Voters go to the polls on Thursday in the run-off of the presidential election with one prayer on their lips - peace. With the achievement of a generally peaceful first round on December 7, identifiable groups and religious organisations have been appealing to party leaders to preach peace before, during and after the election.

"But for the tragic events at Bawku, Ghana would have chalked another first among African countries for peaceful elections...," the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) said.

About 10 people died when violence broke out at Bawku in the Upper East region during the December 7 presidential and parliamentary vote.

The run-off is a straight fight between Vice President John Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Mr John Agyekum Kufuor of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

"Under no circumstances should Ghanaians be complacent that post-election violence can never happen in Ghana," the IEA, an independent think-tank, warned.

"It took a spark to ignite conflicts and crisis in Sierra Leone, Guinea, Senegal and Cote d'Ivoire," it pointed out in a full-page advert in the Daily Graphic following concerns about the dangerous use of ethnicity in the run-up campaign to the presidential re-run.

"The IEA is appealing to all leaders of the two political parties (NDC and NPP) to be temperate in their statements and other civil society leaders to raise their voices about this disturbing development."

There are also persistent calls for a free, fair and transparent vote, devoid of intimidation, so that the result would be acceptable to both the winner and loser.

The Electoral Commission (EC), especially, has come under pressure to conduct a clean election, as it did in the first round on December 7 and which has been hailed across the globe as exemplary.

"We appeal to the key national institutions, namely the Electoral Commission and security agencies to continue to play their non-partisan roles which are very critical to the maintenance of national peace and security in this phase of our transition to a full-fledged democracy.

Some 10.7 million voters have their names on the register which, even the EC admits is bloated by 1.5 million. This is because of double registration when the voters' list was reopened early this year, and reluctance of people to come forward to remove the names of dead persons. Voters will cast their ballots in about 20,000 polling stations across the country.

The first round of the presidential election was inconclusive as none of the seven candidates polled the constitutionally required 50 per cent plus one of the votes for outright victory.

The run-off is therefore taking place three weeks after the vote between the top two candidates.

Mr Agyekum polled 3,131,739 votes (48.17 per cent) while Prof. Mills won 2,895,575 votes (44.54 per cent), according to revised results released by the Chairman of the EC, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan.

Dr Edward Mahama of the People's National Convention (PNC) had 189,659 votes (2.9 per cent), Professor George Hagan of the Convention People's Party (CPP) had 115,641 votes (1.8 per cent) and Mr Goosie Tanoh of the National Reform Party (NRP) polled 78,621 votes (1.2 per cent).

Mr Dan Lartey of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) had 67,504 votes (1.0 per cent) and Mr Charles Wereko-Brobby polled 22,123 (0.3 per cent).

About 6,605,085 people voted in the first round with turnout being 61.7 per cent. Valid votes were 6,500,870 while rejected votes were 104,215.

This will be the second time in the country's history that there will be a run-off in a presidential election. The first one was in 1979, which saw the late president Hilla Limann of the People's National Party (PNP) beating Mr Victor Owusu of the Popular Front Party (PFP).

The winner in Thursday poll will take over from President Jerry Rawlings who has ruled Ghana since December 31, 1981. It will also be the first time in Ghana's 43-year history that an elected leader will hand power to another, even though he may be from the same party.

All the five other presidential candidates in the December 7 vote have thrown their weight behind Mr Kufuor.

The opposition has campaigned vigorously on a platform of " positive change", a message, which appeared to have gone down well with voters.

This is reflected in the swing votes which saw Mr Kufuor winning as much as 48 per cent of the ballot compared with less than 40 per cent by Prof. Albert Adu Boahen and Mr Kufuor in 1992 and 1996 respectively.

The NPP made inroads into strongholds of the NDC and won 99 of the parliamentary seats, from 61 in 1996. It boycotted the 1992 parliamentary vote.

Buoyed by this performance the opposition has been pushing the government very hard, hitting persistently on the difficult economic situation and high cost of living.

"It is time to join the wind of change...the wind of change and hope blowing across Ghana," an NPP statement said.

"Leave a life of debt, despair and deprivation behind," it said.

There appears, however, to be cracks in the opposition "alliance" as individuals of the parties have criticised their leadership for the move. Some opposition politicians have gone ahead to openly declare support for Prof.. Mills.

The NDC, on the other hand, has been fighting back, portraying Prof. Mills as his own man who has walked out of the shadows of President Jerry Rawlings who handpicked him as his successor after working with him for four years.

"Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, NDC presidential candidate will win the run-off election on December 28 on proven merit," Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, a member of Prof. Mills' campaign team said

He said: "Prof. Mills will be a better president for Ghana at this time than his opponent in the run-off because any independent opinion would conclude that Prof. Mills is better agent of change than Mr Kufuor.

"Yes, Rawlings is leaving and Prof. Atta Mills is coming. Prof. Ata Mills will bring about a strong wind of change," Mr Spio-Garbrah said, as the NDC reinvigorated its campaign after its under-par performance on December 7 that saw the party winning only 92 seats in parliament from 133.

Whoever wins the vote on Thursday will be faced with several tasks such as the economy, satisfying the high expectations of the society, maintaining peace and reconciling the nation after a bruising campaign where ethnicity played a key role.

The IEA noted that ethnic sentiments were exploited in a manner that was disturbing. "We are concerned that the deliberate manipulation and abuse of ethnicity can lead to insecurity...," it said.

The advice of the IEA will, therefore, be paramount - that all Ghanaians contribute in their own little way to protecting and entrenching the peace that is being taken for granted."

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Electoral pact with NPP is above ideology - Prof. Hagan

Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 27 Dec. 2000

Prof. George Hagan, CPP flag bearer in the December 7 presidential election, on Thursday brushed aside criticisms against the electoral pact between the Nkrumaist parties and the NPP, stressing that the overwhelming desire of Ghanaians for a change in government is above ideology.

"Nkrumaism and for that matter socialism is not bigger than the national interest and can therefore be sacrificed for the greater good of the people in the face of the overriding need to change the present government to save the country from destruction".

Prof. Hagan was speaking on a Sunyani FM station, Radio BAR, which hosted him together with Mr John A. Kufuor, NPP flag bearer and Mr J.H. Mensah Minority Leader in Parliament, as part of their tour of the Brong Ahafo Region.

With greater convergence between socialism and capitalism in modern politics, it is not strange that the CPP and the PNC should collaborate with the NPP in the run-off, he stated.

Prof. Hagan cited examples in the political history of the world where parties of diverse ideologies have co-operated with each other in times of crisis for the sake of national salvation.

"Ghana too, is at the moment in a state of crisis, and as we saw on December 7, most Ghanaians are seeking a change in government and majority of them see Mr Kufuor as the best man to effect the change hence our support".

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Floor members of Nkrumaist parties to vote for NDC

Accra (Greeter Accra) 27 Dec 2000

A group of Nkrumaists in the minority parties on Friday declared their support for Professor John Evans Atta Mills, the vice president and the presidential candidate of NDC in the run-off elections. They said their party leaders did not consult them before surrendering "to our political rivals, the NPP".

Mr Dodoo Nii Dodoo, Okaikoi North constituency organiser and Mr Mettle Reindorf Nii Kwao, parliamentary candidate of the constituency, flanked by some members of the other minority parties at a press conference, called on all Nkrumaists "to ignore their leadership and vote for Prof. Mills on December 28.

Mr Nii Dodoo said; "it sounds very absurd and smacks of total betrayal, if after competing with the NPP and lost, we decide to go and back the NPP instead of our leaders sitting down and soberly reflecting on the causes of our failures".

He said one would have thought after losing the election the parties would meet to decide democratically on the next line of action pertaining to the coming presidential run-off.

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Hajia Fati urges EC to proceed with run-off polls in Bawku

Bolgatanga (Upper East) 27 Dec. 2000

Hajia Fati Seidu, Member of Parliament for Bawku Central on Thursday urged the electoral commission not to exclude the constituency from thes December 28 presidential run-off election.

Hajia Seidu who lost her seat in the general election on December 7 to her NPP opponent, Madam Hawa Yakubu, was reacting to a call by Madam Yakubu for the exclusion of the area from the run off because of the present state of insecurity following the post election violence.

In a press release issued at Bolgatanga, Hajia Seidu, who is also the Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, said despite the fact that lives were lost and property destroyed in the violence, the people do not want to be disenfranchised in such a crucial election.

She said, however, calls for the beefing up of security to nip in the bud any threat to violence.

Meanwhile, Madam Hawa Yakubu, NPP MP-elect for Bawku Central said on Tuesday that lack of safety for both the NPP and the NDC in each other's stronghold in Thursday's presidential run off was her main reason for calling for the exclusion of the constituency in the election.

She said there are areas in the constituency where it is risky for NPP election monitors to do their work go, a situation that is equally applicable to the NDC. The MP-elect made this known in a phone-in programme on radio Upper West at Wa.

Madam Yakubu, who gave the background to the violence in which several lives were lost, houses and other property destroyed, said unofficially about 50 people were killed and about 100 houses burnt.

She expressed her gratitude to the security agencies that gave her protection and whisked her to safety, outside Bawku.

Madam Yakubu said although she is from the Nkrumaist tradition, she decided to support Mr J.A. Kufuor and the NPP, because the circumstances demanded so, and called on other opposition party supporters to vote massively for Mr. Kufuor in the run off to effect the change Ghanaians are yearning for.

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Upper East REGSEC lifts Bawku curfew temporarily

Bolgatanga (Upper East) 27 Dec 2000

The Upper East Regional Security Council (REGSEC) on Sunday directed that the curfew in force in the Bawku township be lifted from Monday, December 25, to Thursday, December 28, 2000.

REGSEC explained that the move is to enable Christians to celebrate the Christmas and Muslims to observe Eid-ul Fitr on Wednesday, December 27. It is also to enable them to participate in the presidential run-off election scheduled for December 28.

The council warned, however, that the curfew comes into force again with effect from Friday, December 29, and would be observed between 2000 hours and 0600 hours until further notice.

It also cautioned that the ban on the sale and use of firecrackers, as well as the possession of firearms and ammunition in the Bawku area, is still in force. It said security agencies will deal severely with any persons who will be caught defying these orders.

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Supporters of independent candidate for Salaga back Mills

Salaga (Northern Region) 27 Dec. 2000

The supporters of Mr Boniface Abubakr Saddique, newly elected independent member of parliament for Salaga, have thrown their weight behind the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the presidential run-off scheduled for December 28.

The supporters, numbering more than 50, declared their intention to vote for Professor John Atta Mills at a meeting organised by the East Gonja District Chief Executive, Mr Jerry Draman Jackson, at Salaga on Thursday. Mr Saddique was however not present at the meeting.

Mr Issifu Alabi, an NDC activist, assured Vice-President Mills of their unflinching support, adding that they voted for the independent candidate in the December 7 election in protest against the incumbent member of parliament, Alhaji Hamid Braimah. "This time round, we will all vote massively for the NDC."

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Mills will be victorious in run-off --NDC

Accra(Grreater Accra) 27 Dec 2000

The campaign team for Professor John Evans Atta Mills, the NDC presidential candidate for the run-off election on December 28 have said he will win on proven merit,

Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, a member of the team and Minister of Education told a press conference in Accra that; "Prof. Mills will be a better president for Ghana at this time than his opponent in the run-off because any independent opinion would conclude that Prof. Mills is better agent of change than Mr Kufuor.

"Yes, Rawlings is leaving and Prof. Atta Mills is coming. Prof. Ata Mills will bring about a strong wind of change", he declared.

Mr Spio-Garbrah, who was flanked by Mr Victor Selormey, Deputy Minister of Finance and Mr George Quaynor-Mettle, NDC propaganda secretary, said Prof. Mills has the ability, the experience and competence to bring about the needed change.

He said the Vice President's many years at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as revenue mobiliser puts him in a better position to understand the economy.

"Already there are signs that Mr Kufuor would have difficulty understanding the elements that shape national revenue"

He said when Mr Kufuor was asked in an interview what he would do if he was elected and found that the national treasury is empty, his answer showed that he did not understand the current budgetary outlook.

He said Prof. Mills plans to have a broad-based government and went ahead to name prominent Ghanaians that he would make use of. Mr Spio-Garbrah said Mr Kufuor is unable to name his team "as a good coach will do before a football match".

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NPP victory was divine intervention - Kufuor

Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 27 Dec. 2000

Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor, flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), said on Wednesday that the victory of the NPP in the December 7 elections was an act of God.

"The results were a divine intervention to save Ghana but not due to Kufuor's wealth, stature or greatness," he stated, adding: "I prayed to God long time ago to use me to save Ghana".

Mr. Kufuor was expressing the appreciation of the NPP to the electorate in Brong Ahafo Region for the massive support they gave him and the party during the December 7 election at a rally in Sunyani.

It was also to remind the electorate that "the electoral victory they began on the December 7 has not yet ended; they should therefore re-organise themselves to vote the National Democratic Congress (NDC) out of power".

The NPP flagbearer said leaders and followers of the NDC are going through sleepless nights because of the election results.

"They are inventing fictitious stories and peddling lies to foment trouble and create divisions among the people."

The NPP presidential candidate advised the electorate to remain calm and be tolerant in the face of provocation, manipulation and machinations of the NDC because that is the best way to foil their plans to rig the presidential run-off.

He noted that the deployment of soldiers around the Asutifi and Asunafo Districts is a mark of disrespect for the people of Brong Ahafo by the government.

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Reform says time to debate is over

Accra (Greater Accra) 27 Dec 2000

The National Reform Party (NRP) on Friday said that the time for presidential debates for the National Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Professor Atta Mills, was over since he failed to attend previous the ones organised for flagbearers of all the political parties.

"Now that Mills has realised he made a mistake in not presenting himself to the public as Kufuor did in a debate, why should he turn to the NPP to fix his bad judgement?.

"The moment has passed; the time for debates is over. The NDC and its presidential candidate did not seize the opportunity when they had it."

This was contained in a statement issued in Accra and signed by Mr Mije Barnor, Deputy General Secretary in charge of media and publicity of the NRP.

"But that really is a bit like the history of the NDC. It had eight years but never really had the courage to fulfil it dreams. Mills had the opportunity and missed it. He chose not to attend. Forget it!"

According to the statement, the presidential forum organised by Freedom Forum...was a historic one and first ever forum in Ghana which presidential candidates met to exchange ideas of which Prof. Mills found one excuse after another to duck out the challenge.

"For a man who wants to become president, this trait the professor showed to Ghanaians is not desirable in a leader. A president of a poor impoverished country like Ghana needs to be decisive.

"He has to demonstrate a capacity to think on his feet and make hard choices given the options we have as a result of limited resources we have at our disposal," the statement added.

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More people rush for NPP membership in Volta Region - Dogbe

Ho (Volta Region) 27 Dec. 2000

Mr. James Dogbe, Volta Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), on Monday confirmed that there is a rush for the party's membership cards in the region.

"We believe that they are sincere and not rushing for the cards for fun but want to contribute to our victory, which is certain," he told the Ghana News Agency in an interview.

Mr Dogbe, who could not give figures, however, said the increasing numbers of NPP supporters may be due to the realisation of people in the region that it was "wrong to put one's eggs in one basket".

The NPP regional Chairman said the number of votes the party was able to attract during the December 7 elections was an improvement on its performance in 1996 and is therefore optimistic of the party's showing during the December 28 run-off.

He said people in the region feared to identify openly with the NPP for fear of being victimised. Mr Dogbe said the party has not experienced any intimidation in the region except for isolated cases.

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Don't allow students with transfer certificates to vote - NDC

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 27 Dec 2000

The Ashanti regional secretariat of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has directed the party's agents not to allow students with voter transfer certificates to vote in the presidential run-off.

A statement issued and signed by Mr Kofi Topeng, the regional secretary, in Kumasi said they "should forcibly resist any attempt by any presiding officer to disregard the High Court ruling that has declared the transfer illegal".

It charged the Electoral Commission (EC) to ensure a more transparent and peaceful re-run of the presidential poll by sticking to the court ruling.

The statement drew attention to the party's agents to be vigilant at the polling centres to thwart cheating and rigging of the election.

It also reminded voters that both photo and thumbprint ID cards are valid for the presidential run-off and asked holders of any of the cards to exercise their franchise.

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Professor Mills denies stepping down ploy

Ashaiman (Greater Accra) 27 Dec. 2000

The NDC flagbearer, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, on Sunday denied that he had ever decided to step down to enable the NPP to walk to the Castle soon after the December 7 election.

He said wild rumours circulating in the country have it that he decided not to contest again but was forced into it by the powers that be against his will.

He explained that the only meeting with the President J.J. Rawlings after the elections was attended by 50 top members of the party to plan strategies for the run-off.

Prof. Mills, who was interacting with the electorate at Ashaiman over his plans when elected as president, emphasised that the run-off is between Mr Kufuor and himself, Mills, and not between the NPP and the NDC.

The electorate should therefore look at the track record of the two personalities before they cast their vote.

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West Mamprusi EC retrieves 28 ballot boxes from "overseas"

Walewale (Northern Region) 27 Dec 2000

Twenty-eight ballot boxes sent to the "Overseas" area of the West Mamprusi District ahead of the December 28 presidential run-off were conveyed back to Walewale on Sunday, following protests by activists of the NPP and other opposition parties.

They accused Chief F.A. Adams, District Electoral Officer, of preparing the grounds for a possible manipulation of the impending run-off election in the overseas area.

Mr Modesto Ayiwole, district returning officer, who briefed newsmen on the incident at Walewale, explained that, based on an evaluation of the December 7 polls, officials of the EC in the district identified transportation of boxes and voting materials as a major cause of delay in the electoral process, particularly in the "Overseas" zone.

"To overcome this problem, we decided to create distribution centres at Kubore to cater for the whole of that area," he added.

He said out of 30 ballot boxes meant for overseas, 28 were loaded on the EC's pick-up vehicle last Friday and sent to Kubore where they were locked up in a room at the local health centre.

Mr Ayiwole indicated that some constituency executives of the NDC, as well as the constituency secretary of the NPP, Mr Ishaq Chilala, were notified about the transfer of ballot boxes.

Mr Chilala, however, dismissed the statement as untrue, saying that he had gone to the district EC office on a different mission only to be informed that some boxes were being sent to the "Overseas" area.

"And even at that time, the ballot boxes had already been loaded on a pick-up and covered with a tarpaulin," he maintained.

After the boxes had been dispatched, rumours began to circulate in Walewale town that the district electoral officer was trying to connive with the District Chief Executive and the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for the area to rig the polls at Overseas on December 28.

Consequently, a mob, comprising mainly activists of the opposition parties, marched to the Walewale police station demanding that Chief Adams be held to bring back the 28 ballot boxes.

They argued that conveying the boxes there on December 22, six days away from the election, was premature. They further observed that there was no police escort when the boxes were being moved and that the Kubore health centre was no safe place to keep ballot boxes since no security had been put in place there.

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Kufuor says NPP would not persecute security personnel.

Ho (Volta Region) 27 Dec. 2000

Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor, flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has assured security personnel that his government would not persecute them on the premise that they helped in propping up the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.

He said that, rather, an NPP government would de-politicise all components of the security services and transform them into a formidable state asset.

Mr. Kufuor, who was speaking on a Volta Star Radio (VSR) programme on Tuesday, said his government would provide equipment and training and raise remuneration to enhance their performance.

On the hour-long programme, which was monitored by the Ghana News Agency, were Mr. George Hagan of the Convention People's Party (CPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, an NPP Member of Parliament, and Major Courage Quarshigah, National Organiser of the NPP.

Asked why he was in the Volta Region where the NPP has very little support, Mr. Kufuor said he had not given up on the region.

"Going by the results, it will not say much but we are out to win their confidence. It takes some time to win people over from old beliefs," Mr Kufuor stated.

He said Volta Region, as an integral part of Ghana, must go along with the rest of the country in the overwhelming support for a change of government.

Mr Kufuor denounced the notion that the Volta Region has no stakes in an NPP government as "a blatant lie", saying his government would develop the region's potentials and even do more for it than the NDC government.

He said he heard the president also call the Volta Region the NDC's World Bank, which, he thinks, is contemptuous as the NDC government has done very little for the region.

The NPP flagbearer repeated his pledge to form a broad-based Government, explaining that the executive presidential system, which Ghana is operating, gives ample room for non-party people to be picked as ministers.

"Yes, my party would definitely be acknowledged, but as President, I would look around... party card would not be the determining factor for winning posts," he stated.

Mr Kufuor accused the NDC of harping on tribal sentiments in their campaigns, saying: "now in Ghana, after 43 years of independence, we have a government that is shamelessly using the tribal card to perpetuate itself".

On recent statements attributed to Mr. J.H. Mensah, a leading member of the NPP and minority leader in parliament, which gives indications of a policy of vendetta that the party would pursue,

Mr Kufuor said Mr Mensah could not speak for the party. He said people responsible for human rights violations are protected by the constitution, which, as President, he must uphold.

Mr Kufuor said what an NPP government would do is to assuage the anger of people whose rights were abused by ensuring that they are compensated.

Nana Akufo-Addo, in an intervention, said that the issue of people who suffered abuses under previous governments must be resolved so that it does not become a "burden in the future".

He said the matter must be taken up for "some sort of healing and reconciliation so that at the end of the day, there will be general pacification".

Other issues touched on include corruption and the NPP programme of private participation in the economy.

On corruption, Mr. Kufuor said "since the fish rots from the head, he would be self-disciplined so that my ministers and people working with them would come on line".

He said his government would encourage moral education to instil in the Ghanaian moral principles to eschew corruption.

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Ghana rated from partly free to free nation

Accra (Greater Accra) 27 Dec 2000

Ghana and three other countries have been rated as nations that have moved from "partly free" to "free" states, according to a report by Freedom House, a non-partisan organisation based in New York.

The other three countries rated by Freedom House that supports popular aspirations for freedom, peace and stability world-wide, are Croatia, Mexico and Surinam.

The report by Freedom House, founded by former United States First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, and titled "Freedom In The World 2000-2001," said over 40 per cent of the world's population live in free nations.

"Eighty-six countries representing 2.5 billion people or 40.7 per cent of the world's population are 'free', while another 59 countries, encompassing 1.4 billion people or 23.8 per cent of the world's population are 'partly free' ".

The report, on world- wide democracy and human rights, received by the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Monday, said 35.5 per cent of the world's people live in 47 nations considered not Free where citizens are denied basic political rights and civil liberties.

"The study found that the economies of free countries grew over a nine-year period at a rate of 70 per cent higher than the average for countries that were not free, with an even more marked difference among poor nations."

The survey said the biggest strides towards democracy and freedom took place in Mexico, where the election of President Vicente Fox brought democracy to that country after more than 70 years of virtual one-party rule by the International Revolutionary Party (PRI).

"Big strides were also made in Yugoslavia, where the election of President Vojislav Kostunica brought an end to the bloody rule of Slobodan Milosevic, giving rise to hope for genuine peace in the Balkans".

According to the report, 25 other countries made progress, while 18 regressed. Other nations praised b the report included the Philippines, Indonesia and Taiwan, all of which saw crackdowns on corruption or charges brought against government or military officials, and Peru, where the resignation of President Alberto Fujimori was followed by gains for political freedom, human rights and the rule of law.

Setbacks for freedom took place in the Middle East, with the renewed Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Russia and Ukraine, which saw erosion in political liberties.

A move against Venezuela's trade unions by President Hugo Chavez earned the South American country a black mark, while prospects for reform in Iran waned when conservative clerics led a backlash against the president and other moderate figures, Freedom House said.

Civil war and ethnic conflict in Africa engulfed much of the continent, with the possible widening of civil strife in Siera Leone to Guinea and neighbouring states, the report said.

But the group reserved its "worst of the worst" status for Afghanistan, Burma, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria and Turkmenistan, 11 nations in which citizens are denied a broad range of even the most basic freedoms, it said.

Democracy and freedom were most entrenched in Western Europe, which was 100 per cent free, and least prevalent in the Middle East, where 71 per cent of 14 countries were rated not free. In evaluating nations, the survey drew on hundreds of publications and organisations for two sets of checklists, one for political rights and one for civil liberties.

Political rights enable people to participate freely in political process, including voting and running for public office, while civil liberties cover the development of views, institutions and personal autonomy independent of state.

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Carpenters at Anloga given one month to quit

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 27 Dec 2000

Carpenters operating at Anloga in Kumasi have been given one month to quit their premises or face legal action. Mr J. Osei Kofi, a Kumasi-based legal practitioner, in a letter dated November 22, 2000, on behalf of Nana Akosa Yiadom, Amakomhene, to the carpenters said "all attempts to get them leave their present place for the Wood Village at Sokoban had proved futile".

"If you fail to comply with the quit order, legal action would be instituted against all the carpenters at the High Court for your ejection."

Mr Hope Keke, Secretary of the Anloga branch of the Small-Scale Carpenters Association, in reply to the quit order, appealed to the Amakomhene to reconsider his decision and give them sometime to move from the place.

The letter said plots at the Wood Village are being sold only to carpenters who can afford and it is beyond them to acquire plots to operate there hence the need for sometime to leave their present place.

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EC burns 10,000 thumbprint ID Cards

Accra (Greater Accra) 27 Dec 2000

The Electoral Commission (EC) on Saturday burnt over 10,000 thumbprint ID cards collected during the exchange for Photo IDs at the Ghana Publishing Corporation incinerator in Accra.

Mr Albert Kofi Arhin, EC Director of Elections, told the Ghana News Agency that the cards covered only those collected at the head office, adding that regional directors would also arrange to burn what they collected.

Mr Francis Dentey and Mr Asante Kissi, EC Senior Electoral Officers, supervised the burning observed by NDC and NPP party agents and a security officer from the National Security Council.

The exercise started in the northern region on July 24 and ended in Greater Accra on November 15, 2000. The EC, during the exercise, exchanged 77.34 per cent of thumbprint voter IDs for Photo IDs.

The total number of registered voters without photo IDs was 6,821,329 and the exercise covered 5,256,389. Mr Arhin said these figures were without those issued with photo IDs during the mopping up exercise.

He explained that the commission used 900 cameras out of which 120 went to the regions and one each for the districts.

Ten cameras were given to a Mobile Team as a back up to support centres whose cameras might break down during the exercise.

Mr Arhin said regional statistics on the exercise indicate that the Northern Region, with a thumbprint population of 690,055, issued 605,572 with photo IDs, representing 87.76 per cent.

Upper East, with a voter population of 359,129, had 308,837 voters issued with photo IDs, representing 86 per cent, while Upper West, with a population of 220,413, issued 173,737 photo IDs, representing 78.82 per cent.

The Brong Ahafo, with a voter population of 937,636, issued 736,940 photo IDs, representing 78.60 per cent, and Eastern Region, with a population of 1,023,513, issued 772,063 photo IDs, representing 75.43 per cent.

Central Region, with a voter population of 698,369, had 524,057 issued with photo IDs, representing 75.04 per cent; Ashanti Region, with a voter population of 1,149,339, issued 860,628 photo IDs, representing 74.88 per cent.

The others are as follows: Western Region, 552,414 out of 741,554, representing 74.49 per cent; Volta Region, 524,613 out of 724,107, representing 72.25 per cent; and Greater Accra Region, 197,528 out of 277,214, representing 70.13 per cent.

Statistics available to the Ghana News Agency on the number of polling stations without the photo IDs prior to the commencement of the exercise indicated that the Western Region had 770 for its 1,703 polling stations; Central Region, 770 cameras for 1,497 polling stations; Greater Accra Region, 528 cameras for its 528 polling stations; Volta, 770 for 1,501 stations; and Eastern Region, 770 cameras for a total of 2,305 stations.

The rest are Ashanti Region, 770 cameras for 2,669 polling stations; Brong Ahafo, 770 cameras for 2,017 stations; Northern Regions, 560 cameras for 1,662 stations; Upper East, 769 cameras for 769 stations; and Upper West, 662 cameras for 662 polling stations.

GRi../

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