December elections under threat
Photo ID cards valid tender but - EC / Its photo ID
We'll abide by outcome of polls if…
No politician owns Ghana - Duncan-Williams
Top NDC man quits
UGM deplores unfair criticism of EC
Reform will shock NDC
NDC thrown out
December elections under threat
The Crusading Guide says the much-awaited December 7 elections is under threat of being derailed through industrial action.
Fuming workers of the Electoral Commission (EC) are said to have stormed the offices of the paper last Saturday, threatening to embark on a nationwide strike action from December 5 if their salaries and allowances, which have been denied them for sometime now are not paid.
"We have no choice", a group of EC workers pleading anonymity told Guide's reporters in their claim of the government's negligence regarding payment of the allowances. "We shall therefore embark on a nationwide strike starting 5th of December 2000," they threatened.
Asked whether they have appealed to the EC boss, Dr Afari-Gyan, the angry workers stated that every regional office of the EC wrote to the Head Office requesting Management to give out the allowances or they would embark on a strike action on 15th November.
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The Daily Graphic / The Statesman
Photo ID cards valid tender but - EC / Its photo ID
The Daily Graphic and The Statesman focused on submissions by the Electoral Commission (EC) regarding the mode of voting in the December 7 presidential and parliamentary polls.
A statement from the EC signed by its chairman, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, according to the Statesman, made it definite and authoritative that for this year and future elections only photo ID cards will be accepted for voting.
Both papers however quote the EC boss as saying that any voter who presents himself or herself without a photo ID card, shall go through a series of identification steps.
The Presiding Officer shall check for the name in the Name Reference List and if not found, the person will be politely told to go away from the Polling Station.
A person whose name is on the list and is identified by all candidate agents shall be allowed to go through voting steps straightaway.
If there is any doubt as to the identity of the said voter, the Presiding Officer shall pick his or her original registration form, using the voter identity number on the Name Reference List. The voter shall be required to confirm certain details provided on the registration form, to enable him or her to vote.
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We'll abide by outcome of polls if…
The Presidential Candidate of the NPP, Mr J.A. Kufuor, has stated that his party would abide by the outcome of the December 7 elections if conducted in a free and fair atmosphere by the Electoral Commission (EC).
Speaking at a Tamale rally on Sunday, he said the NDC is desperate because "they are aware they are losing this elections; their days are numbered and they are finished."
He urged the electorate not to exchange their votes for anything else, since by so doing, they would be selling their conscience.
He promised that his party, apart from creating an enabling environment to attract investors into the country, would also revive the agricultural sector, among other areas, to create employment for the youth.
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No politician owns Ghana - Duncan-Williams
The Rt. Rev. Nicholas Duncan-Williams, Presiding Bishop of the Christian Action Faith Ministries (CAFM) has cautioned politicians against endangering the peace and future of the country because of the December 7 elections, reports the Evening News. "No politician or political party owns this nation, this nation is the property of God and we the citizenry are not going to let any political party determine her future."
Bishop Duncan-Williams who was speaking at the opening of the church's seven-day annual convention under the theme "Winning by Relationship through Advance Knowledge" in Accra, reminded political leaders to recognise that come December 7, some will win and others will lose.
Both winners and losers, he said, must be able to reach a clear understanding that as citizens of one nation sharing a common destiny, "defeat is not a calamity, neither is victory a licence to deride", adding that "the wisdom to exercise great restraint, whatever the odds, would be a sure guarantee for peace."
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Top NDC man quits
Nana Baffour Ahimah, the NDC 1996 co-ordinator for Kwahu South says he has resigned from the party, citing the presence of Alhaji Isaaka Inusah’s statement that he, while with the NPP, collaborated in the rigging of the Ablekumah-North Constituency bye-election.
"I respect Prof. Mills, but I don't want to be associated with a party that welcomes and harbours nation wreckers and saboteurs," Nana Ahimah told the Evening News.
"I am resigning in protest against the NDC's failure to kick out Alhaji Inusah after he has openly confessed to have been in the centre of an election fraud," he said.
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UGM deplores unfair criticism of EC
The United Ghana Movement (UGM) is dissatisfied with the manner and vigour with which some political parties have sought to denigrate and impugn the integrity of the Electoral Commission (EC) without adducing any credible evidence of the Commission's guilt or culpability in unprofessional conduct.
"These attacks, which have become, 'shriller and nastier' as the election day approaches, were only to undermine the credibility of the EC," Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby, presidential candidate of the party was quoted by the Ghanaian Times to have indicated in a statement issued in Accra.
He described the criticisms as unfortunate developments, which were prone to post-election violence of which concerned Ghanaians were praying to avert.
Dr Wereko-Brobby indicated that the EC had been clear with its position on the voter identification cards.
According to him, the issue of the photo ID cards was extensively discussed by all political parties at the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting where an explanation from the EC voting procedure indicated that only voters who present photo ID cards will be allowed to vote immediately and without hesitation.
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Reform will shock NDC
Goosie Tanoh, the presidential flagbearer of the National Reform Party (NRP) says that his party will surprise the nation and the ruling National Democratic Congress in the December 7 elections, reports The Independent.
Speaking at a well attended rally which his party calls 'Peoples Summit' at Agona Nsaba, Nyakrom and Duakwa at the start of a three day tour of his home region, Goosie said the NRP will win next elections and added "this was no elections loose talk or boast."
He analysed some community mobilisation figures that made the NRP confident of 3.8 million guaranteed voters. The party, according to him, does not also intend to go into alliance with any party since it is already broad-based with its members drawn from every part of Ghana.
Goosie is said to have provided some headaches for President Rawlings who is on record as calling on his supporters not to mistake him for Goosie but it appears that their resemblance is yet another factor that is eroding the chances of the NDC in the rural areas.
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NDC thrown out
The Guide reports that callers into radio stations in Accra and Takoradi have virtually asked the NDC to shut up or hold its peace over the photo ID card issue.
Accra callers were reportedly reacting to comments by Mr Sam Okudzeto, former President of the Ghana Bar Association that unless the NDC had some voters lodged somewhere who are still unable to come out to replace their thumbprinted cards with photo IDs, there is no reason for the party's big fuss over the issue.
He said the constitution of the Electoral Commission (EC) is very independent and therefore should be seen as taking care of all matters concerning the elections without undue interference.
A lady, identified only as Nana, said that the NDC could only be up to some mischief or must have an ulterior motive in dragging the issue.
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