Togo closes side
of border with Ghana
Electoral officers
run helter-skelter as soldier scatters voting materials
Police and military call FM stations to
order
NDC supporters harass fire officer
NPP regional chairman reacts to intimidation
of voters
NPP says heavy
military presence led to low turnout
Voting in Ablekuma paralysed as thugs wreck havoc
NPP, NDC trade accusations of intimidation
Togo closes side
of border with Ghana
Aflao (Volta Region) 28 December
2000
The authorities of Togo on
Thursday closed its side of the border with Ghana at Aflao, leaving many people
stranded at both sides.
The closure took place at exactly
8 a.m., an hour after voting in the presidential run-off in Ghana opened.
No reason was assigned, but many
people including traders and political activists have described the measure as
untimely.
Ghanaian security officials
contacted by the Ghana News Agency said they were not informed by their
Togolese counterparts before the closure and therefore could not assign any
reason.
Many people the GNA spoke to said
the closure was perhaps intended to prevent registered Ghanaian voters resident
in Togo from crossing to Ghana to exercise their franchise.
They expressed surprise at the
development, saying it was difficult to understand the interest of the Togolese
authorities in an election in Ghana.
GRi…/
Electoral
officers run helter-skelter as soldier scatters voting materials
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 28
December 2000
Mr. Kofi Agyei, Returning Officer
for Manhyia constituency, has said a group of soldiers arrived at the station
in the morning, fired shots while one of them banged his hand on the ballot box
and broke the lid.
He said the same soldier went to
the electoral officials, scattered the documents before them and threw most of
them on the ground.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency,
Mr Agyei said the officials became scared and run helter-skelter until
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) H.A. Yakubu of the Buffalo Unit
arrived at the scene with his men to restore order before voting continued.
In another incident, one Ibrahim
Razak, holding a letter of accreditation from the Electoral Commission (EC),
came to the station and began re-checking voters' identity cards although he
had not reported to the Presiding Officer.
Mr. Agyei said Razak's behaviour,
which was suspicious, attracted more people who prevented him from the
re-checking.
In another development, Dr Kwame
Addo-Kufuor, MP for Manhyia, decried the heavy police and military presence at
the Konadu Yiadom polling station, and asked them to withdraw since there was
absolute calm at the station.
"The heavy police and
military presence is intimidating voters to come out to cast their votes."
Speaking to the (GNA), Dr
Addo-Kufuor said before and even after the incident, voting was peaceful. "Therefore,
there is no need for the heavy police and military presence to scare
voters."
GRi…/
Police and military call FM stations to
order
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 December 2000
The Police and Military High Command on Thursday asked management of FM stations to stop their stations being used to incite violence and bring the electoral process into disrepute.
The two bodies said they have noted with "grave concern inflammatory broadcasts emanating from some FM stations particularly in Accra and Takoradi."
This is contained in a statement signed by the directorates of public relations of the Police Service and Ghana Armed Forces in Accra on Thursday.
The statement said some of the information they broadcast are unverified and are sowing seeds of conflict and causing unnecessary anxiety and tension among the populace since voting started throughout the country this morning.
The statement urged FM stations to verify allegations made by callers especially against military and police personnel who are only discharging their responsibility to ensure that the election is conducted in a transparent and violence-free atmosphere.
"The Police Administration and the Military High Command have taken serious view of these developments since morning and request the management of FM stations to, as a matter of urgency, exercise restraint," the statement said.
It added that FM stations should not, "allow the misuse of their stations by any person or persons bent on inciting violence and bringing the electoral process into disrepute."
The statement said the two bodies recognise the right of the people to free speech as well as the right of the public to information, but attempts by some agent provocateurs to use the airwaves to incite violence and to foment a breakdown of law and order will not be countenanced
GRi…/
NDC supporters harass fire officer
Big Ada (Greater Accra) 28 December 2000
A sub-fire officer guarding the Momortsenya polling station in the Ada constituency, Mr Kwame Ballanes, on Thursday alleged that he was continually harassed by some NDC supporters for allegedly preventing them from directing voters to vote for the party.
Mr Ballanes said the NDC supporters have been coming to him at the polling station to threaten him of his dismissal from the service should the NDC lose the election.
Narrating the incident to newsmen in the presence of the District Electoral Officer, Mr Alex Quarm, the fire officer said in the morning when voting was about to start, he walked across the street to buy some food to eat.
As soon as he got to the seller, he saw two young men whom he identified as NDC supporters, directing voters to vote for the NDC and drew their attention to the dangers involved.
According to Mr Ballanes, this generated a misunderstanding and a quarrel ensued but the Presiding Officer of the polling station, Madam Judith Mottey turned them away.
Mr Ballanes said since the morning incident, two groups of NDC supporters had issued him with various threats.
The harassment issued was confirmed by Madam Mottey who, however, gave a different account of the story.
She claimed that Mr Ballanes walked across the street to allegedly convince voters to vote for the NPP and this infuriated the NDC supporters to take that action.
Mr Quarm expressed dissatisfaction about the low voter tun-out, saying that if the trend continued, the constituency may not achieve even half of the 49,351 registered votes in the constituency.
GRi…/
Nsawam (Eastern Region) 28 December 2000
Armed soldiers and policemen numbering about 10 on Thursday beat up six people who were resting under a tree after casting their votes.
They are Mr Alfred Kwaku, Mr Ohene Yaw, Mr Aggah Kwabena, Mr John Kwasi, Mr Yaw Asante and Mr Samuel Nyapo, all from Pokrom Nsaba in the Akwapim South Constituency of the Eastern Region.
Mr. Asante, who was bleeding profusely, was rushed to the Nsawam Government Hospital, about eight kilometres away from Pokrom.
Nana Toa Djan II, Chief of the town, told the Ghana News Agency that after peacefully casting their votes, the victims were resting under a tree at a distance of about 200 metres away from the polling station when 10 armed soldiers and policemen emerged.
Nana Toa said the armed soldiers and policemen asked the victims why they were sitting under the tree but before they could answer, the soldiers pounced on them and beat them up.
The armed military and police personnel also rushed to the chief's palace but when another police personnel challenged them to show their identity, they fled in an unregistered Pick-up, the chief said.
At the district office of the Electoral Commission, the District Officer, Mr Obeng Adarkwa, said the voting public was scared by the presence of the armed personnel who were patrolling some of the stations at Nsawam, hence the poor turnout. He described the development as shameful to democracy.
The Nsawam District Police Commander, when contacted, denied having any knowledge of the presence of the armed personnel in the Akwapim District.
Another electoral violence erupted at Dzatsui New Town but the chief of the town mediated and managed to bring the situation under control.
Generally, voter turnout in the Akwapim South Constituency was not as encouraging as that of the December 7 polls.
GRi…/
NPP regional chairman reacts to
intimidation of voters
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 28 December 2000
Mr. F. F. Antoh, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has alleged that the Ashanti Regional Police Command knew the soldiers who shot Mr Nicholas Gyasi in the knee at Ahinsan, saying they are the ones who caused confusion and prevented people from voting in the metropolis.
He claimed that the men were given some materials at the Central Police Station before they took off early in the morning to cause the confusion at the polling stations in the metropolis.
Mr. Antoh was reacting to the behaviour of some soldiers who prevented people from voting at the polling stations.
He explained that, following discussions he had with Major General Henry K. Anyidoho, Commanding Officer of the Northern Command, that he should report to him any strange event that might occur, he decided to write down registration numbers of vehicles he thought were unfamiliar at the Central Police Station.
Mr. Antoh said while writing down the numbers, one of the soldiers kicked him and seized the notebook in which he was writing.
The soldiers, he said, also seized the mobile phone of Mr S.K. Boafo, the Minority Chief Whip and MP for Subin, who was with him.
Mr. Antoh said when the matter went before Dr K.K. Manfo, the Regional Police Commander, he said he never told anybody to write down the numbers of vehicles.
Asked why he did not report the incident to Major-General Anyidoho, Mr Antoh said the soldiers threatened to kill him if he did so until Major Asihene of the Fourth Battalion of Infantry assured him that nothing would happen to him.
When the Ghana News Agency (GNA) called Dr Manfo for his comments, it was learnt he was attending a meeting.
GRi…/
NPP says heavy
military presence led to low turnout
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 December
2000
The New Patriotic Party on
Thursday said heavy military presence in various parts of the country led to a
low electoral turnout in the presidential run-off. "The politics of commandos and election management
through macho men have thrown the nation into mourning," the party said in
a statement signed by its National Campaign Manager, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey.
The NPP said the incidents were
most prevalent in areas known to be its strongholds, adding that the NDC was
adopting foul means "to prevent the choice of the people from assuming the
presidency of the nation."
"Guns have been fired; people
have been shot and stabbed and are in hospitals; innocent people in queues have
been brutalised, threatened and made to disperse, some never to come
back," the NPP said.
It cited instances where it
alleged NDC "machomen" and the military beat up voters, saying it was
"a clear, sustained and diabolical plan by the incumbent NDC to
disenfranchise our people.
"Their campaign of divisive
tactics using ethnicity as a nefarious tool, has been one of the most
disgraceful in recent history."
The NPP therefore called on the
Electoral Commission to investigate the incidents and address them
appropriately.
GRi…/
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 December 2000
Voting in Thursday's presidential run-off ended at all the polling stations throughout the country except isolated cases of violence and intimidation reported in a number of constituencies and an alert by the electoral commission against fake ballot papers.
Voting started on schedule without much hitches, with some voters taking their places in queues as early as 0500 hours.
There were, however, reports of low voter turnout at most of the polling stations compared to the December 7 elections.
Ghanaians voted in a presidential run-off to choose the man President Jerry John Rawlings will hand over to next month after concluding a two four-year term. This is the first time in the country's 43 year history that such a transition will take place through the electoral process.
The contest is a straight fight between vice president John Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr John Agyekum Kufuor.
Mr. Kufuor polled 3,131,739 votes (48.17 per cent) while Professor Mills won 2,895,575 votes (44.54 per cent) in the inconclusive first round vote on December 7 from a field of seven candidates. Turnout was 61.7 per cent. There are about 10.6 million names on the register.
Polling opened for 10 hours from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. with counting of the ballot starting immediately at each polling station.
The first results are expected later in the night and the Electoral Commission said the final results would be known within 72 hours.
GRi…/
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 Dec. 2000
Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, EC chairman, on Thursday advised Presiding Officers and party agents to scrutinise ballot papers during counting.
"We have confiscated fake thumb printed ballot papers from some Presiding Officers at some polling stations."
Dr Afari-Gyan said during a tour of some polling stations in the Accra Metropolis to observe the voting.
He explained that the fake ballot papers have no serial number, no title and an arrow that directs electorate where to thumbprint.
Dr Afari-Gyan said such ballot papers are not from the commission and must be rejected should any find its way into a ballot box.
He assured the public that "it is almost impossible to fill the ballot box with such fake ballot papers."
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency on his impressions about the voting, Dr Afari-Gyan said generally voting started on time as compared to the December 7 voting.
He said although there were short queues at most of the polling stations visited it was too early to draw any conclusions.
He said there have been some isolated cases of intimidation and violence but voting has been generally peaceful.
Mr Albert K Arhin, Director of Elections, expressed misgivings about the presence of uniformed soldiers at some polling stations.
He said the cause is just but in election parlance, the presence of military creates a different picture, especially to observers.
Mr Arhin admitted, however, that their presence has helped in areas where the situation was tense.
GRi../
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 28 Dec 2000
Mr Asase Boadi, Returning officer, for Atwima-Kwanwoma constituency, and four policemen as well as other officials of the Electoral Commission, were allegedly attacked and severely assaulted, at Kromoase on Thursday morning.
They were conveying voting materials to polling stations in the constituency. The four tyres of a school truck that was being used to convey 40 ballot boxes and the materials were deflated.
Mr Boadi said the unidentified attackers asked them where they were sending the voting materials, but after answering, they decided to escort them to their destination.
He said when they reached Kromoase, the men prevented them from continuing their journey and raised an alarm which attracted the inhabitants.
"They rushed on me and the police personnel including three women and beat us up severely, Mr Boadi said.
He said the men in the bus went and informed the NPP MP-elect for the constituency, Dr Mathew Antwi who went to the scene after a report has been made to the police.
Mr Baah said the District Elections Security Committee headed by Deputy Superintendent of Police, Miss Peace Mawunu is investigating the matter.
Reports indicate a low turnout of voters throughout the Upper West region in the run-off presidential election between NDC's Prof. J.E.A. Mills and NPP's Mr John A. Kufuor.
Unlike the December 7 general election, which saw long queues of voters at almost all the 814 polling stations, short queues could be seen even at polling stations traditionally known for their high turn-out.
A cross section of voters interviewed at Tumu in the Sissala constituency told the GNA that they were interested in the parliamentary election and since they have succeeded in effecting a change of their MP, they did not care who won the presidential slot.
Others said there was enough time for the electorate to turn out to cast their votes before it ends at 1700 hrs.
At Lawra, in the Lawra/Nantom constituency, a number of voters interviewed attributed the low turn out to the presence of soldiers and apathy on the part of people content with the parliamentary election.
The situation was the same in the Nadowli North and South constituencies. The turnout in the Wa Central, Wa East, Jirapa and Lambussie constituencies was the same.
GRi../
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 28 Dec. 2000
Voting in the Presidential run-off in some polling stations within the Kumasi metropolis began on schedule and peacefully.
Voter turn out was encouraging with queues being formed a few hours before the start of polling at 7.00am.
Voting materials, officials, polling agents and security personnel were all at post and there has not been any hitch so far at the polling stations visited at Mother Smith School and Polar at the Kyirapatre Estate.
At the cluster of schools at Kyirapatre, Atonsu, Kaase and the Kumasi South Polyclinic voting was orderly.
However at the Adum JSS School at the commercial centre confusion broke out when two people were prevented from voting by the polling agents alleging that they were below the voting age of 18.
At Asuoyeboah, voters queued up as early as 5.30 AM at the Block 8 polling station of the SSNIT flats.
Early turn out was heavy apparently because most people wanted to vote quickly and go to work.
The confusion at the Adum Presbyterian JSS heightened when the two-suspected under-aged voters were arrested and sent to the Kumasi Central police station for investigations.
Mr Samuel Nuamah-Donkor, Ashanti Regional Minister who was at the polling station, told the GNA that all minors who attempt to vote would be apprehended and would have to prove their eligibility to vote.
Mr Nuamah-Donkor, however, said everything is going on smoothly except that "the indelible ink is not indelible at all and the Electoral Commission (EC) should take a second look at the ink.".
Turn-out in the early stages of voting in the Ejisu-Juaben constituency was low as compared to voting on December 7 when voting was characterised by long queues even before the polling stations opened.
The general atmosphere been calm and relaxed as voters who trickled in cast their ballot and left.
Mr Kwadwo Twum-Antwi, District Returning Officer told the GNA that all polling stations have been supplied with adequate electoral materials. He said he anticipates a well-conducted presidential run-off.
Turn out in the Bolgatanga township, has been slow, compared to the December 7 elections.
There were few voters at most of the polling stations the Ghana News Agency (GNA) visited, even though polling officials were at post before 0700 hours.
The atmosphere was calm and voting was progressing orderly. At the Junior Staff Quarters polling station, where there are 790 registered voters, 97, had cast their votes as at 0815 hours while 54 people out of a total of 393 had voted at the Experimental Primary "A" School polling station, as at 0830 hours. At the Asorbisi polling station, voting was delayed up to 0830 hours.
According to the Presiding Officer, Mr. Moses Asokyine, the ballot box meant for the station was mistakenly sent to a different location initially.
As at 0920 hours, 71 people had cast their votes at the Aningazanga JSS "B" polling station, with 30 others waiting for their turn.
It is expected that as the day wears on, more people would exercise their franchise before the close of polling at 17 hours.
At the La Township under the Dade Kotopon Constituency, turnout was low compared to the first round on December 7.
The presiding officers at the various polling stations attributed it to apathy on the part of voters.
Mr Samuel Timpoh, Presiding Officer of the Hollywood polling station, in an interview with the GNA observed that, the run-off was new to most voters, who would be experiencing it for the first time.
He said people could also be fed up with the whole exercise. "It is difficult to tell why they are not coming, they could be fed up or just feeling reluctant to come".
Mr Timpoh said although he was not been happy with the low turnout, he was optimistic that they would vote before close of the exercise at 17:00 Hrs.
At the La Community Bank polling station, Mr Theodore Adjei, Presiding Officer, explained that the voters were not coming out in their numbers since they were more interested in the parliamentary election since that has more to do with community development.
"Since Parliamentarians are mostly citizens of the community, people are more interested in their elections".
Most of the voters interviewed felt there was no need for a run-off since one person obtained more votes.
Asked whether, they understood the exercise, most them shook their head and said it was a novelty to them. Although, turnout was low, voting was peaceful and quiet.
With the exception of the La Community Bank and Agbawe Shed polling stations where voting started late due to late delivery of voting materials, the exercise started at 07:00 hrs.
Voter turn-our in the Tamale
municipality was generally low more than three hours after voting in the
presidential run-off began at 7 A.M. on Thursday.
Some polling stations were
virtually without the queues that characterised the general elections on
December seven.
At the "Youth Home 'A'
polling station in the Gukpegu/Sabongida constituency, Alhaji Seidu Iddi,
Northern Regional Minister, joined a small queue to cast his ballot.
Alhaji Iddi insisted on waiting
for his turn in the queue when the Presiding Officer gave him the opportunity
to vote ahead of the others. The Regional Minister left soon after voting.
Electoral Officers the GNA spoke
to on the low turnout attributed it to "voter apathy and fatigue" and
"voter disillusionment".
They, however, expressed the hope
that the electorate would come out in their numbers in the course of the day.
At the Zogbeli polling station,
the electorate were kept at a distance and made to queue in fives to cast their
votes. The Presiding Officer said the arrangement was to ensure peace and
order.
At the Bishop's JSS (Choggu), the
two polling stations were peaceful as the electorate waited patiently to cast
their votes.
Convoys of supporters of both the
NDC and the NPP in trucks and motor bikes are parading the Municipality, which
was creating panic and anxiety among the electorate.
Pandemonium broke out at the Acquaye Memorial School when thugs alleged to be supporters of the NDC attacked observers of the NPP.
The thugs in a black Golf saloon car with registration number AS 1260 E, a yellow and blue Nissan Sunny taxicab with registration number GT 8939 C and a VW LT bus stormed the school, which has four polling stations.
When the NPP observers got down from their vehicle, the thugs attacked them. They accused them of attempting to vote with the letters introducing them as party observers and started beating them up.
Mr George Kussi, a student of the University of Ghana, Legon, was slapped several times before the police at the polling station intervened and warned the thugs to stop their unruly behaviour.
Mr Kussi said the NPP national chairman requested that "we parade as observers of the party to forestall any outside influence on their own party agents. "The exercise is also to replace polling agents who are believed to have been infiltrated by our opponents."
In spite of the intervention of the police, the group insisted that they would not allow the observers at the polling station.
Military re-enforcement was called to restore order but before they arrived, the group had left the area warning in Ga; "Wo baaba ekonn," (We shall return).
As at 0830 hours, most polling stations in the Osu Korley Klottey constituency had no voters queuing to cast their votes.
Presiding officers interviewed said though voting materials were dispatched between 0500 and 0600, voters had only been trickling in. They, however, said they believe people were not turning up early because they might want to avoid long queues this time and the fact that voting is only once and not two times as on December 7.
At the Osu police station polling station, 168 people had voted by 0900 hours.
The Blogodo Garden polling station the presiding officer, Mr. Peter Hammond, said the place had been unusually calm because of the strong presence of armed security personnel.
Voting at most of the polling stations of the West Ayawaso Wuogon Constituency was quiet and orderly without long queues.
The presiding officers the Ghana News Agency (GNA) spoke to at the Jack and Jill and Association primary schools, the International Students Hostel, Airport Police, Bawaleshie and Abotsiman Day Care Centre polling stations said voters had been coming in trickles.
Mr Osei Boakye, Presiding Officer of the Jack and Jill Polling Station, said as at 1000 hours, 180 people had voted as compared to 260 people who had voted at about the same time on December 7.
He said he was, however, hopeful that by the close of voting time, people would turn up.
The only incident was at the Airport Police Station Polling Station where a man of about 30 years was arrested for attempting to influence the voters to vote for a particular candidate.
Chief Inspector A. Abdulai of the Airport police will, however, not disclose the name of the accused and the details of the case saying that it was under investigation.
Voting took off smoothly and on schedule in the Ga North Constituency with short queues at many polling stations.
Among the poling stations are the Madina Police Station, Islamic Primary School, Amansen Patholab Services, Taatso Booth, Saint Peter's Mission Preparatory school, Jem Cole Nursery and Social Welfare.
The only incident recorded was at the Islamic Primary School where a 45-year-old woman whose name was given as Madam Patricia was prevented from voting because someone had voted in her name.
Four people with thumb-printed ID cards were among the voters.
Voting in the Sunyani metropolis and surrounding areas, was a departure from the rush in the December 7 elections, which saw long queues at polling stations.
When the Ghana News Agency visited some polling stations, only electoral and security officers could be seen behind their tables, waiting for voters, who trickled in.
The voting was fast as the electorate had to contend with the two candidates, Mr. J.A. Kufuor of the NPP and Professor John Atta Mills of the NDC.
A fairly large number of people had cast their votes at the time the GNA visited the stations.
Mr. Francis Yeboah, Presiding Officer at the Civic Centre polling station, said 189 people had voted as at 8.45 A.M.
He said there was no queue because with only the presidential ballot, the voting process had become shorter and faster, hence people spent less time.
A total of 150 people had voted at the Twene Amanfo polling station 1B as at 8.52 AM.
At the Bakers' Co-operative polling station, the Presiding Officer, Mr. Yaw Darko said apart from the early morning rush, the voters trickled in.
He said 200 people had cast their ballot as at 9.00 AM, which compared favourably with the December Seven elections.
At the Anglican JSS, the Presiding Officer, Mr. Kingsley Bentum, said polling was smooth and calm and 192 people had voted by 9.20 AM.
He expressed optimism that majority of voters, would turn up later in the day.
At Berekum, many people, including Presiding Officers, told the GNA that the seemingly
slow pace of voting would gradually improve.
They explained that there was no need to rush because people were now conversant with the voting procedure.
Others explained that many voters from the area are farmers in the Sefwi area of the Western Region and might not travel back home to exercise their franchise.
Students, who are on vacation and are helping their parents on farms cannot come back to vote, Kwaku Adjei, a trader, said.
Mr. Alexander Naa Sugro, Presiding Officer, at the Nanasuano District Council Primary School polling station, said only 29 out of the total of 552 registered voters had voted as at 8.40 AM.
Two hundred and forty-two people voted in the December Seven general election at the polling station.
At the Berekum Agricultural Extension Number One polling station, 180 out of the expected 993 voters had cast their votes at about 8.05 AM.
There was near confusion at the Berekum Agricultural Extension Number Two polling station, when the Presiding Officer, Mr. Frederick Yeboah tried to prevent a boy suspected to be under-age from voting.
GRi../
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 Dec. 2000
A confident-looking John Agyekum Kufuor, Presidential Candidate of the NPP, on Thursday cast his vote at the Dzorwulu Temporary polling booth and predicted he was going to win a landslide victory.
"I am voting to win and there's no question of what I will do if I do not win. I will not speculate on that," he said.
The run-off between Mr Kufuor and Professor John Atta Mills of the NDC was precipitated by the inability of any of the seven presidential hopefuls to clinch a 50 per cent plus one in the December 7 presidential election.
Mr Kufuor polled 48.17 per cent or 3,121.056 votes while Prof. Mills had 44.54 per cent or 2,895,570 votes.
Speaking to journalists after casting his vote at 09:40Hrs, Mr Kufuor, in a white smock over a white trouser said, "we are heading for a landslide victory.
The picture we had from the first round is ample evidence of what we should expect in this run-off".
Mr Kufuor expressed concern about reports of intimidation and harassment of voters and urged the government "to call the perpetrators to book" to ensure a smooth and incident-free election.
"I am very uncomfortable with the situation. I am yet to go round, but I have received very disturbing reports from Ablekuma, Teshie-Nungua, Tema and in the Volta Region, where the Regional Minister is alleged to have been going round polling centres with armed men and intimidating voters".
He however, said it is too early to make an official statement on the incidents, but added "it falls within the authority of Professor Mills and the government to ensure a peaceful atmosphere".
He noted that those going round in khaki uniforms must be arrested and prosecuted if the allegations against them are true.
"If the armed persons are found to be soldiers they must be prosecuted," Mr Kufuor said.
Mr Kufuor said Ghanaians are well informed about the current issues, and would make their decision through the ballot box.
Mrs Theresa Kufuor, also spotting a white "slit" and "khaba" with black flowery designs, was also worried, saying "we have sleep a wink the whole night because of these reports".
Later in an interview, the Presiding Officer said few people had turned out and expressed the hope that reports of isolated incidents in certain parts of the city would not scare voters away.
GRi../
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 December 2000
Voting at the Akuafo hall main, Legon, polling station at the Ayawaso West Wougon Constituency, has come to a stand still, because the inkpad for the thump printing of ballot papers was discovered to be fake.
Mr.Alifui Victor, the presiding officer, said voting started at about 7.20 hours peacefully, but at 7 40, he ordered that it should cease for the time being when the ninth voter reported to him that she could not vote because the ink in the pad was faint.
The presiding officer said he was making efforts to contact the Head Office of the Electoral Commission (EC), to see how the problem could be solved.
Some voters cautioned the Presiding Officer not to use any supplementary inkpad from any individual or institution, apart from the EC since it could result in the votes there being invalidated.
Voting at the Legon Hall main also in the constituency, however, started at about 7.15 hours in an orderly manner without any technical problem so far.
GRi../
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 Dec. 2000
Voting in the Odorkor area in the
Ablekuma North Constituency on Thursday was paralysed as a result of two
incidents of thuggery and violence by groups of people whose identity is yet be
confirmed.
Voting virtually came to a
standstill as residents and other members of the public trooped to the NPP
constituency office, near Kwashieman, to show solidarity with the party
executives, including the re-elected MP, Mr Kwamena Bartels, who it was
alleged, had been brutally assaulted by the attackers.
Mr Bartels earlier told an Accra
radio station that uniformed men he suspected to be commandos from 64 Battalion
hit him with the butt of their rifle and stabbed him in the chest and on the
shoulder.
He also alleged that his attackers
shot and wounded two boys in the process. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency
(GNA), Mr S. B Stevens, constituency treasurer of the NPP, and other
eyewitnesses corroborated Mr Bartel's allegation.
Briefing the GNA on the second
incident, Mr Kofi Armah, a polling agent at E. Mills Preparatory school, said
voting began smoothly at 0700 hours. About 30 minutes later, a group of men
numbering more than 10 came to the polling station.
"They first went to the
presiding officer, Mr Dennis Kodjo Forley, and thereafter picked the voters
register from the table and tore it into pieces," he said.
"They again moved to the
ballot box and crushed it into fragments." There were 15 ballot papers in
it at the time. There are 698 voters on the register.
A female Prisons sergeant on duty
at the polling station confirmed the story.
"I helplessly watched them
destroy the materials. There was nothing I could do because I was alone
there," she said, adding that she reported the incident to her superiors.
The Odorkor Divisional Police told
the GNA they have received complaints on the two incidents and they were
investigating.
An officer said although they
heard the reports and had been to the scenes, they were yet to meet the victims
to establish the cases.
Meanwhile, a woman who said she is
the wife of one Joseph Osei Asibi, alleged that her husband was taken away by
the group of men who assaulted Mr Bartels.
She said her husband was driving a
Ford saloon car at the time of the incident.
GRi../
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 Dec.2000
President Jerry John Rawlings on
Wednesday expressed strong resentments about the bizarre killing of women and
appealed to the perpetrators to end the killings.
"I am making a fervent plea;
to whoever are involved to spare Ghanaian women any more grief and
psychological torment," the president said and pledged his resolve to find
the killers till his last day in office.
"I have agonised over the
situation for a very long time. My
heart has been full of grief and sympathy for the families of the mothers,
sisters and daughters murdered in cold blood," he said in a radio and
television broadcast ahead of a presidential runoff tomorrow.
The runoff is a direct contest
between two Johns; Vice President John Evans Atta Mills, candidate of the
ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party's (NPP)
John Agyekum Kufuor.
President Rawlings said the motive
of the women killers is to make the government unpopular.
However, he said, government
remained undeterred and would continue to offer incentives and logistic support
to the security agencies in their efforts to track down the murderers.
He said personnel handling the
investigations would receive a special incentive from the reward package
instituted by the National Security Council for information leading to the
arrest of the murderers.
The president urged the police
administration to revitalise Neighbourhood Watchdog Committees to improve vigilance
in the communities.
There is also a concerted effort
to strengthen collaboration between the police and its counterparts in the
sub-region to track down criminals including contract killers, who may be
involved in the murder of Ghanaian women, he said.
President Rawlings gave a
chronology of the killings saying they started in Kumasi where 10 women were
reported murdered in mysterious circumstances between 1993 and 1996.
The victims, he said, had either
been raped or strangled and in most cases their bodies concealed.
The President said police made
some arrests, but the suspects were later bailed and prosecution discontinued
apparently for lack of evidence. He said the killings shifted to Accra since
1998 with 42 disturbing deaths.
The murderers in six out of the 42
cases were arrested, tried and jailed, he said, adding that the murderers in
three out of the six cases were the husbands of the victims.
The police have established two
deaths, which occurred in 1998, as suicide cases. Nine of the deaths are
inquest cases and were before the coroner.
The President said 25 out of the
42 cases occurred in mysterious and inexplicable circumstances as they had
happened in Kumasi between 1993 and 1996.
Out of the number, six occurred in
1998, 12 in 1999 and seven this year. Seven of the victims have so far remained
unidentified.
He said based on the observation
that the murders occur late in the night or early at dawn, it is important that
women be circumspect in their movements during those times.
The Task Force handling the
investigations and the police administration have been requested to mount a
sustained public education on the dos and don'ts to protect women.
President Rawlings said while
there has been the general impression that the killings are the work of ritual
murderers, the impunity with which the killers have gone about their heinous
crime point to other sinister political motives.
Besides, the timings of the last
two murders are of some significance, he said.
"One occurred on December 11,
in the aftermath of the announcement by the Electoral Commission that there
will be a presidential runoff.
"The other happened on
December 18, within 48 hours of the sweet victory of Accra Hearts of Oak in the
CAF Championship League," he said adding that the effect of the last
murder, perhaps as planned, was to abort the victory celebrations and depress
the festive mood of the country.
President Rawlings said since the
last murder, there has been concerted attempt to link personalities in
government with the murders.
"Since then some politicians
have made statements on platforms and in the media alleging that the police
have been unable to solve the murders because, as they put it, some powerful
people are involved."
He recalled that days before the
last victim was murdered, a leading political figure in the opposition
'proclaimed triumphantly' that the killings will stop as soon as a new
government comes into power.
He wondered what people make of
these pronouncements. "Are the people of this country expected to take
these pronouncements as another of these cruel jokes that some politicians are
capable of making at the expense of the poor victims and their families; or do
they in fact know something about the killings?"
President Rawlings dismissed
allegations linking government with the killings.
"Why would we as a government
facing such a crucial election, condone such heinous murders and risk all the
public disaffection and outcry they have caused?
"Why would a government that
has done everything possible over the years to secure an atmosphere of peace
and stability in the country, for which it has won national and international
respect sacrifice it overnight?"
He said the lives of Ghanaian
women are too precious to be used as "expendables in any political power
game," and appealed to the perpetrators to stop.
President Rawlings, who leaves
office next January, said it is his determination to hand over to his successor
a united, peaceful and stable country that we have all grown used to in the
last several years.
"That way, we can all
continue to put in our maximum efforts towards the consolidation of the
economic gains so far achieved."
He called for a fair, transparent
and peaceful runoff tomorrow saying there is no honour in winning an election
by foul means or through violent behaviour.
"Let us win, but let us do so
in a clean, honest and orderly demonstration of the will of the people."
He gave the assurance that
security agencies deployed at certain areas are only to assist in ensuring a
clean and transparent electoral process.
"You have no reason to feel
intimidated by their presence if you have no intention to commit an act of
fraud, if you have no intention to vote when you do not qualify, or if you have
no intention of harassing or intimidating others."
GRi../
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 Dec. 2000
The Police Administration on Wednesday said it has received a complaint from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that one of its polling agents sent to monitor the elections in the Volta Region has been shot.
Mr Peter Nanfuri, Inspector General of Police, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that he was informed through the campaign office of the party that the incident took place at Akatsi.
According to him, the NPP did not give details of the incident and which hospital the victim has been sent.
Mr Nanfuri said: "Even though the NPP promised to fax details of the incident to me they are yet to do so."
The IGP said he has ordered investigations into another report on a shooting incident said to have taken place in the Ho West constituency.
Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, campaign manager of the NPP, told the GNA that they do not have much details on the incident.
"We have sent people there to ascertain the truth. Whatever we have is what was said on air. We are waiting to hear from those we have sent there."
GRi../
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 Dec. 2000
The decomposed body of a woman was
on Wednesday found around the Institute of Professional Studies Junction,
police said.
A police source told the GNA that
a boy who had gone hunting for birds found the body in the bush at about 0900
hours.
Police said the discovery was
reported to the Legon Police Station, which immediately dispatched a team to
the scene.
The body has since been sent to
the police hospital for autopsy. Another police source said it could not say
now whether the woman was murdered.
About 30 women have been murdered
in Accra and its surrounding areas in the past two years raising fears that
there could be a serial killer or killers on the loose.
The police have not been able to
find the killer or killers.
Women last week staged a march in
Accra to protest against the killings and the inability of the police to arrest
the criminals.
GRi../
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 Dec. 2000
Mr Alex Kofi Arhin, Director of
Elections at the Electoral Commission (EC), on Thursday said the commission has
discovered some fake ballot papers circulating in the system.
He told reporters that the fake
ballot papers have no serial numbers. "I urge all polling agents and party
assistants to be very careful and scrutinise the ballot papers when
counting," he said.
Mr. Arhin said this when he
inspected the E Mills polling station in the Ablekuma North constituency where
voting was disrupted after an attack by unidentified men.
He was in the company of Dr Kwadjo
Afari-Djan, Chairman of the EC and other members of the commission.
The presiding officer, Mr Dennis
Kojo Forley, said that at the time of the incident 16 people had cast their
votes.
"We are starting everything
afresh and the 16 people who have already cast their votes are being called to
cast another vote".
GRi../
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 Dec. 2000
Professor John Atta Mills, presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), said on Thursday that he expects every registered voter to vote without fear or intimidation.
Answering questions from journalists about reported incidents of acts of violence and intimidation allegedly caused by NDC agents, Prof. Mills said he had not heard about any such case.
"I have not monitored the stations and do not know about these," he said, after casting his vote at Legon Hall, University of Ghana. "I cannot react to it because I do not want to cry wolf when there is no wolf or make any statement that will inflame tempers."
However, he said, he had heard that some voters were challenged as being Malians, but some people identified them as Ghanaians whom they have been praying with.
Prof. Mills said should he win the election, his priority would be to form a broad-based government that will reflect the interest of Ghanaians.
He will, however, accept the results of the election if he loses, he said. "There must a winner and a loser...," he added.
Asked for his comments about President Rawlings' statement on the serial murders of women in Accra, Prof. Mills said he was happy the President addressed the issue.
He, however, rejected criticisms that the government had not done enough to arrest the murderers.
"The criticism is unfair since a lot has been done about the issue. The problem is that the murders are premeditated and that makes it difficult to arrest the culprits," the vice president said.
Prof. Mills, accompanied by officials and security personnel, arrived at the Legon Hall Polling station A at the University of Ghana at 1050 hours. One thousand and ninety one voters have registered there.
Voting started on schedule without any hitches with voters arriving as early as 0500 hours.
Ghanaians are voting in the presidential run-off to choose the man President Jerry John Rawlings will hand over to next month.
The contest is a straight fight between vice president John Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr John Agyekum Kufuor.
Mr Kufuor polled 3,131,739 votes (48.17 per cent) while Professor Mills won 2,895,575 votes (44.54 per cent) in the inconclusive first round vote on December 7 that saw seven candidates contesting. Turnout was 61.7 per cent. There are some 10.6 million names on the register.
Polling booths will be open for 10 hours. The first results are expected later in the night, and the Electoral Commission (EC) is expected to have the final results declared in 72 hours.
The EC said it is ready for the vote, the second time in the country's history that voters will choose a president in a run-off.
The first time was in 1979 when President Hilla Limann of the People's National Party defeated Mr Victor Owusu of the Popular Front Party, the predecessor of the NPP. Both men are dead.
Mr Albert Kofi Arhin, EC Director of Elections, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra said the main materials have all been sent to the regional and district capitals for onward distribution to the polling stations.
GRi../
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 Dec. 2000
President Jerry John Rawlings on Thursday voted at Osu and left the polling station just outside the Castle, Osu, without talking to reporters.
As the President moved towards the polling station, reporters got their tapes and other gadgets ready for an interview but he disappointed them.
He calmly went through the process, cast his ballot that was his last as president, and went back to the Castle. President Rawlings hands over to his successor on January 7 next year.
Thursday's run-off became necessary when none of the presidential candidates got the 50 per cent plus one vote in the first round.
The two front runners in December 7, contesting the run-off are Mr John Kufuor of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Prof. John Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
GRi../
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 Dec. 2000
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Thursday accused each other of intimidating and harassing their respective supporters and agents in the run-off to elect a new president to succeed President Jerry Rawlings.
Both sides have stressed the need to nip this development in the bud to ensure a smooth, free and fair election as was witnessed in the first round on December 7.
Mr Dan Botwe, general secretary of the NPP, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on telephone that he believes there is a planned scheme to prevent NPP supporters from casting their votes.
"There seems to be a scheme to prevent our supporters from voting, that is all," Mr Botwe said. "We are very unhappy with the situation, especially where commandos are used by the NDC to intimidate and molest our people."
Mr Botwe said in the Ashanti region for instance, some soldiers manhandled Mr S. K. Boafo, MP for Subin, losing his mobile phone in the process. The phone was found after a report was lodged with Major-General Henry Anyidoho, Northern Sector Commander of the Ghana Army.
"This proves that those who came to the scene to harass Mr Boafo were actually soldiers," Mr Botwe said.
He said they have received reports that Obaa Yaa Afrifa, National Women's Organiser of NPP, was slapped by an NDC supporter at Aflao and called on the authorities to respond quickly and save the situation.
When asked if the party was certain of its claims, Mr Botwe asked: "Why is it that only NPP members and supporters are those being attacked and molested? Besides some of these acts are committed in the presence of regional ministers and top NDC officials and nothing happens," he said.
He said the situation is not ideal, adding, "it is very unfortunate that this must be allowed to happen."
Mr Botwe said the situation is affecting voter turnout, especially in the in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions, where the NPP is certain to win by a wide margin.
He, however, hoped that more people would come out to vote before polling closes at 1700 hours.
Mr George Quaynor-Mettle, Propaganda Secretary of the NDC, condemned the reported incidents and denied that NDC was behind any of them.
He said they had not heard any reports of harassment or intimidation of NPP supporters but said some NDC supporters are being molested and intimidated by NPP agents all over the country. "We are preparing a statement and will make the details known very soon," Mr Quaynor-Mettle said.
He said the NDC as a party is not directly in charge of security, but it has its agents at the polling stations to ensure a peaceful election. He said the NDC is confident of victory.
GRi../