GBA expresses shock at the death of driver
NPP blames security personnel for poor
performance in Volta Region
NPP is grateful to Ghanaians - J.H. Mensah
NPP, NDC have equal chances -CDD
J.H. Mensah lauds Mrs. Amoah's nomination
I withdrew my
nomination in support of NPP --Boadu
Ashanti NRP
supports Tanoh's decision
NDC rejects NPP's allegation of rigging in
Effutu constituency
Forefinger to be marked during run-off
US commends Ghana and Rawlings
NDC congratulates Ghanaians for a peaceful
election
GBA expresses shock at the death of driver
Accra (Greater Accra) 13 December 2000
The Ghana Bar Association on Tuesday expressed shock and dismay at the sudden death of the driver being kept in custody for allegedly crossing the presidential convoy on the Accra-Tema Motorway.
Four bodyguards of President Jerry John Rawlings died in the accident.
A statement signed by Mr Ebow Quashie, President of the GBA in Accra, called on the police, as a matter of extreme urgency, to make available to the coroner the police docket to enable an inquest required by law to be carried on the corpse.
It said the results should be published without delay to clear the minds of Ghanaians. "The police must act and act now to clear the minds of Ghanaians that the driver's dignity as provided under the 1992 Constitution was not violated leading to his death."
The GBA said the driver was refused bail and sent back to prison custody when his counsel had asked for bail for him. The statement said the GBA considers the matter as a human rights issue.
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NPP blames security personnel for poor
performance in Volta Region
Ho (Volta Region) 13 December 2000
Mr James Dogbe, Volta Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), on Tuesday blamed the party's poor performance in last Thursday's elections, on the arrest of its polling agents in parts of the region.
He told the Ghana News Agency in a telephone interview that the arrest of the party's agents, suspected of being "macho men" at Ho and Akatsi intimidated its supporters and prevented them from voting.
"I am surprised the voting trend remained almost the same. We could have done better than the marginal gains recorded if it had not been for the fact that the security personnel arrested our agents and sent them to Accra," Mr Dogbe said.
He said the thrust of the party's message for the region in the presidential run-off would be for the people to change the trend of voting which has always supported the NDC.
Mr Dogbe said: "We will tell them the NPP has the majority in parliament and it will be a mistake for them to vote for Professor Mills".
He said the party anticipates that the NDC would descend on the region to mobilise people who did not vote in the last election to vote for the party in the run-off, "But we shall counter it by also mobilising the people to vote for the NPP to complete the process of positive change which most of the country has embraced. We will be vigilant to ensure that only the right thing is done," Mr. Dogbe said.
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NPP is grateful to Ghanaians - J.H. Mensah
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 13 December 2000
Minority Leader John Henry Mensah has commended the millions of Ghanaians who voted for the minority parties, particularly the NPP, and urged them to continue to rally behind the party in the run-off for a positive change in government.
"Ghanaians have amply demonstrated their determination to see the NDC government off the scene and I exhort them to pursue the good work they have started to its logical conclusion by voting massively for Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor in the run-off."
Mr. Mensah, who retained his parliamentary seat for Sunyani East, told the Ghana News Agency in Sunyani that the NPP is extremely grateful to Ghanaians for their massive support before and during the December 7 elections.
He said victory in the second round was a foregone conclusion, with all the minority parties throwing their weight behind the NPP.
"The job is almost done and I will like to exhort our supporters to deliver the final blow by making sure that they turn out in their numbers to vote for Kufuor, even if that will entail some sacrifice."
Mr. Mensah wondered if the NDC really has the interest of the country at heart for, in spite of the clearly and loudly expressed will of the majority of Ghanaians, they still want to contest the second round.
"The NDC and its flagbearer, John Atta Mills, will make it easier for everybody if they heed the clearly expressed will of Ghanaians and concede defeat."
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NPP, NDC have equal chances -CDD
Accra (Greater Accra) 13 December 2000
Prof. Gyimah-Boadi, Executive Director of Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), on Tuesday said the NDC and NPP have equal chances in the presidential run-off.
Speaking in an interview with the GNA, he said supporters of the five eliminated parties constitute a pool of floating voters from which both the NDC and NPP could win majority votes.
"This is based on the effectiveness of their campaign in the next 21 days as the loyalty of members of the eliminated parties to their leaders is not certain," he said.
"It is one thing for a party leader to declare his support for another party, and it is another thing to convince his followers to vote for that party."
Prof. Gyimah-Boadi said the support the NPP enjoys from the leaders of the five eliminated political parties is based on the vague sense of voters that "we must have change after 20 years of PNDC-NDC rule, no matter what."
He said this vague, but non-rational desire for change might work for the NPP in the second round of elections.
"An NPP win in the second round of elections will largely be because the people seem to have experienced a sense of lifting from how the NPP beat the incumbent. This feeling is vague and non-rational".
Prof. Gyimah-Boadi, however, said the NDC has for the past eight years proved to be very resourceful when it came to winning power.
"I believe in the ability of the NDC to stage a successful come-back, especially when it is about winning power
"If only the NDC can use that same level of resourcefulness to govern this country, we would be better off."
He said Vice-President John Atta Mills is capable of winning as many floating votes as possible, "provided he is allowed to run his own campaign and project his image and qualities to the electorate."
Prof. Gyimah-Boadi noted that the voting pattern this year reflected a cleaner electoral process, as compared to that of 1992 and 1996.
"Had the electoral process been that cleaner in 1992 and 1996, the results would not have been any different in those past two elections.
"The results of this year's elections are only a reflection of what the unclean electoral process and unlevelled playing field denied the people in 1992 and 1996. We no doubt had a cleaner voters register and a level playing field this time round," he said.
He attributed this to the photo ID card system and the more equitable media accessibility for all the political parties.
Prof. Gyimah-Boadi said, "the question was not about how long the NDC has been in power, nor how much the other political parties campaigned. The system was more transparent this time.
"In 1992 and in 1996 there were only about 5000 domestic observers with a few political party agents. This time we had over 10,000 domestic observers and more political party agents who were very vigilant."
He said this, to a large extent, prevented any particular political party from manipulating the process to its advantage, as was the case in 1992 and 1996.
Referring to the voting trend in the Volta and Ashanti regions, Prof. Gyimah-Boadi urged the electorate to eschew tribal sentiments and allow issues to determine the pattern of voting in the second round of elections.
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NPP, NDC have equal chances -CDD
Salaga (Northern Region) 13 December 2000
The East Gonja District Chief Executive, Mr. Jerry Draman Jackson on Tuesday called on dissident members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who contested the general election as Independent parliamentary candidates to rejoin the party.
He said such a move would enhance efforts of the party to emerge victorious in the second round presidential election.
Mr. Jackson who was speaking to the GNA at Salaga said; "the NDC government has won the hearts of the international donor community, leading to the massive support for development projects, especially in the rural areas".
Ghanaians should renew the mandate of the government to carry its progressive programmes through," he said.
Mr. Jackson thanked the people of the area for their popular endorsement of the NDC in the presidential election.
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J.H. Mensah lauds Mrs. Amoah's nomination
Sunyani (Rong Ahafo) 13 December 2000
Mr. Joseph Henry Mensah, MP for Sunyani East, has welcomed the nomination of Mrs. Cecilia Gyan Amoah, wife of the late Professor Philip Kofi Agyapong Amoah, as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Asutifi South constituency.
"If her nomination is the recommendation of the constituency, I will be happy to endorse it, and we shall all work to secure her election," he said.
"Mrs. Amoah's nomination serves a better purpose for the party as we shall have more women in our parliamentary team."
Mr. Mensah, however, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani that "the constitution of the NPP leaves the selection of parliamentary candidates essentially to the constituents.
"The regional and national executives of the party have oversight responsibilities, but the final endorsement of the candidate is within the prerogative of the national executive."
Mr. Mensah, Minority Leader, said that Mrs. Amoah has been an active partner of her late husband in his political activities.
"Even though she lived abroad, she is a registered voter and has been an active member of the constituency branch of the party."
On her chances of winning the seat, Mr. Mensah said: "we carried the constituency on the presidential votes on December 7 so we have already won one round.
"Now, we have the Asutifi South parliamentary and presidential run-off elections and I am sure that the NPP will commit enough resources to win both races in the constituency."
Mr. Kwadwo Yeboah Fordjour, Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman of the party, said that sympathy for her, her academic background, coupled with the national desire for more women to be in parliament influenced the decision to nominate Mrs. Amoah.
Mr. Fordjour, on behalf of Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor, the entire members and regional executives of the NPP in Brong Ahafo, thanked the electorate for voting massively for Mr. Kufuor and the party.
"The ghost of Busia will be smiling and thanking all those positive-minded voters in his grave," the chairman said.
He appealed to those who did not vote for the NPP in the December 7 elections to give their mandate to Mr. Kufuor for the country's progress and prosperity.
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I withdrew my
nomination in support of NPP --Boadu
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 13
December 2000
Mr. George Kwasi Boadu,
Independent parliamentary candidate for Bantama, on Tuesday described a
December 5, Daily Graphic advertiser's announcement that he was among 19
candidates who withdrew their nominations in support of National Democratic
Congress (NDC), as misleading and unfounded.
"I wish to make it clear that
I withdrew my nomination in support of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Mr
J.A. Kufuor, in a press release on November 21", he said.
In a press statement in Kumasi, Mr
Boadu said "I had made this position clear in my press release of November
21. It is therefore clear that the said advertiser's announcement was made in
spite of my release just to defame me".
He asked the media especially the
Daily Graphic to correct what he described as "the unfortunate impression
created" and also demanded an apology from the paper.
In the Daily Graphic of December
5, this year, an advertisement headlined "19 aspiring MP's support
Mills", mentioned Mr Boadu as one of 19 opposition candidates, who
allegedly resigned from their parties to support Professor John Atta Mills,
"because he is the best amongst the presidential aspirants in election
2000."
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Ashanti NRP
supports Tanoh's decision
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 13
December 2000
Opanin Kwame Afreh, Ashanti
Regional Chairman of the National Reform Party (NRP) on Tuesday expressed
appreciation and support for Mr Augustus Goosie Tanoh's decision to throw his
weight behind Mr J.A. Kufuor in the presidential run-off.
Mr Tanoh's declaration has
confirmed his promise to "us that he will lend his support to any of the
opposition parties that emerged victorious should he fail to win. This has
given us total confidence in him".
Opanin Afreh was speaking to the
Ghana News Agency in Kumasi today on the stand taken by the NRP leadership on
the run-off in the presidential elections between Mr J.A. Kufuor of the New
Patriotic Party (NPP) and professor J.E.A. Mills of the National Democratic
Congress (NDC).
He said pronouncements by some
leading members of the NDC that there is need for reform in the party has
vindicated Mr Tanoh and those who broke away from the party.
"It clearly shows that Mr
Tanoh and his colleagues are not self-seekers as the NDC painted them, but are
people who stand for truth, transparency and accountability."
Opanin Afreh appealed to all the
opposition parties to support Mr Kufuor, to win the run-off.
In another development, the Eastern Regional Co-ordinator of the National Reform Party, (NRP), Mr Charles Quartey, has described the opposition parties' decision to support the New Patriotic Party (NPP) during the presidential run-off as "timely."
He said since the NPP is poised to win the elections, the NRP sees it necessary to throw its weight behind its presidential candidate, Mr J.A. Kufuor.
In an interview with the GNA at Koforidua, Mr Quartey said even though all the opposition parties have different views, their votes during the first round "gave a clear indication that they were all fighting on a common front."
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NDC rejects NPP's allegation of rigging in
Effutu constituency
Winneba (Central Region) 13 December 2000
The NDC constituency chairman for Effutu, Nii Emphraim has denied allegations by the local NPP executive that electoral officials assisted the NDC to rig last Thursday's general election in the constituency.
Reacting to a news report on the result, Mr. Emphraim described the allegations as baseless and calculated to tarnish the image of the NDC.
He said as the electoral laws demand, agents of all the political parties were made to endorse the election forms after the valid votes cast had been counted at the polling stations before they were sent to the constituency centre for certification and declaration of the results.
According to Nii Emphraim, when the ballot boxes containing the ballot papers were brought to the electoral office, the NPP officials were given four hours to cross-check their figures with those of returning officer.
He said after that, Nana Odum-Ooku, the returning officer together with Mr. Claud Arhin and Mr. Jojo Richardson, representing the NPP, endorsed the final declaration papers.
"It is therefore surprising that the NPP executives refused to accept the outcome of the elections which were conducted in a peaceful and orderly atmosphere", Nii Emphraim said.
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Forefinger to be marked during run-off
Accra (Greater Accra) 13 December 2000
The Electoral Commission on Tuesday said the forefinger of registered voters would be marked with indelible ink during the run-off elections scheduled for December 28.
"There is the possibility of voters still having the indelible ink on their left thumb. To forestall any funny dealings and multiple voting, the forefinger of the left hand will be marked," Mr Albert Kofi Arhin, Director of Elections, told the GNA in Accra on Tuesday.
He explained that the run-off is part of the general elections held on December 7 and administrative measures would be put in place to ensure transparency and fairness to all the electorate.
Mr Arhin said the Commission is aware that most voters might be voting in a run-off election for the first time and might be confused on Election Day.
The EC has, therefore, adopted measures to ensure that the electorate understand and participate in the election freely.
Mr Arhin said the EC would only approve new proxy voters who would be away on December 28. Those who voted by proxy on December 7 should contact their Returning Officers for their slips to vote.
He said the Commission would organise a special orientation for Returning and Presiding Officers to be abreast with regulations governing run-off elections.
On the voting procedure for the electoral officials and other personnel who would be on duty on voting day, Mr Arhin said they would be given a certificate, which would enable them to vote at their duty posts. "There will be no special voting for the run-off," he said.
He said the EC has written to educational institutions to compile the list of students who voted but would be on holidays by the run-off.
Mr. Arhin said such students would be given temporary transfer to enable them to vote at where they would be spending the holidays.
The Director of Elections emphasised that all rules and regulations governing elections in the country would be applied and called on the general public and the media to ensure that the election is conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.
The run-off has been fixed for Thursday, December 28.
Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission, in a gazette notice, said the election will start at 7 a.m. and end at 5 p.m.
It will be between Mr John Agyekum Kufuor of NPP and Professor John Evans Atta Mills of NDC.
It gave the breakdown of the votes for the seven presidential candidates in the December 7 elections as follows: Mr Kufuor, 3,121,506 votes, which represented 48.35 per cent of total votes, while Prof. Mills bagged 2,895,570 votes, representing 44.9 per cent.
None of the contestants got the 50 per cent plus one vote to emerge a clear winner, in accordance with the constitution.
The other results are: Mr Dan Lartey, GCPP, 67,506 votes (1 per cent); Professor George Hagan, CPP, 114,924 votes (1.8 per cent); and Dr Edward Mahama, PNC, 162,076 (2.5 per cent).
The rest are Mr Goosie Tanoh, NRP, 72,213 votes (1.1 per cent); and Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby, UGM, 21,814 votes (0.3 per cent).
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US commends Ghana and Rawlings
Accra (Greater Accra) 13 December 2000
The United States (US) on Tuesday commended Ghanaians for the successful December 7 presidential and parliamentary elections and said the achievement places Ghana as a leader in the region as a model democratic country.
A statement from the US Embassy in Accra said; "the elections were conducted in a manner that was substantially free, fair and transparent".
"The achievement underscores Ghana's place as a leader in the region and as a model for other countries pursuing democratic systems of governance.
"We commend President Rawlings for the leadership role in bringing the nation to this historic moment."
The US said it believed that the results accurately reflected the will of voters and the confidence Ghanaians have in their electoral system.
"As Ghana prepares for a second round of presidential elections within the next few weeks, we are encouraged by the public statements of President Rawlings and leading presidential candidates in support of peace, tolerance and co-operation," the statement said.
It called on all to continue in the same spirit during the presidential run-off and beyond for smooth democratic transition.
In a related development, Mr Peter Hain, British Foreign and Commonwealth Minister for Africa, said, "the people of Ghana have demonstrated their commitment to democratic development through the electoral process".
He said, "the orderly, fair and transparent nature of the elections is a tribute to Ghana's political evolution and the legacy that President Rawlings will leave on standing down.
"As Ghana heads toward a second round of elections, we continue to support a free, fair and peaceful process, the results of which will command widespread acceptance among the people of Ghana and the international community."
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NDC congratulates Ghanaians for a peaceful
election
Accra (Greater Accra) 13 December 2000
The Progressive Alliance on Tuesday expressed its gratitude to Ghanaians for their contribution towards the peaceful presidential and parliamentary elections held on Thursday December 7.
A statement signed by Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) said the successful conduct of the elections has put Ghana ahead of many other countries as a citadel of peace and worthy example of the democratic culture that has emerged in modern times.
It congratulated the various organisations and institutions that supervised and monitored the elections, which helped in no small way to bring the country this far.
"We wish to thank the teeming supporters and sympathisers of the Progressive Alliance for their forbearance and great support for the cause of the process.
"And in particular, for demonstrating to the world that the democratic culture that they have helped to put in place will continue to blossom even in the face of threats and intimidation.''
The statement urged all the loyal supporters to remain calm and resolute in the preparations for the re-run of the presidential elections and to turn out in their numbers to demonstrate their commitment and loyalty to the NDC.
"Every party faithful should bear in mind that the way to keep the process on course is to ensure that the party stays in power to continue its good work.''
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Fati Seidu seeks recount of Bawku Central
vote
Bolgatanga (Northern Region) 13 December 2000
Hajia Fati Seidu, the defeated NDC parliamentary candidate for Bawku Central in last Thursday's general election, on Tuesday demanded a recount of the ballot.
Speaking at a press conference at Bolgatanga, she expressed dissatisfaction about the manner in which the counting of the votes and declaration of results were done.
"I am accordingly demanding that a proper recount of the election results be conducted to determine the true winner" she emphasised.
She said the collation of the results was disrupted when violence broke out at the community centre on December 8, adding that her party agents were manhandled and threatened with death by thugs who invaded the collation centre.
She said at the time of the disruption, results from 142 polling stations had been collated, which put her ahead with 21,621 against 21,281 by her rival with nine more stations remaining.
"I am confident that results of the nine polling stations would have favoured me, since eight of these came from my strongholds" she insisted.
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