership of the political parties contesting the elections to co-operate fully with the police to make the exercise a peaceful one.
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Concerned citizens call for ban on night
political rallies
Wa (Upper West) 01 December 2000
The Upper West Regional branch of the concerned citizens association of Ghana has called on the police to enforce the law, which prohibits the holding of political rallies in the night.
The regional chairman of the association, Mr Nuhu Mahama said such rallies are used for verbal attacks on personalities, which is generating a lot of tension in the region where they have become regular occurrences.
"We have been following such night rallies with keen attention and have realised that they are platforms created for personal attacks on political opponents for selfish gains", Mr Nuhu told the GNA at Wa.
He appealed to the Regional Election Security Committee and the National Commission on Civic Education to intensify public education on political tolerance for people to conduct their political campaign in a mature and orderly manner.
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Lartey entrenches
his 'domestication' concept
Accra (Greater Accra) 01 December
2000
Mr Dan Lartey, presidential candidate
of the Great Consolidated People's Party (GCPP) on Wednesday re-echoed his
policy of 'domestication' saying, the concept would form the basis of his
government's programmes.
Mr Lartey, who was answering
questions at a presidential forum in Accra said the fundamental problems
stalling progress in Africa, particularly in Ghana are the lack of right policy
programmes to encourage self-reliance through increased local production.
"Domestication will ensure
that we develop our own production, stockpile and export commodities without
necessarily having to rely on external support," Mr Lartey said.
In his view, most African
countries are finding it difficult to survive the globalisation concept because
of their inability to produce enough to feed themselves and 'stockpile' for
export.
The forum, organised by the
Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) with funds from the European Union, sought
to provide a platform for the scrutiny of programmes and policies of the
presidential candidates in the run-up to next week's election.
However, only three, including Mr
Lartey, out of the seven men seeking the top post showed up. The others were Dr
Charles Wereko-Brobby, candidate for the United Ghana Movement (UGM) and Mr Goosie Tanoh, candidate for the
National Reform Party (NRP).
They were asked to explain how
they intend to address socio-economic issues such as the AIDS menace, the
perceived corruption in the judicial system, Information Technology, the future
role of their spouses and their foreign policy.
They were also made to indicate
what they would do with the presidential jet, which was acquired recently amid
wide criticism.
While Mr Lartey indicated that his
government would continue with the payment for the aircraft and thereafter use
it because the state's commitment has already been made to it, Dr Wereko-Brobby
and Mr Tanoh said they would return it.
He spoke against Ministers of
State being sent abroad for medical treatment saying under his government, he
would rather strengthen medical institutions and provide them with relevant
manpower skills to enable them to handle cases that are currently treated
outside.
Mr Lartey said it is necessary to
involve the police and military in the 'power base' in order to prevent them
from taking power from the people.
He expressed optimism that next
week's election would be successful and violence-free if the 'proper things are
put in place'.
Dr Charles Mensah, president of
the IEA, moderated the session.
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