GRi Newsreel Ghana 20 - 12 - 2000
Party Agents cannot question a voter – EC
NDC complains of
double voting by returning officer
NPP calls for bi-partisan investigation into
murders
Ambassador of Guinea presents letters of
credence
Government urged
to set up special task force on serial killings
Ashanti NDC dispels speculations
United Opposition Parties to boot NDC out of
power
NCWD urges Ghanaians to provide information
on serial killers
Amidu solicits for more support
MP dismisses NDC excuses on voter turnout
Police call for public help to trace
suspected taxicab
Accra (Greater Accra) 20 December
2000
Mr Peter Nanfuri, Inspector General
of Police (IGP), on Tuesday said he would not resign despite calls on him to
step down following the inability of the Police Service to unravel the killing
of women in the Accra Metropolis.
"It will be a disgrace to
resign; it will be cowardly and defeatist to do so. It is a challenge to us to
investigate and find out ways and means to arrest the culprits," he said.
Mr. Nanfuri was answering
questions at a press conference in Accra organised by the police administration
following the discovery of the latest murder victim around the Spintex Road on
Monday.
The woman, who is yet to be
identified, was lying in a supine position and wearing only a black brassier
and a white blouse roughed up to cover the neck. Her torn panties, a pair of
blue bath sandals and a dotted blackish blue slacks lay close by, a common
feature among all the 30 women so far murdered.
Mr Nanfuri said "this is not
the time to run away but time to take the bull by the horns".
He said it would take time to
unravel the mysteries surrounding the killings, adding: "we know that we
can do it but it will take time to come out with any arrests".
Mr Nanfuri said he could not
assure the public that the murders would not continue since criminals are
always around.
He declined to comment on speculations
that the police are dragging their feet in coming out with the culprits because
some top political parties and powerful men are involved.
Mr Nanfuri said that, so far,
relatives had claimed 21 bodies.
Mr. Nanfuri said it was only one
woman who was murdered at the Spintex Road on Monday contrary to reports by
some FM radio stations in Accra that three women had been murdered.
He said the woman who was alleged
to have been murdered around the overhead bridge was rather intoxicated.
Mr. Nanfuri urged the media to
exercise discretion and ascertain the facts from the police before coming out
with any announcement.
He appealed to the public to
assist in tracing the driver of a white and yellow Hyundai Excel taxicab with
registration number GR 5109, which, he said, "holds the key to unravelling
the mystery around the latest string of murders".
"I suspect that the vehicle
would have been re-sprayed by now or that the number plate might have been
criminally changed," he added.
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Party Agents cannot question a voter – EC
Accra (Greater Accra) 20 December 2000
The Electoral Commission on Tuesday said party agents have no mandate to question registered voters at the polling centres.
"The presiding officer at the centre is the only eligible and mandated representative of the commission to interrogate a voter for the purpose of identification," Mr Kwame Damoah-Agyeman, Chief Director of Elections, stated.
Mr Damoah-Agyeman was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra in reaction to a press conference held by the NPP on Data Analysis of presidential results.
The campaign manager of the NPP, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, had recommended to the EC to allow the party to deploy agents at all polling stations and to choose agents who may not necessarily be local people.
The NPP campaign manager claimed that all citizens of Ghana are entitled to be in any or all parts of the country and to go about their lawful business without hindrance.
He further stated that polling agents must properly scrutinise all the actions of electoral officials and voters during the process.
Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey was flanked by the UGM presidential candidate, Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby, Nana Akufo Addo, MP for Abuakwa, and Dr Samuel Somuah, computer consultant.
He suggested that electoral materials and ballot boxes be moved and handled by only electoral officials and not the police, security personnel or party officials and candidates.
He further sated that the EC should ensure that all counting and reconciling are done at the polling stations and results issued and signed at the centres.
"There should be no recounting at collation centres," he said, adding that results must be sent directly to the control room of the commission and not to the office of Mr David Kangah, Deputy Commissioner in charge of Operations, before being relayed."
Mr Damoah-Agyeman said although the EC has no problem with parties selecting their agents from any part of the country, they must submit to the directions and instructions of the presiding officer at the centre.
He said the other problem that might arise from such a process would be the identification of voters without the photo ID cards. "In such a situation, the agents have to depend on the instructions of the presiding officer and would have no other objections since he or she does not come from the community."
Mr Damoah-Agyeman said such agents should also produce proper identification as the duly agent/representative of the party or candidate "without which the person may not be allowed".
He said the EC has made it abundantly clear to all party agents during training that agents are free to move within the electoral area provided "they do not interfere with the process or stand in such a way as to see how a voter thumbprints the ballot paper".
He said party agents must understand their role at the centre and not question voters or act in any form that would interfere with the voting process. "All their concerns and objections must be directed to the presiding officer," he emphasised.
On the issue of handling of election materials, Mr Damoah-Agyeman explained that it is the responsibility of the presiding officer and his team of assistants, including the police.
Mr. Damoah-Agyeman questioned the rationale for singling out Mr Kangah to create a bad impression among members of the commission.
"In case the party has any personal problem with Mr Kangah, that should not be mingled up with the operations of the commission," he said.
Mr. Damoah-Agyeman denied NPP allegations that results sheets are faxed through the office of Mr Kangah, adding that the commissioners and directors have fax machines in their offices but none of these was used for the transmission of result from the regions as the operations room has ten fax machines connected to each regional capital.
He said the process at the operations room starts from the moment a fax sheet is received from the region. An official of EC picks it and calls out the results to the party representatives, who compile the figures.
The sheet is then given to them to crosscheck the signature of their officials in the region of origin and, when satisfied, they also sign it.
The sheet is then sent to the EC chairman, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, in his office for endorsement.
Mr Damoah-Agyeman said that, in the absence of the chairman, any of the commissioners is allowed to sign it.
The result sheet is then sent back to the Operations Room from where it is faxed to the National Scoreboard and the Press Centre. Copies are also given to the party representatives in the Operations Room.
Mr. Somuah claimed that the provisional presidential election results released by the EC contained some discrepancies.
He, however, explained that the discrepancies had no bearing on the final figures but only raised doubts about the quality of the Data Processing Department of the commission.
"While these discrepancies could have been accidental, it is also possible that there was deliberate tampering of data by some unscrupulous individuals," he said.
Mr. Somuah said the party's investigations revealed that the Ashanti, Greater Accra and the Volta Regional results were not properly tallied.
He said this affected the final results of Mr Goosie Tanoh, presidential candidate of the NRP, Dr Edward Mahama of the PNC, and Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby of the UGM.
He explain that the total vote of 3,182 shown for Mr Tanoh on the national sheet form for the Volta Region was not consistent with the totals for the same shown on the Volta Region sheet.
Also the total votes reported for Dr Mahama (1,905); Tanoh (3,182) and Kufuor (39,535) on the Volta Regional sheet were incorrect.
The correct figures according to Mr Somuah, should be 2,638; 9,597; and 49,768 respectively.
Mr. Somuah said the total vote of 2,927 reported for Dr Mahama on the Greater Accra Regional sheet was also incorrect, adding that the correct figure should have been 16,469.
Also in the Ashanti Region the correct figure for Dr Mahama should have been 16,787 and not 3,138.
Mr Hubert Akomeah, Director of EC Data Processing, told the Ghana News Agency that the figures on which the NPP based its analysis were provisional. He said the corrected figures were ready for any party that needed it.
Mr Akomeah said he found it difficult to see why the NPP chose a press conference to address an issue on which they could have sought clarification from the EC directly.
He said Mr Dan Botwe, NPP General Secretary, had earlier called to draw the commission's attention to the errors but failed to turn up again.
He said the commission has transparent data processing machinery and would be free to assist any person or persons who might wish to crosscheck any facts.
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NDC complains of
double voting by returning officer
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 20 December
200
The Asutifi South constituency of
the NDC has called on the police to take action against the Returning Officer,
Mr Akuamoah Boateng, for voting twice during the general elections.
It alleged that the Returning
Officer voted at the Hwidiem Community Centre during the special voting on
December 5 and again at the Methodist Church polling station at Nkaseim on
December 7.
Speaking in Sunyani on Tuesday, an
NDC Spokesman, Mr Ousman Mohammed, who was a Polling Agent at the Nkaseim, said
he challenged Mr Akuamoah Boateng and after some exchanges, the Returning
Officer explained that he did not take part in the special voting and he was
allowed to exercise his franchisee.
The spokesman said, investigations
by the NDC revealed that Mr Akuamoah Boateng voted during the special voting.
"In fact, we have documentary
proof that the Returning Officer was the 67th person on the special voting list
and duly voted with an identification card number 0141555".
Mr Kwabena Boateng, NDC Agent at
the Community Centre station on December 5, corroborated the allegation.
Mr. Mohammed noted that since Mr
Akuamoah Boateng voted twice, contrary to the electoral laws, he must face the
full rigours of the law.
In an answer to a question, he
said he did not officially file a challenge form because they were not
available at the station.
A source at the Criminal
Investigations Department (CID) of the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Headquarters
confirmed the complaint but said investigations were going on.
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NPP calls for bi-partisan investigation
into murders
Accra (Greater Accra) 20 December 2000
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Tuesday reiterated its call on President Jerry John Rawlings to set up a bi-partisan investigative team to track down the serial killers of women in Accra as early as possible.
A statement signed by the Party's national chairman, Mr Samuel Odoi-Sykes, said the investigation team should be independent and given all the resources and budgetary support to ensure that "this growing menace is stamped out once and for all".
The statement expressed regret that nearly three years since the killings began, "no visible measures have been made to apprehend the murderer or murderers".
"This is a serious indictment on the efficiency and capacity of our Police Service to protect the citizenry."
The NPP said it is inclined to believe the rumours that the killings are ritually motivated and involve some "big men" in the society and that could be the reason why the police and the security services have found it difficult to investigate with all the seriousness it deserves.
"We also find it strange that the IGP has not given the investigations all the seriousness it deserves," the statement added. The NPP called on the IGP and the Minister for the Interior to come out with a comprehensive plan of action to reassure Ghanaians, "especially our women, of their safety". It said the NPP believes there are personnel in the police service who can help unravel the mystery of the serial killings.
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Ambassador of Guinea presents letters of
credence
Accra (Greater Accra) 20 December 2000
Haj Mamadou Falilou Bah, Ambassador of Guinea, on Tuesday called for more co-operation between African countries to speed up their development.
"The persistence of crisis and conflicts everywhere and the wide gap between the North and the South indicate that our countries must be more and more united in order to solve the different problems that our states face."
Presenting his letters of credence to President Jerry John Rawlings at the State House, Haj Bah said he would strive to strengthen co-operation between the private sectors of Guinea and Ghana.
He spoke about the December 7 election and said its success "is a pride for Africa". President Rawlings on his part said the vision of a united Africa, which the leaders of pre-independence Ghana and Guinea spoke about, has greater relevance today.
"As we stand confronted by the problems and challenges of globalisation and liberalisation, we are sharply reminded of the injustice and the marginalisation that our dear continent, Africa, has suffered and continues to suffer."
Therefore, he called for closer collaboration among African countries and spoke about the need to make ECOWAS work. He also expressed concern about the deteriorating security situation in Guinea.
President Rawlings said the conflicts between Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone need to be contained to enable the redirection of energies and resources into socio-economic development.
Also at the states house to present his credentials was Mr Jean-Michel Berrit, Ambassador of France. He said the December 7 elections was a worthy example for many countries and demonstrated that Ghana's democratic institutions are working.
"The election shows how deeply attached the institutions, political parties and the people of Ghana are to democratic values and rules. It is an example and an encouragement for many other countries," he said.
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Government urged
to set up special task force on serial killings
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 20 December
2000
The Ashanti Region branch of the
African Commission of Health and Human Right Promoters (CAPSDH) on Tuesday
called on the government to set up a special task force of the security
agencies to deal with the serial killing of women in Accra.
"If the government thinks the
country's security agencies cannot cope with the situation, it should seek
assistance from international security agencies like the INTERPOL".
Mr George Ayisi-Boateng, Regional
President of the commission made the call at a Press Conference in Kumasi to
express its shock and dismay at the latest murders.
The Commission is a non-political,
non-governmental and non-denominational organization, which seeks to promote
the health and rights of people.
Mr. Ayisi-Boateng said,
"Ghanaians are fed up with assurances from the police that they are
closing in on the perpetrators of such heinous crimes when there seems to be no
end to the killings".
He therefore called on the
Inspector General of Police Mr Peter Nanfuri, to resign for his inability to
live up to the expectations of the people.
Mr. Ayisi-Boateng called on
women's organisations to join forces to unearth the mystery surrounding the
killings once and for all.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 20 December 2000
Supporters of the United Ghana Movement (UGM) in Ashanti on Tuesday formally declared their support for Mr J.A. Kufuor in the presidential run off on December 28.
Their decision, they said, is in line with Dr Charles Wireko Brobby, their leader's declaration of support for Mr Kufuor.
A statement signed by Mr Yaw Boakye Yiadom, Regional Chairman of the party in Kumasi, said "we the UGM members in Ashanti Region are leaving no stone unturned to campaign for Mr Kufuor to win massively".
It said Ghanaians are crying for a positive change in government and since Mr. Kufuor is the only opposition leader left in the presidential race, the members deem it fit to support him fully to achieve a resounding victory.
The statement therefore called on supporters of the NRP, UGM, PNC and NPP to campaign vigorously to achieve their common aim of wrestling power from the NDC.
It commended the people of the region and the Electoral Commission for the success of the general election and appealed to them to show the same commitment during the run off.
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Ashanti NDC dispels speculations
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 20 December 2000
The Ashanti Regional Secretariat of the NDC on Tuesday dispelled speculations that the party plans to create confusion at polling stations during the December 28 presidential run off.
The source of the speculations, the party said, is a fictitious document circulating in Kumasi and parts of the region purported to be a leaked secret memo.
Titled "Towards the Run off", the document outlines a wide range of strategies to set up people in the Western and Central regions against Ashantis, radio phone calls to discourage NPP supporters from voting and pushing more resources into constituencies won by the NDC.
Besides, acts of vandalism are to be organised with a view to creating panic and insecurity to necessitate an imposition of a curfew, and the use of strong men to intimidate voters in Ashanti.
A press statement signed by the Regional Secretary, Mr Kofi Topeng, dismissed the document as a "cruel hoax".
"We wish to assure everybody that we in the NDC have no such plans and are of the firm conviction that no reasonable person would pay any serious attention to such a childish prank".
The statement therefore called on people in the region to ignore and treat it with utmost contempt.
It re-affirmed the NDC's total and unequivocal commitment to ensuring peace, fairness and transparency in the re-run of the presidential election.
The statement said the party and its supporters would be the last to engage in acts likely to undermine the credibility of the election and endanger the unity, stability and cohesion of the nation.
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United Opposition Parties to boot NDC out
of power
Takoradi (Western Region) 20 December 2000
The flagbearer of the Convention People's Party (CPP), Professor George Hagan, said on Tuesday that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) came to power by the barrel of the gun but the united opposition parties would use the ballot box to boot it out.
Dr. Hagan, who was speaking at a joint meeting of the opposition parties, in Takoradi, noted that such a change would prove to the world that Ghanaians are mature and are committed to their country.
He explained that the CPP has joined hands with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) because they have the same policies, which seek to ensure the socio-economic and political development of the country.
Prof. Hagan cited education, agriculture, health, cash and carry and national reconciliation as common areas of co-operation between the two parties.
He said the joint forces of the opposition parties aimed at dislodging the NDC would be of great significance to the struggle for total liberation to the benefit of the present generation and those yet to be born.
Prof. Hagan said the NDC flagbearer, Professor J. E. Atta Mill's call on CPP members to join the NDC is out of place because the NDC is not of the Nkrumaist tradition, adding: "the NDC is a wolf in a sheep's clothing".
He reminded the people that "the NDC is nearing its grave and it is desperate and would therefore employ all forms of tricks and utilise other avenues to rig the election".
Prof. Hagan therefore called on members of the opposition parties to be vigilant at the polling stations on December 28.
The NPP Presidential candidate, Mr. J. A. Kufuor, thanked the people of the Western Region for the confidence reposed in him on December 7.
He appealed to members of the United Opposition Parties to deploy dedicated party agents during the presidential run-off.
Mr. Kufuor predicted that the NPP, in conjunction with other opposition parties, would sweep 75 per cent of the votes in the runoff.
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NCWD urges Ghanaians to provide information
on serial killers
Accra (Greater Accra) 20 December 2000
The National Council on Women and Development (NCWD) on Tuesday appealed to Ghanaians to be extremely vigilant and come forth with information to halt the reign of terror against women.
A statement issued and signed by the Executive Secretary, Mrs Marian Tackie, said it is extremely appalled by the gruesome manner in which women continue to be murdered.
"Thirty women have been mysteriously murdered within three years in Accra alone in spite of protests of various forms from women and other concerned citizens of Ghana.
"The fact that the perpetrators of this evil have not been apprehended so far is a great source of disappointment and sorrow to us."
It therefore called for the total mobilisation of all the security agencies to mount a manhunt for the perpetrators of the serial murders.
The NCWD reiterated its previous appeals to government to provide the police with equipment and the needed logistics to enable them to cope with the increased murders of women, adding: "we call on government to take a very serious view of this horrifying development and treat it with the urgency it demands".
"We reiterate our call upon the Electricity Company of Ghana to provide street lights in all obscure corners of the metropolis to help curb night crimes," the statement added.
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Amidu solicits for more support
Yendi (Northern Region) 20 December 2000
The running mate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Martin Alamisi Amidu, on Tuesday called on voters in the Brong Ahafo, Central and Eastern Regions to rethink their decision to vote for the NPP.
Mr. Amidu, who is continuing his tour of the eastern corridor of the Northern Region, was addressing a meeting of party activists at Yendi.
He said Professor J.E.A. Mills represents a new NDC with a progressive outlook, adding that, when voted into power, he would ensure selective subsidy for farmers, strengthen decentralisation, create jobs, enhance women's income-generating activities and improve on the structural adjustment programme.
He called on all party faithfuls and all those who did not vote in protests against the NDC to reconsider their stand and come out in their numbers to ensure total victory for the party in the presidential run-off.
Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, Presidential Adviser on Governmental Affairs, congratulated the people of the North for "saving the NDC from collapse and disgrace".
He advised executive members of the party at the branch levels to be vigilant this time round and ensure that their polling agents are "people of substance and structure" so that they are not intimidated, or cheated at the polls.
Alhaji Seidu Iddi, Northern Regional Minister, prayed that God should forbid the party that would bring about insecurity and threat on its political opponents.
At a meeting with Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II, Paramount Chief of Dagbon, congratulated all those who were elected to represent the people in parliament.
He said the battle was not yet won and called on the people to strive to let their conscience lead them to choose the best for the governance of the country.
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MP dismisses NDC excuses on voter turnout
Tamale (Northern Region) 20 December 2000
Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idriss, MP for Gulkpegu-Sabonjida, on Monday described as false reports that two million Ghanaians did not vote in this year's general election.
He said such piece of misinformation is part of an NDC propaganda being peddled around to pave the way for them to rig the forthcoming presidential run-off.
Alhaji Idriss was speaking at a well-attended opposition rally spearheaded by the NPP in Tamale and attended by representatives of the PNC, CPP, UGM, NRP and the GCPP.
Alhaji Idriss sounded a word of caution to the NDC leadership and architects of the plan to rig the elections that they should not stand in the way of the opposition parties.
"We are resolved in our decision to kick the NDC out of office," he told the crowd.
Alhaji Idriss also alleged that there are plans by the NDC to empty the coffers of the Ministry of Finance to make it difficult for the NPP to govern the country.
"The NDC can empty the coffers and take away the buildings as well; we will build from the scratch. We are determined to rebuild Ghana," he said.
Mr. Basharu Dabali, an executive of the UGM, alleged that the parliamentary election in the Choggu-Tishigu constituency was rigged.
He therefore called for a bye-election to ascertain the true winner, saying: "we are all aware of the corrupt practices of the parliamentary candidate-elect, Alhaji Abukari Sumani, which drove him into exile in the PNDC era".
"How can someone with such a record represent us in parliament?" he asked the crowd.
Mr. Dabali also called on the NDC to refrain from using the security forces to terrorise people on the day of the run-off since it is a national exercise and all Ghanaians have the right to vote.
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Police call for public help to trace
suspected taxicab
Accra (Greater Accra) 20 December 2000
The police on Tuesday appealed to the public to help trace a taxicab with registration number GR 5109, a white and yellow Hyundai Excel, which is believed to hold the key to the latest string of murders.
A middle-aged woman was found dead at the Spintex Road on Monday, bringing the alleged serial killing of women in recent times to 30.
Mr Peter Nanfuri, Inspector General of Police, said at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday: "I suspect the vehicle may have been re-sprayed by now or that the number plate may have been changed".
He said he was sure that someone out there must have information on the vehicle and its driver. "I plead with the public to help the police apprehend the driver," he said.
Mr Nanfuri said the police "and the Inter-Agency Task Force on the serial murders have been gratified by the significant foreign assistance it is receiving in the investigations of the serial murders.
"Most of our foreign collaborators do not wish to be publicly identified as they do not wish to become embroiled in the apparent politicisation of those criminal activities."
The IGP said investigations have been completed on some of the cases and the dockets are with the Attorney General's Department for advice.
The IGP said the case of one Mawuli, alleged to be involved in the Dansoman murder, and that of Ankaful one would be prosecuted soon.
Mr. Nanfuri said the police have been at pains to establish the motive behind the murders as to whether they were the work of a psychopath or psychopaths, for ritual purposes or for any other sinister reasons.
"Whatever it is, the latest incidents compel us to look beyond the world of mere criminals. In other words, we are going to broaden the scope of our investigations to get to the very bottom of the matter.
"Secondly, we are renewing our appeal to the public for vital information."
He expressed regret that some of the information given to the police has been scanty or turned out to be false alarms and yet the police appreciate the public spirit of all those who continue to call to offer information.
Mr. Nanfuri again appealed to women's groups, civil society and religious bodies to help step up public education to sensitise and protect women.
He said the police would re-introduce night patrol barriers, which were reduced following public outcry that they were being inconvenienced.
Mr. Nanfuri said he was not going to resign because the police could not unravel the mysteries surrounding the serial killings, saying, this was the time to seize the bull by the horn and appealed to the public and the media to bear with the police.
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