GRi Newsreel Ghana 19 - 12 - 2000
Mills campaign
desperate and amusing – NPP
NDC unhappy about Kufuor's withdrawal from
debate
Six Donor communities to support
presidential run-off
Consider plight of
people during disputes - Chiefs urged
Powell's appointment as US State Secretary
is deceptive
NPP accuses NDC of arming supporters
Prof. Mills thanks Volta region for support
Bawku situation is still volatile – DCE
Man nabbed over five voter ID cards
Stop selling Nkrumah's legacy to NPP - CPP
activist
NDC is more comforting to CPP than NPP
Stop intimidating NDC supporters - Ato
Dadzie
Minority Parties launch joint campaign for
run-off
Best farmer says NPP must be given the
mandate
Mills campaign
desperate and amusing – NPP
Accra (Greater Accra) 19 December
2000
The NPP on Monday described moves
by the Mills Campaign Team for a debate between the two candidates for the
presidential run-off on December 28 as "amusing and desperate".
A statement in Accra by Mr Jake
Obetsebi-Lamptey, NPP National Campaign Manager, said the party is baffled by
the "NDC's new found passion for such a debate and the zeal with which it
is being pursued".
It noted that the NDC refused
similar debates in 1992 and 1996 as well as "the October flight of the
2000 presidential candidate.
After the massive rejection and
its shocking defeat in the December 7 elections, the NDC and its presidential
candidate are in desperate search for a lifeline".
Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor, the NPP
presidential candidate, is no stranger to debates since he participated in the
drafting of two constitutions for the country and was on the same number of
occasions elected to Parliament.
"Seeking the mandate of the
people to run their lives is very serious business and not the kind of comic
exercise that the Mills Campaign seeks to reduce the run-off into with these
infantile calls for public debates".
Mr. Kufuor's style of going
directly to seek the mandate of the people compares most favourably to the
"unacceptable shortcut" of the Mills Campaign.
The NPP said "Mr Kufuor would
not throw any lifeline to the drowning team of his opponent by being part of
any exercise of deception of the people".
The statement said at the age of
32, Mr Kufuor, as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs led Ghana's delegations to
the United Nations and conferences of the Non-aligned Movement and had no
problem making Ghana's position on contentious issues known and understood.
It said "December 28 is
barely two weeks away and Mr Kufuor, in characteristic style, is on course. For
the Mills Campaign, we wish them well in their tripod strategy of violence and
threats of violence, whipping up ethnic divisions and chasing a public debate
that will not happen," the NPP said.
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NDC unhappy about Kufuor's withdrawal from
debate
Accra (Greater Accra) 19 December 2000
The Mills for President Campaign Team has expressed regret that Mr J.A. Kufuor, flagbearer of the NPP, will not debate Professor John Evans Atta Mills, presidential candidate of the NDC.
Mr. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, Campaign Manager for Mr Kufuor, said last Friday in a JOY FM programme - Front Page - that the NPP flagbearer would not debate Prof. Mills.
A statement issued by the NDC and signed by Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, the Team's Communications Co-ordinator, said the debate aims to give the two candidates an opportunity to present their vision, policies, programmes and promises to the people of Ghana to enable them to make an informed choice.
The statement said Mr Obetsebi Lamptey did not give any valid explanation as to why Mr. Kufuor would not debate Prof. Mills.
However, "political analysts are of the view that Mr. Kufuor's handlers are attempting to shield him from allowing the Ghanaian people to get to know the real Mr. Kufuor who wants to be their President".
The statement quoted Prof. Mills as saying: "It is unfortunate that Mr. Kufuor is unwilling to accept our offer to present ourselves to the people of Ghana so that the people can make an informed choice based on our specific vision, policies, programmes and promises".
It said Mr. Spio-Garbrah, who was speaking on the same programme, explained that presidential debates are important in that they do not simply judge a candidate's oratorical or argumentative ability but an opportunity for the electorate to judge how their leaders will solve specific problems.
The statement recalled that when the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) organised a presidential debate a week before the December 7 elections, Mr Kufuor turned down the invitation, compelling Prof. Mills to also stay away even though he had wanted to participate. The statement did not however mention that Prof, Mills did also pulled out of an earlier debate organized by the Freedom Forum in conjunction with the Ghana Journalist Association.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 19 December 2000
The Police on Monday refuted allegations that three women were found dead at different parts of Accra on Monday morning.
A source at the Police Headquarters, however, confirmed to the GNA that a woman was found dead around the Spintex Road, near the Kotoka International Airport at about 0930 hours.
According to the source, the woman believed to be in her late 30s, was found by a taxi driver who had gone to ease himself.
It said the body, which was lying about 100 yards off the Spintex Road, was in a supine position and had torn panties and a torn skirt, with abrasions on the shoulders.
The body, which has not yet been identified, has been sent to the police hospital, the source added.
This brings to 30 the number of women killed under mysterious circumstances in Accra and surrounding areas by suspected serial killer or killers since 1998. Meanwhile women’s group has called for the killings to be made a campaign in issue in the elections. Others have also called for the resignation of the IGP for failing to solve the mystery killings since 1997.
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Six Donor communities to support
presidential run-off
Accra (Greater Accra) 19 December 2000
The Electoral Commission (EC) on Monday said six donor countries have agreed to support the December 28 presidential run-off.
Mr. Osafo Kantanka, deputy chairman in charge of Finance and Administration, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra, said the donor support and government-approved funding would be able to see the commission through the run-off.
Mr. Kantanka mentioned the donor countries as the European Union, Canada, USA, Britain, The Netherlands and Denmark.
On the level of preparedness, Mr Henry W. Okyne, Director of Public Affairs, said the printing of ballot papers started last week and is expected to be completed by December 21.
He said the materials would be dispatched to the regional capitals immediately for onward distribution to the districts.
Mr. Okyne said the EC has served Notice of Poll and is to embark on public education on the voting steps during the election.
He said returning and presiding officers would undergo training to update their performance, especially in areas where they were found wanting during the December 7 elections.
He said some of them failed to fill the Declaration of Results Forms properly while the words on the forms did not tally with the figures.
Mr. Okyne said other areas of training would be on how to administer polling centres and the role of party agents.
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Consider plight
of people during disputes - Chiefs urged
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 19 December
2000
Chiefs, aspirants to stools and
other stakeholders have been urged to avoid chieftaincy disputes because they
are "time consuming, energy-sapping and money exacting".
Chiefs cannot justify their tenure
of office by the number of disputes they successfully engage in, but by the
number of "welfare-promoting projects" they initiate for their
people.
Agyewodin Adu-Gyamfi Ampem,
Chairman of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUTS)
Council, was speaking on "the principles and procedures for installing a
Chief in the Brong Ahafo Region," at a workshop in Sunyani.
It was organised by the Regional
House of Chiefs and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) for some
Chiefs, Queen Mothers, opinion leaders and senior police personnel under the
theme: "Chieftaincy for Peace and Development".
Agyewodin Ampem, who is the
Omanhene of Acherensua, advised unpopular candidates to stools and Chiefs
facing destoolment charges not to contest.
Agyewodin Ampen urged Traditional
Councils to keep a list of royals, nominators and kingmakers and to document
offences for destoolment.
He deplored the practice whereby
aggrieved people remove the sandals from the feet of Chiefs and subject them to
inhuman treatment when they want to remove them from office.
Misappropriation and
misapplication of public funds, stealing and dishonesty by some kingmakers and
chiefs are some of the causes of disputes.
Professor Nana Abayie Boaten,
Lecturer Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, said the greatest
insulation for the institution is Article 276 of the Constitution.
Speaking on "Comparative
Analysis of Chieftaincy: Its Relevance in the 21st century," he said the
provision "gives respect to the natural leaders to maintain their dignity
in the face of the rough political party front".
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Powell's appointment as US State Secretary
is deceptive
Accra (Greater Accra) 19 December 2000
A Pan-Africanist in Accra on Monday described President-elect George Bush's naming of General Collin Powell as Secretary of State as cosmetic and a 'deceptive political strategy' that cannot alter the track record hatred of the Republican Party for Blacks.
Dr Hamet Maulana, a co-chairman of Afrikan World Reparation and Repatriation Truth Commission (AWRTTC), said "Powell has never identified himself with African-Americans and then denied being a Black-American".
"When Powell rose to fame during the Gulf War that he was the Chief of Staff of US troops, he stunned the Black World for referring to himself as not Black but an American," Dr Maulana, who is a historian, told Ghana News Agency in an interview.
He said "American politics do attest that never has any American Republican Party President ever designed or approved of any US Government Policy or Bill that would uniquely help Africa to develop".
"The Bush family, historically, the father, Bush Senior, as well as the children, and for that matter the whole Republican Party, are registered conservatives. Conservative in African-American vernacular means anti-Black-American".
Dr Maulana said: "however, the same cannot be said of the Democrats. Of late, the Democrats' President Bill Clinton visited several Black African countries, making Ghana his first stop.
"President Clinton helped draw up a special Bill for the US congress to approve that would give Black Africa access to the US Business Markets (Growth and Opportunity Act)."
He said the former Democrat, President Jimmy Carter, visited Black Africa in the 1970s and asked which Republican President ever visited or associated himself with the development of Africa.
Dr Maulana said Africa and Black-Americans should not be enthused by the appointment of Powell because the Republicans are insensitive to the plight of Blacks.
He said "the controversial Presidential election between Governor Bush Jr. and Vice-President Al Gore has revealed to the entire world the malpractices that are historically endemic to the American political system.
Dr Maulana said "the US was founded and built on a platform of racism and disenfranchisement against the native American-Indians and African captives who were stolen from Africa and illegally taken away to the "Newfoundland".
The historian said figuratively, the presidential controversy between Bush and Gore has truly "opened a can of worms" as the issue centred around South Florida, who are mostly African-Americans whose voting patterns have been for the Democrats.
He explained that when England took the Native American Indians land away from them via defeating the former illegal European occupants, Spain, England made the State of Georgia and Florida penal states for the imprisonment of hardcore prisoners.
"Florida houses today the descendants of those English murderers and thieves. Also, the State of Florida, during the slavery era, the US was known to be the abyss of hell for the African slave to abode there.
"Moreover, Florida has been compounded with even a much greater element since the 1960s as anti-Castro Cuban exiles flooded Florida."
Dr Maulana said the success of Castro to redistribute the wealth of Spaniards who also fled to Florida carried "a great hatred for the former property of their forebears".
He said once those people cannot forget or forgive what they had in the past, it was not surprising that the African-American voters, who surely voted for Gore, were nefariously disenfranchised.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 19 December 2000
The Ashanti Region recorded the highest voter turnout during the presidential and parliamentary elections with 64.01 per cent out of 1,976,959 registered voters.
The Volta Region recorded the lowest turnout of 58.2 per cent of 963,568 registered voters.
According to figures available to the Ghana News Agency, the Central Region followed with 63.8 per cent of registered voter population of 870,876, with the Eastern Region recording 63.7 per cent of 1,187,573 registered voters.
The Northern Region, with a registered voter population of 910,911, recorded 62.2 per cent and while the Upper East Region, with a registered voter population of 480,894, recorded 60 per cent turnout.
The statistics indicates that Upper West Region recorded 59.8 per cent of registered voter population of 303,264 while Greater Accra, with a voter population of 1,845,869 recorded 58.8 per cent.
The Western Region recorded 58.6 per cent of a voter population of 1,076,778, followed by the Brong Ahafo Region, which recorded 58.4 per cent of a voter population of 1,041,920.
In 1996, Ashanti recorded 79.1 per cent; Brong Ahafo 72; Central 79.1; Eastern 81.1; Greater Accra 78.4; Northern 77.0; Upper East 80.6; Upper West 75.8; Volta 81.8; and Western Region 74.5 per cent.
The Ghana News Agency analysis indicated that the NDC presidential candidate, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, recorded his highest vote of 88.01 per cent in the Volta Region while his lowest of 22.78 per cent was recorded in the NPP stronghold, Ashanti Region.
Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor, NPP presidential candidate, recorded his highest of 75.55 per cent in the Ashanti Region while his lowest of 6.94 per cent was recorded in the NDC stronghold, Volta Region.
Prof. Mills' regional performance in percentages showed that he recorded 43.93 in the Western; 43.79 in the Central; 43.21 in the Greater Accra; 41.34 in the Eastern; 44.64 in the Brong Ahafo; 50.75 in the Northern; 52.07 in the Upper East, and 62.20 in the Upper West.
In the 1996 Presidential elections, the NDC candidate made his strongest showing of 99.3 per cent of the total valid votes cast in the Anlo constituency of the Volta Region and 18.3 per cent as his lowest performance in the Bantama constituency of Ashanti Region.
The NPP candidate scored 80.7 per cent in Bantama as his highest and 0.6 per cent at Anlo as the lowest.
Mr Kufuor recorded 50.54 per cent in the Western; 49.68 in the Central; 53.18 in the Greater Accra; 54.97 in the Eastern; 50.55 in the Brong Ahafo; 29.58 in the Northern; 21.46 in the Upper East and 16.51 in the Upper West.
On the constituency level, Prof. Mills won 73 out of 200 and recorded his highest vote of 94.6 per cent at Anlo in the Volta Region while his lowest of 10.4 per cent was recorded at Atwima Kwanwoma in the Ashanti Region.
Mr Kufuor on the other hand won 105 and recorded his highest vote of 88.2 per cent in Atwima Kwanwoma while his lowest of 1.0 per cent was recorded at Bawku West in the Upper East.
The total ballot cast in the general election was 6,511,291 of which 55,683 were rejected as invalid votes for various reasons.
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NPP accuses NDC of arming supporters
Tamale (Northern Region) 19 December 2000
The NPP has accused the leadership of the NDC in the Northern Region of arming some of its supporters to cause mayhem during the presidential run-off.
Speaking at a joint rally of parties in opposition in Tamale on Sunday, Mr Mohammed Amin, NPP parliamentary candidate for the Choggu-Tishigu constituency, said the party has evidence of the arms distribution and would formally complain to the police.
Mr Amin warned that if the police fail to investigate the allegation within one week, he would lead a street demonstration against the regional police command.
Mr Amin said it was unfortunate that the people of Northern Ghana, who have seen little change under the PNDC/NDC government, still vote massively for it.
He said the December 28 presidential run-off is an opportunity for the people of Northern Ghana to redeem their image "by voting for Mr J.A. Kufour who represents positive change".
Dr Adam Nasser of the CPP said the run-off is the vote for either truth or falsehood, adding that the NPP stands for truth.
He said there was no way the CPP could go with the NDC and its allies, which, he said, are united by a common objective to loot the country.
Dr Nasser said Mr Martin Amidu, the NDC presidential running mate's assertion that two million of NDC supporters did not vote in the December 7 election is aimed at preparing the ground to rig and called for vigilance at all levels.
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Prof. Mills thanks Volta region for support
Ho (Volta Region) 19 December 2000
The Vice-President and flag bearer of the NDC, Professor John Atta Mills, on Monday expressed his gratitude to the electorate in the Volta region for their firm support for the party in the December 7, elections.
He said it demonstrates that the region is the backbone of the NDC and will be influential in helping him to win the December 28 run-off.
Speaking on Volta Star FM Radio during an unannounced visit to Ho, Prof. Mills gave the assurance that if retained in power, the NDC would tackle the road network and other projects in the region for which foundations have been laid.
He said the repair to the micro-economic dislocations in the economy has taken much time because of the enormous resources required.
He said the NDC wants the mandate of the people to enable it to address poverty, improve incomes, education, agriculture and the general performance of the economy.
Prof. Mills cautioned that if the NPP should win the run-off, it should not derail the development programme of the NDC in the Volta region in particular and the country in general, since this would be counter-productive.
He said both parties seem to have the same direction but "we have the copyright"
The Vice-President said a government of the NPP would not be able to achieve anything for the country if it embarks on dismantling the achievements of the NDC.
Prof. Mills reiterated his commitment to forming a government of partnership to reflect national character and to assist in enhancing good governance.
Commenting on reported attacks on Ewes in NPP strongholds, he said these were allegations and hoped that they were untrue. He urged well- meaning politicians to discourage such behaviour.
As to why the Central region did not show solidarity with him, Prof. Mills replied: "only they know why."
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Bawku situation is still volatile – DCE
Bawku (Upper East) 19 December 2000
Mr Dominic Akudago, Bawku East District Chief Executive, said last Friday that even though the military and police personnel deployed in the town are firm on the ground, there is still tension in Bawku.
He said the inhabitants are suspicious of one another and this is adversely affecting economic activity in the town.
The DCE made this known in an interview with the GNA at Bawku on the security situation in the town, following a clash between Kusasis and Mamprusis on December 8.
The clash left 10 people dead, 25 injured and property worth millions of cedis, including many houses, destroyed.
The DCE said most people living in the surrounding villages still fear to come to Bawku town for fear of being attacked.
Mr Akudago therefore called for the deployment of more security personnel in the town until after the presidential run-off.
In a related development, a police source told the GNA at Bawku that there was rumour circulating that the two factions in the dispute would clash again but nobody could tell when this would happen.
The source therefore asked for more reinforcement of military and police personnel to ensure security in the town between now and December 28.
It also called on government to set up a commission of enquiry to investigate the Bawku situation thoroughly with the view to providing a lasting solution to the problem.
"Unless this is done, the combatants will be at each others' throat at the least provocation," it added.
Meanwhile, 12 people arrested with arms and ammunition during the clash were remanded in prison custody on Wednesday by the Bawku circuit tribunal. They will re-appear on December 29.
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Man nabbed over five voter ID cards
Nkoranza (Brong Ahafo) 19 December 2000
The police at Nkoranza have arrested a 41-year-old man, Seidu Kwao Kusaase, from Makyinwabre, for possessing five voter identification cards belonging to other people.
The photographs on two of the cards appear to have been removed and replaced with those of other people.
The five cards bear the following names and numbers; Abena Serwaa, 47, with ID number 01853482 of polling station number g103707; Kwame Nnuro, 64, with ID number 01853498 of polling station number g103707; Polala, 23, also of polling station number g103707 and ID number 01853530.
The rest are Kwame Dakate, 60, with ID card number 01852904 of polling station number g103706; and Dora Apeaa, 18, with ID number 01852904 and of polling station number g103706.
When contacted by the Ghana News Agency at the Nkoranza police station, Seidu Kwao Kusaase could not give any tangible explanation as to how and why he came by the cards.
Close sources however have revealed that the accused is a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). The police are investigating the matter.
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Stop selling Nkrumah's legacy to NPP - CPP
activist
Apam (Central Region) 19 December 2000
A leading member of the Convention People's Party (CPP) in the Gomoa District, Nana Kofi Gyansah Impraim, has cautioned the leadership of the party to desist from selling Dr. Kwame Nkrumah's legacy for a cup of tea.
Nana Impraim said it was most unfortunate and suicidal for the leadership of the CPP and PNC to call on their members to vote for the flagbearer of the NPP in the presidential run-off scheduled for December 28.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Apam on Sunday, Nana Impraim said it was unfortunate that the leadership of the two parties had so soon forgotten the attempts made by the present crop of NPP members to obliterate the name of Dr Nkrumah and his achievements from the history books.
He cautioned the leadership of the Nkrumaist parties to refrain from entering into "a marriage of inconvenience" with the NPP just because of a promise for ministerial appointments.
"The greatest injustice one can do to the spirit of Dr Nkrumah is to sell his party to the people who overthrew his government after making several attempts to kill him," he said.
Nana Impraim warned the leadership of the two parties to withdraw the statements they made calling on their members to vote for Mr J. A. Kufuor.
He said if anything at all, Nkrumaists will be at home with Professor John Atta Mills who was a product of the Kwame Nkrumah Ideological Institute.
Nana Impraim said the (P) NDC government has done a lot to immortalise the image of Dr Nkrumah, including giving his mortal remains a fitting burial at the Old Polo Ground.
He urged supporters of the other opposition parties to resist the attempt of their leaders to impose the NPP on them.
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NDC is more comforting to CPP than NPP
Accra (Greater Accra) 19 December 2000
The NDC is a more national and comforting option for all genuine and sober Nkrumaists than the NPP, the NDC declared on Monday.
It said "no Nkrumaist could forget so soon the abuse of democracy by predecessors of the NPP in banning the CPP and obliterating Nkrumaism before being able to win power in 1969.
A statement signed by Mr Vincent Asiseh, NDC Press Secretary, said it was therefore wishful for Mr John Agyekum Kufuor to assume that the 6.8 per cent of votes achieved by the leaders of the five smaller parties belong to him "automatically" by their pledge of support for him.
"It is instructive that these people had already voted against Mr Kufuor once - in the December 7 election and could repeat it on December 28."
The statement described as "misguided" calls by Mr John A. Kufuor for Professor John Atta Mills to concede defeat in the December 7 elections and spare the nation a run-off at the end of the month.
The statement said: "Mr Kufuor should know better and contend with the hard fact that 51.65 per cent of the electorate voted against a Kufuor presidency. It is therefore presumptuous of him to give the impression that he has more or less won the presidency".
It said a programme on Radio GAR - "Good Morning Accra" - on Monday December 18 said it all when 18 out of the 22 callers who were presumably CPP members condemned the call by their party's leadership to support the NPP.
He said the overwhelming majority of respondents insisted that supporting the NPP would spell the doom of the CPP and the much revered Nkrumaist tradition.
"We believe this ratio is reflective of the view of the party's supporters all over Ghana and which will manifest in the voting pattern on December 28," the statement added.
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Stop intimidating NDC supporters - Ato
Dadzie
Gomoa Ankamu (Central Region) 19 December 2000
The Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, Nana Ato Dadzie, has assured supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who, for fear of intimidation, could not vote during December 7 polls that their safety is assured during the December 28 presidential run-off.
He said stringent security measures have been put in place to protect voters from intimidation and urged them to turn out in their numbers to vote for Professor John Atta Mills.
Nana Dadzie, who is the Obaatan of Gomoa Ankamu and Apagyahene of Gomoa Ajumako Traditional Council, was addressing supporters of the party at Ankamu at the weekend.
He said Ghana is practising a multiparty democracy, which enjoins people to belong to parties of their choice and cautioned those who want to force others to vote for a particular party to desist from the practice.
Nana Dadzie urged supporters of the party to avoid complacency and work hard to clinch a total victory in the run-off.
"We took too many things for granted and that nearly caused our downfall in the December 7 elections; this time, let us avoid those mistakes."
He called on Ghanaians who are yearning for a change to see that change in the replacement of Flt Lt Jerry Rawlings with Professor Atta Mills, who has been tested and passed with distinction.
Nana Dadzie said Ghana has reached a stage where we need administrators who can build upon the foundation laid, adding: "our developmental programmes will be disrupted if we vote for a person who knows nothing about the programmes initiated.
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Minority Parties launch joint campaign for
run-off
Larteh (Eastern Region) 19 December 2000
Mr. Peter Ala Adjetey, a founding member of the NPP has advised sympathisers of the NDC not waste their vote by voting for Professor Evans John Atta-Mills the NDC flag bearer in the presidential run-off.
He explained Prof. Mills would not be able to perform his functions effectively since the NPP has majority in Parliament.
Mr. Adjetey, immediate past national chairman of the party, was speaking at a joint rally by the NPP and five other minority parties who have declared their support for Mr J.A Kufuor in the run-off on December 28.
However, representatives of the People's National Convention, United Ghana Movement and Great Consolidated People's Party were absent.
Mr. Adjetey reminded the electorate that Mr. Kufuor has not yet won the elections as some people are thinking but "will do so on December 28, when the good people of Ghana vote for him".
He said for the past 20 years, the economy of the country has grown from bad to worse, adding that Ghana needs Mr. Kufuor to change her fortunes to save the economy from collapsing .
Mr. Adjetey thanked the people of the Akuapem Ridge for voting for the NPP at the December 7 elections.
Nana Owusu Sekyere, Eastern Regional Chairman of the Convention People's Party advised the electorate not to allow people to use gifts to influence them in their choice of candidate.
Mallam Ahmed Mustapher, Regional Co-ordinator of the National Reform Party (NRP) said "God has written that there is the need for a change of government in Ghana hence the results of the December 7 elections".
He said all the political parties opposed to the NDC have decided to come together to support Mr. Kufuor because of the need for a change in the political direction of the country.
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Best farmer says NPP must be given the
mandate
Nkoranza (Brong Ahafo) 19 December 2000
Mr. Stephen Kwadwo Adjei, 1994 Brong Ahafo Regional Best Farmer, has suggested to the government to consider the plight of the majority of Ghanaians and give the presidential mandate to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) "which has the upper hand now".
He said that the 15 billion cedis required for the presidential run-off could be invested in the promotion of education, health, agriculture and the provision of water and sanitation facilities to enhance the development of the rural communities.
Mr. Adjei, who owns progressive farms at Jerusalem, near Nkoranza, told the Ghana News Agency: "left to me alone, I have seen a lot of development in the country since the government of the PNDC/NDC".
But he added: "if the government takes this suggestion seriously and concedes defeat, Ghanaians and the outside world will commend it for show of political maturity".
Sounding biblical, the prominent farmer said that "in the same way that mankind forgot the good things that the Lord Jesus Christ did, and called for his crucifixion, so is it now that man is never satisfied with current circumstances".
Mr. Adjei, therefore, called on supporters of the two leading parties, the NPP and NDC, not to engage in acts that could spark off violence among the people in view of the peaceful December 7 elections.
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