According to him, the NDC did everything possible to fulfill the needs in the country yet the people of Ghana kicked them out from power.

He made the comment on Citi FM’s News analysis programme The Big Issue, on Saturday in defence of former President John Mahama’s recent remark on the cause of the NDC’s defeat.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Tkg5T2JkBXb9BhFm71egJlTEe7qFDDPh”]Mr. Mahama while speaking at the World Economic Forum in Durban, South Africa on Thursday, noted that he had an “incumbency disadvantage” hence his abysmal performance in the poll.

He also accused Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of promising Ghanaians “heaven.”

“I knew what the economy could give the people and I told the people the truth that we need more hard work to be able to get out of where we are; my opponent promised heaven and you have the constraints of not being able to promise all the rosy things he was doing,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mr. Pelpuo noted that “this is one of the elections that have been very difficult and mysterious to understand.”

“You have a government that is responsive to the needs of the people, you have a government that built schools, they [Ghana] wanted roads, we built roads, they wanted hospital, we built hospitals, they wanted water, we supplied water, we did everything that was possible to ensure that the people of Ghana know that this is a government that is responsive and responding to their basic need and creating conditions for them to be able to develop themselves individually and creatively.”

“In the end the same people voted against us as if we didn’t do anything at all.  We built and international airport harbours. It has never happened in the history of this country for a single government to even build about 50 secondary schools at a go within a space of four years… After doing all these things we thought we had touched the mind, the thinking and we are striking a chord with Ghanaians. In the end we got the worst votes that had ever been recorded since 1992,” he lamented.

Mahama loss by about a million votes to Akufo-Addo in the polls.

The NDC also lost hold of a number of Parliamentary seats to the New Patriotic Party.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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“I am very confident, I don’t talk 100 percent but I expect Ghana will give it to NPP this time,” he said after casting his ballot at Dzorwulu in Accra today, Wednesday.

He further called for calm and admonished Ghanaians to eschew violence during the election process.

“We should all go about in an orderly and peaceful way. We are showing our thoughts and expectations it’s not going to war, we don’t need to be violent and truculent.”

About 15 million registered voters are voting to decide the next president to lead Ghana for the next four years.

President John Mahama whose four-year term is ends in January next year is seeking to be re-election and is facing stiff opposition from the New Patriotic Party’s presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo.

Others in the  presidential race include Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Ivor Greenstreet, Convention People’s Party (CPP), Dr. Edward Mahama, People’s National Convention (PNC) and an independent candidate, Jacob Osei Yeboah.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The EC announced this at a dialogue with presidential candidates and their running mates in Accra on Thursday.

A statement signed by Eric Dzakpsu, Head of Communications at the EC, said as part of the measures, Presiding Officers are supposed to use gloves during the sorting of ballot papers for counting.

The statement also said electronic transmission of the results will be implemented by the Commission in “an added layer of integrity to the process.”

“The Electronic Results Transmission System is also encrypted, making it impossible for anyone to interfere with or manipulate the results,” the EC added.

The seven presidential candidates contesting in this year’s election after the dialogue, signed a peace pact to eschew violence and also accept the election results.

Below is the full statement

OUTCOMES FROM DIALOGUE WITH PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AHEAD OF POLLS

The Commission on Thursday December 1, 2016 held a dialogue with the various Presidential Candidates and their running mates taking part in this year’s presidential election. The central objective of the engagement was for the Commission to directly brief the Candidates on all aspects regarding the electoral process; the reforms implemented this year, the role of the Candidates’ agents in the electoral process and the Commission’s preparedness to deliver credible and transparent elections.

In her presentation to the Candidates, the Chairperson of the Commission, Mrs. Charlotte Osei highlighted the various integrity measures put in place to guarantee the credibility of the ballots. These include:

1. Ballot issuers are required to hold up each ballot paper issued for scrutiny of all at the Polling Station and to ensure its validation before handing over to the voter.

2. Polling Stations will be set up in a standardized manner that minimizes security threats, improves transparency, ensures that agents are placed in positions that allow them to play their roles effectively and protects the secrecy of the ballot.

3. All Presiding Officers will be issued with gloves which must be worn before sorting of ballots and counting.

4. Presiding Officers and Returning Officers will issue copies of collation sheets to Candidates/Agents.

5. Results Collation Sheets have unique serial numbers and are personalized to each Polling Station. Replacement Results Collation Sheets printed for use in the event of damage or loss of the personalized Results Collation sheets are a different colour and also have unique serial numbers.

6. Electronic transmission of the results to be implemented by the Commission is an added layer of integrity to the process. The Electronic Results Transmission System is also encrypted, making it impossible for anyone to interfere with or manipulate the results.

7. The colour of the indelible ink will be different from the ink on the thumbprint pad. This is to help reduce the number of rejected ballots resulting from accidental markings on the ballot papers from indelible ink on fingers.

8. In addition to broadcasting the results collation process live on television, and publishing the results on the Commission’s website, the EC has developed a mobile application which will give the public real-time access to the officially certified results. The mobile app (ThumbsApp) will soon be available on the android and IOS platforms for download.

The candidates on their part sought clarifications on the challenges with the special voters list and requested the Commission to consider extending the special voting exercise to allow all legitimate security officers to exercise their franchise.

The Commission assured the candidates that it would work with the hierarchy of the security agencies to ensure that all security personnel are given the opportunity to vote.

Thank you.

Signed:

ERIC KOFI DZAKPASU
Head of Communications

–

By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The survey which sampled 480 respondents from the four constituencies,  showed that a larger percentage of voters in Ledzokuku, Krowor, Ablekuma Central preferred the NPP candidate while incumbent President Mahama led in Klottey Korle.

54.2 percent for Nana Addo, 36.5% for Mahama

The survey showed that 54.2 percent of respondents  in the constituencies were likely to vote for NPP while 36 percent said they were likely to vote for the NDC. 4.7  percent in the December 7 poll.

The data  which was collected in the second week of November, 2016 was evenly balanced between men and women, with 33 percent being between ages 25-35 and 25 percent between 36-45.

While 18 percent of the respondents were between ages 18-24, 13 percent were between 46-45.

The survey also shows that President Mahama and Akufo-Addo has equal name recognition among 23 percent each of prospective voters, while Dr. Papa Kwasi Nduom had a 19.7 percent name recognition.

The National Democratic Party’s (NDP) Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings  had a 12.7 name recognition among voters while Ivor Greenstreet had 9.6 percent.

When asked who they voted for in 2012, 48.7 of those surveyed said they had voted for the NDC while 41.6 named the NPP.

120 respondents were drawn from each of the four constituencies for the survey.

We vote for development

Majority of the respondents, 379 who may have voted in 2012 general elections said the issue of development was prominent among the reasons why they voted.

24.6 percent of them reported that they voted for a particular candidate because they believed that that the person was in the position to bring them development.

16.7 percent indicated that they voted for a candidate or party because of their allegiance to that person or party.

10.3 percent said they voted simply because they wanted to cause a change of government.

Parliamentary survey results:

Findings Korle Klottey constituency

In the Korle Klottey constituency, of the 120 respondents involved in the study, 87 percent said they knew the name of at least one of the 2016 parliamentary candidates for the constituency.

The significant finding in Korle Klottey was that Zenator Rawlings was the candidate who was most popular in that constituency with 40.7 percent recognition. She was followed by Philip Addison who polled 32.9 percent. Nii Noi Nortey ranked third with 24.8 percent.

About 13 percent also said they did not know the name of at least one of the parliamentary candidates. Of the number 73. 3 percent said either they were simply not interested in knowing who the parliamentary candidates were or they did not pay attention to news or information on the parliamentary candidates or they had forgotten their name. 20 percent of the respondents did not give any reason for not knowing the names of their parliamentary candidates. And 6.7 percent said they did not bother to know the names of at least one of the parliamentary candidates because they were poised to vote for whoever represented the political party of their choice.

Findings from Ledzokuku constituency

In the Ledzokuku constituency, 72 percent of the respondents reported knowing the names of at least one of the parliamentary candidates for the constituency.

The  name recognition was evenly split between Sena Okity  with 47.4 percent  while the NPP’s Okoe Boye had 46.2 percent.  4.6 percent of the respondents were able to name Steven Quaye as one of the aspiring parliamentary candidates of the Ledzokuku constituency.

And 0.6 percent of the respondents named Grace Ashitey as one of the aspiring parliamentary candidates.

Ablekuma Central

In the Ablekuma Central constituency, only 62 percent of the respondents said they knew the name of at least one of the parliamentary candidates for the constituency.

The outgoing Member of Parliament had a higher recognition that his party, the NDC’s candidate with 50.7 percent.  He was followed by Eben Nartey, the NPP’s candidate with 49.3 percent.

This percentage was the lowest recorded among all the four constituencies which were studied within the Greater Accra Region

Out of the 62 respondents who were confident that they could name at least one of the 2016 parliamentary candidates for the Ablekuma Central constituency, 50.7 percent named the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) while 49.3 percent named the NPP candidate, Eben Nartey.

The survey revealed that of the 38 percent of the respondents who said they did not know the name of at least one of the 2016 parliamentary candidates for the constituency, 50 percent reported that they did not know because they were either not interested in the parliamentary elections, did not pay attention to information on the parliamentary candidates or they had forgotten the names of the candidates. 21. 6 percent also said it was unnecessary to know their names since they would vote for whoever represented their preferred political party. And 13.1 percent indicated that they could not name the 2016 parliamentary candidates because the candidates were not as popular as the presidential candidates.

Findings in Krowor

58 percent as against 42 percent of the respondents said they knew the name of at least one of the parliamentary candidates for the Krowor constituency.

In Krowor, the NPP’s Elizabeth Aforley Quaye had a better name recognition of 52.8 percent, thus making the most popular of the parliamentary candidates than her NDC opponent, Agnes Naa Momo  who secured 41.6 percent.  The PPP’s Hubert Hugo Huppenbauer (5.6 percent).

These were the only three parliamentary candidates the respondents could name although there were other parliamentary candidates such as Fanny Amartey.

In 2012, the four constituencies were won by the NDC with the closest being Ablekuma where the NDC secured 51.8 percent of valid votes cast while the NPP had NPP had 47.5 percent.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Nana Addo leads in Greater Accra ‘Bellwether’ Survey appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

A statement issued by the US Embassy in Ghana said although they have not picked up information regarding any planned protests, US nationals should be cautious because such social disruptions “could occur with little or no warning throughout Ghana.”

“Exercise caution during the election process, particularly around polling locations in the weeks before and after the elections.  Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence.  Avoid areas where demonstrations are taking place and exercise caution when in the vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations,” the statement added.

‘US condemns clashes in Ghana’

[contextly_sidebar id=”6JNjZiaBz2XXzK2VAkpLt6WeN6vvF1j1″]The US Embassy had earlier condemned some clashes between members of the governing National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party in front of the resident of flagbearer of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo.

The Embassy further threatened to revoke visas for persons who incite violence ahead of the elections.

The statement titled ‘Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Accra (Ghana), Safety Considerations and the Upcoming Elections’ also urged US nationals to stay off some selected areas in eight regions of the country.

Below is the full statement:

Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Accra (Ghana), Safety Considerations and the Upcoming Elections

The U.S. Embassy informs U.S. citizens that on Wednesday, December 7, 2016, Ghana will hold its presidential and parliamentary elections.  While the Embassy has no information regarding planned protests, it should be noted that social disruptions or protests could occur with little or no warning throughout Ghana.

Exercise caution during the election process, particularly around polling locations in the weeks before and after the elections.  Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence.  Avoid areas where demonstrations are taking place and exercise caution when in the vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations.

Review your personal security plans, remain aware of your surroundings, including local events, and monitor local news stations for updates.  Be vigilant and take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security and follow instructions of local authorities.

The Embassy identified the following locations in Accra as key areas where people converge to hold spontaneous political rallies and demonstrations:

• State House
• The Ministries
• Kwame Nkrumah Circle
• Independence Square
• Mantse Agbona (James Town)
• Kawokudi Park
• Nima Police Station Park

Embassy personnel are not permitted to travel at night outside of major cities and are encouraged to avoid the following areas outside of Accra:

Upper West:  Lawra, Wa Central

Upper East:  Bawku

Northern:  Tolon, Sagnarigu, Yendi

Volta:  Nkwanta South, Hohoe, Ho Central, Adaklu, Ketu South

Western:  Jomoro, Bia West

Brong Ahafo:  Techiman South, Tain, Berekum West, Berekum East, and

Ashanti:  Bantama, Asokwa, Nhyiaeso, Manhyia North, Manhyia South, Suame, Oforikrom, and Asawase.

We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens travelling to or residing in Ghana enrol in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).  STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates and makes it easier for the U.S. embassy to contact you in an emergency.  If you do not have internet access, enrol directly with the U.S. embassy in Accra, Ghana, using the below contact information.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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According to him persons who feel aggrieved over the issue could sue the EC.

“If anybody feels that somebody has done something that may not be right the right place to go is the court,” he said.

Though the law governing the conduct of the 2016 election, C.I 94 orders the EC not to accept applications for the special voters not later than 42 days before the elections, a leaked memo from the Police and sighted by Citi News suggest the contrary.

The memo, which was written by the Director General of Police Service, COP Chistian Tetteh Yohunu on behalf of the IGP instructed all Divisional Commanders, all Regional Commanders, and all Commanders in charge of Police training schools to key in the names of Police officers whose names are not on the special voters’ register.

It also directed the aforementioned commanders, especially the commanders of the Police Training Schools, to make sure that all recruits have their names on the special voters’ list.

Meanwhile, some parties including the New Patriotic Party, People’s National Congress and the Progressive People’s Party have kicked against the move.

Policy Advisor of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) Kofi Asamoah Siaw in a Citi News interview accused the EC of conniving with the Police service to rig the December 7 polls and further described the move as illegal.

“What the EC is doing is illegal and it is an ambush and that is the argument I’ve always been making that at the end of the day we’ll need to comply with the regulations of C.I.94. Because if things that are unknown are introduced during the process of voting you are only providing opportunities for people to rig the elections. It is unfortunate that the referee is not complying with its own rules and regulations and it’s surprising everybody.

But speaking to Citi News, Kofi Adams said the EC and the Police have done no wrong.

“I have heard that some persons who at the time of compilation of the names were not considered to have been part of the security system but have since then been recruited, they are now part of the system and they are away not on their own volition but because of work. And because of that they will be away from where they are supposed to be and possibly even be performing other duties so therefore they qualify to be on the list. So I don’t think we should crack heads over this, this is a list that is easy to identity, it’s known, can easily be done and worked with and so submitted to political parties,” Kofi Adams added.

114,813 to partake in special voting

A total of 114,813 voters are expected to cast their ballot during the special voting on December 1.

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By: Godwin A. Alllotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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He said except for security personnel who would be given time for their assignments on the day, especially those travelling, the Election Day would remain a working day for public servants.

Mr Bani said this when he addressed the Volta Regional Security Council and the Regional Election Taskforce during a working visit to the Region.

[contextly_sidebar id=”iNsEbOK48QQIz0wxZIfiu3v5yetW5P3P”]The visit was to afford the Minister the opportunity to assess the preparedness of the Election Taskforce ahead of the elections.

He said the Government expected all heads of institutions to “provide an enabling environment” for workers to exercise their franchise.

Mr Bani reassured of the preparedness of the security services to ensure event-free polls and warned against hate speeches.

He said political parties and individuals engaging in hate speeches would soon be made to face the law.

Mr John Kudalor, the Inspector General of Police, tasked the Police to make all hotspots an “enabling environment” and ensure that all registered Ghanaians were allowed to vote.

–

Source: GNA

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Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Thursday, the PPP flagbearer said “we will not have free and fair elections in Ghana in 2016 it is not possible, the scale is not balanced.”

He alleged that the voters register is flawed and the governing National Democratic Congress is also abusing incumbency and buying votes by sharing goodies to the electorates.

[contextly_sidebar id=”WvcUzIVCTMaHzvrbK1mIXagdKZUekvI1″]According to Dr. Nduom these developments do not create a fair playing ground for all political parties to compete for votes.

He explained that the situation also undermines the credibility of the polls.

“First of all we are still working with a voters register that is flawed it is not just by my thinking the Supreme Court says so, the Electoral Commission themselves admit it. The political parties all know so if you are working with a flawed voters register you can’t have the results that you are looking for.”

“Another one is that the political parties’ law is not being implemented or enforced by the Electoral Commission. Where do people get monies from to campaign? It is not being used. And then we are all seeing day light robbery, our taxpayers’ money being used by John Dramani Mahama and the NDC to campaign; buying things to give to people and so and so forth. When blatantly state resources are being used you can’t have free and fair elections,” he added.

Collect the goodies but vote for me

Dr. Nduom on the Citi Breakfast Show also admonished Ghanaians to collect goodies given them by other political parties but said they should instead vote for the PPP which has the roadmap in turning the fortunes of the country around.

1 parliamentary seat in every region

He also told show host Bernard Avle that his party is targeting to win a parliamentary seat in every region in the country.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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Some political parties who were disqualified from contesting in the general elections, are in court praying the court to order the Commission to allow them correct mistakes on their nomination forms.

The Flagbearer of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom’s hopes of appearing on the ballot were raised last Friday, after an Accra High Court ordered the EC to allow him to amend the errors on his forms and re-submit them for consideration by the EC.

But the EC subsequently said on Monday that it had initiated  a processe at the Supreme Court to quash that High Court judgment on the disqualification of Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom.

[contextly_sidebar id=”xfNQ7pvql8k20Z7KKw5R91g8zAlOHuIW”]Some key stakeholders have since expressed concern about the consequences of about five lawsuits against the Commission, on the election timetable.

But speaking on Citi FM’s News Analysis Programme, The Big Issue, Mr. Atuguba, who is also lawyer for the People’s National Convention (PNC) over the disqualification of the party’s presidential aspirant, Dr. Edward Mahama, indicated that the December polls will not be affected by the suits.

“The December 7 presidential elections will not be affected by the suits that are currently being mounted against the Electoral Commission. In other words, on December 7, unless Ghana is at war or there is really a grievous situation, December 7 polls will proceed as planned.”

Supporting his claim with Article 63 of the 1992 constitution, Mr. Atuguba argued that “the constitution provides that the time for presidential election must be between four months and one month before the tenure of a sitting President constitutionally expires.

“Now the tenure of a sitting President constitutionally expires in our current circumstances at midnight on the 6th of December; so whatever happens and in order not to avoid any constitutional crisis, the presidential elections must be held on 7 December,” he added.

According to him, the only two instances which can lead to a postponement of an election are “in the case of a run-off or when both the President and the Vice President dies and the Speaker becomes acting President within three months.”

Anxiety over election timetable: Akoto Ampaw writes to EC 

Another Private Legal practitioner, Akoto Ampaw, has written a letter to the Electoral Commission, demanding answers to seven questions following his fears that the election timetable on December 7, may be compromised.

The letter was written in his capacity as a private citizen backed by Article 21 (1) (f) of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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“My boss the President has thought me to always start the day by saying father let thy will be done. When you are a child of God and you believe in him, you don’t fear of who wins or loses an election because God’s own will shall prevail,” he stated.

The Chief of Staff reaffirmed the commitment of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and President John Mahama to maintain the peace and cohesion of the country before, during and after the December 7 general election.

Mr. Julius Debrah made the call when he interacted with the members of the clergy in the Volta Region as part of his campaign tour of the region.

The Chief of Staff advised the youth to avoid acts of violence.

“No matter what anybody will do or not do, we in the NDC believe that the will of God would be done, and when that is done, nobody will have any course to complain. The President and his government’s main concern is to ensure the country progresses , doing what is right before the Lord and to avoid His wrath,” he said.

Mr. Debrah pointed out that the government and the church are partners in development, emphasizing on the need for the clergy to continuously pray for God’s mercy, peace and progress.

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the EP Church Rev.Dr Seth Senyo Agidi led the congregation to pray for peace and unity ahead of the elections.

He reminded Ghanaians that there was no substitute for peace, therefore and that the church would continue to pray for Ghana.

The entourage of the Chief of Staff included a member of President Mahama’s campaign team madam Faustina Nelson, a vice chairperson of the NDC Anita Desoso, a Presidential Staffer Emelia Arthur, a Deputy General Secretary of the NDC Koku Anyidoho.

_

By: Richard Mensah/elections.com/Ghana

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