The Electoral Commission in collaboration with the Police Service has identified and removed some electoral officers suspected to have tempered with some Presidential ballot papers in some polling stations in Awutu Senya West and Bawku Central constituencies.
There were reports that some electoral officers were cutting some candidates off the presidential papers before handing them over to voters to cast their votes.
The EC in a statement informed the public that the presidential ballot paper for the 2020 general election has 12 candidates for a correctly thumb printed ballot to be considered valid and counted.
“All the presidential candidates must be on the ballot paper,†the EC said in a statement.
The commission entreated all its staff and field officials to let the truth guide them and integrity lead them as they continue with the electoral exercise.
The EC also urged political parties and candidate agents and the public to be vigilant to ensure a free fair credible and transparent election.
Member of Parliament for the Asawase Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, has purportedly allowed his six-year-old daughter to thumbprint a ballot paper on his behalf when he went to cast his vote in the ongoing polls.
A video in the possession of 3news.com shows the MP and his daughter going through the electoral processes but there is little evidence to suggests that his daughter’s thumb printed the ballot.
Our Ashanti Regional correspondent, William Evans Nkum who has been following the development joined Patrick Stephenson on Ballot 360 to fact-check the claims.
The National Democratic Congress in Awutu Senya East has hinted of addressing the media over the shooting incident on its Parliamentary candidate on Election Day.
The convoy Naa Koryoo on Monday suffered gunshots alleged to have been masterminded by hoodlums of incumbent NPP MP Hawa Koomson, where three people are reported to have suffered some degrees of injuries.
The NDC, in order to give their side of the story, says it is going to address the media.
Below is the statement
Some thugs in a Rambo style shot into this car which had just moved from Naa Koryoo, the NDC Parliamentary candidate’s House in Kasoa. Three NDC Branch executives were shot in the car and one is in critical condition. There are some police personnel at the scene taking fingerprints on the car.
We just left the crime scene to the polling station where Naa Koryoo is supposed to vote and there is still a long queue and people are determined to cast their ballot. Apparently, Naa Koryoo was the target but she was not in the car when the shooting happened. We have been informed by one of the constituency executives that there will be a press conference shortly.
No amount of thuggery, violence or intimidation shall stop the people’s resolve to kick out Akuffo-Addo and his violent party out of power.
The Electoral Commission has debunked claims that there is no indelible ink at a polling station located at GIMPA.
The NDC candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency where the polling station is located, John Dumelo, had called for the suspension of voting at the polling station.
He made the argument that without the indelible ink, some voters can vote more than once.
However, the EC is saying there was indelible ink available at the polling station.
In a video, the Commission said voting at the polling station was underway as expected.
Stay safe and go out to vote if you are a registered voter.
Electorate at Obeng Down in the Suhum constituency are expressing fear in going out to vote after suspected thugs of 14 young men were arrested by the police over an alleged intimidation on them.
Police officers who made the arrest in a rambo style amidst warning shots drove the suspects in the bucket of pick up truck and sent them to the Suhum police station.
Information gathered indicates that the suspected thugs were arrested for allegedly intimidating some voters at a hotel named Daily Bread Hotel near Obeng Down in Suhum.
Some voters were said to be lodging at the Daily Bread Hotel when the suspects who arrived on motorbikes stormed the place and allegedly beat them.
A “well-built†young man was escorted out of the premises of Twedease primary school polling center in the Tema East constituency for posing as a National Security Officer.
The man whose identity is unknown was captured dressed in shorts, a black cap and a pair of yellow sneakers.
The attention of the young man who appeared “shabby†dressed was drawn to the security personnel on duty and after several questioning, he was asked to leave immediately.
Prior to the commencement of the polls at that particular polling center, the man was captured guarding the gate and preventing people from entering.
Confusion has disrupted the electoral process at Kadania polling station in Kayoro in the Chiana-Paga Constituency, GhanaWeb’s Senyalah Castro reports.
The confusion broke out after an ambulance officer deployed to maintain security at the polling station allegedly hit the leg of a voter for failing to obey rules.
Sources explaining how the incident happened said the security officer in the discharge of his duties hit the leg of the voter for trying to jump the queue.
The source said following the slow pace at which the voting process was moving, EC officials at the polling station gave numbers to voters which were to be adhered to diligently.
But being a bit uncomfortable with the long queue, the victim was said to have tried jumping the queue which led to him being hit by the security officer who demanded that he returned to his former position.
Details had it that the action of the Security officer did not go down well with the youth of the area who pounced on him and caused serious injuries to his head.
The fracas caused EC officials to break the process to resolve the issue.
It was gathered that it took the intervention of the New Patriotic Party Parliamentary Candidate for the area, Robert Aloo and his team to douse tensions.
The officer, according to reports, was later escorted under tight security out of the polling station by some “good Samaritans” who are said to have taken him to the nearest health facility.
The Speaker of Parliament, Prof Aaron Mike Oquaye has cast his vote at the Calvary Presby polling station at Haatso in the Dome-Kwabenya constituency of the Greater Accra Region.
Speaking after voting, Prof Mike Oquaye urged Ghanaians to stop worrying about naysayers and look at the good side adding that he is impressed with the process so far.
“This is how civilised people do their things. It tells you the level of development here in Ghana. I would like us to all stop worrying about pessimist things and look at the good sides. We are making progress. When we go like this, very soon America, the West and others would come and become election observers here because we are doing it right. I am very happy,” he told the Daily Graphic.
Sarah Adwoa Safo is the incumbent Member of Parliament for the Dome-Kwabenya constituency after winning against Mike Oquaye Junior who happens to be the son of speaker of parliament and Ghana’s High Commissioner to India.
Sarah Adwoa Safo is seeking a third term in parliament. She is contesting against National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate Elikplim Akurugu.
About 2,794 registered voters are expected to cast their votes at the Calvary Presby polling station. As at 11 am, 821 registered voters had cast their votes.
In total, 173,619 registered voters are expected to vote in the Dome-Kwabenya Constituency.
Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram Constituency, Samuel Nartey George has expressed concern of an attempt to frustrate electorates in his constituency as verification machines are not working.
According to him, this is creating tension and could affect the results in his strongholds.
“Strangely, all the machines are not working, extreme challenges with the verification devices, facial recognition is not working, the fingerprint is not working.
“What is going on is creating unneccesary backlog and that is begining to agitate the crowd. “It is happening across the constituency and that is a stronghold of mine. It is not a funny game and one thing we would insist on is everybody in the queue gets to vote,” he noted.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has identified cases of tampering of presidential ballot papers in some polling stations in Awutu Senya West and Bawku Central constituencies.
According to the election management body, its checks have identified some polling station officers as being behind the act.
The EC in a statement said it is “working with the Ghana Police Service, has identified the suspected Officers and removed them from post pending further investigations.â€
It sent a word of caution that all presidential candidates should appear on a thumb-printed ballot paper before it will be considered as valid and counted.
The commission further charged political parties and candidates agents as well as the general public to be vigilant to ensure free and fair elections.
Two people have been shot at the Church of Christ polling station at Kasoa in the Awutu Senya East constituency of the Central Region in the ongoing general elections.
The gunshots wrung from a black Toyota Land Cruiser.
The targets of the shooters were driving in a Kia saloon car.
The occupants of the two vehicles are yet to be identified.
The injured victims have been rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment.
After the shooting incident, there more police and military personnel were deployed to beef up security in the area.
A similar shooting incident happened in the constituency during the voter registration exercise a few months ago.
The incumbent MP for the area, Mavis Hawa Koomson, claimed responsibility for pulling the trigger.
Leader of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), Madam Akua Donkor, has cast her vote at the D/A JHS at Ejuratia.
The polling centre has about 535 eligible voters.
Akua Donkor expressed hope that the election will be as peaceful as it was during the special voting.
She is also expecting to emerge the winner of the 2020 election.
“All I want to see is that at the end of the day, I will have a one-touch win,†she said.
Akua Donkor was named among 12 aspirants who were cleared by the EC to contest the eighth presidential elections of the Fourth Republic.
The presidential candidate has promised to ensure that Ghanaians enjoy peace and happiness if elected into office on December 7, 2020.
She explained that she will achieve these two attributes of a good life for Ghanaians by making their lives comfortable.
Although she has no formal education, she promises to deliver free education from kindergarten to Senior High School as well as free healthcare, water, and electricity under her administration.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has cast his ballot at Manhyia in the Ashanti Region.
The Ashanti king exercised his franchise together with his wife Lady Julia Osei Tutu.
Pictures from the scene available to GhanaWeb show the king and his wife as well as other chiefs observing the coronavirus protocols while they go through the electoral process.
Already, a number of dignitaries have cast their ballots. They include President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo, Former President and NDC flagbearer John Dramani Mahama as well as his running mate Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang.
Meanwhile, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the Asawase Constituency, Muntaka Mubarak Mohammed, has sparked controversy after he held the hand of a child said to be six years old to thumbprint the presidential and parliamentary ballot papers.
Visuals from the Peace of God polling station at Aboabo in the Ashanti Region where the incumbent Member of Parliament went to cast his ballot show the legislator and the child believed to be his daughter clad in all-white apparel. Having gone through the process and received a ballot paper, he walked to the designated box for thumbprinting with the little girl and held her hand to thumbprint.
He later took the ballot paper, folded it, and gave it back to the minor to drop in the ballot box.
The two showed the victory sign which has now been adopted by the opposition party as the return of John Mahama is 2nd on the ballot paper. Already a section of the public is asking whether his action is within the remits of the law.
A former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor George Benneh, who is 86 years old, frail, wheelchair-bound, and can hardly talk, insisted on casting his ballot today, Monday, 7 December 2020, in the ongoing general elections.
His wife, Mrs. Adelaide Benneh, told the media that Prof Benneh, despite his ill health, is very aware of happenings around him and expressed interest in exercising his franchise.
Mrs. Benneh, who assisted her husband to the polling station, said: “He knows what is going on. He is very clear. He knows everything. He can decide on what to do, so, when he expressed the idea that he wanted to come, I helped him to comeâ€.
“We all love Ghana, so, we try to ensure that the people we want, rule this country; so that we will all have peace. You know, peace is very important to us.
“We want peace and we want development. We want a country free of corruption,†she noted.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said after voting on Monday, December 7 that he expects to win the elections.
He hoped that Ghanaians will appreciate the work he has done so far and renew his mandate.
“I am not at all surprised that the process is moving smoothly and peacefully. My expectation is that it will be so till the end and afterwards,†he said.
He added, “Ghanaians are aware that not all the problems of our country have been solved these last four years and they have seen the systematic attempt to solving these problems.”
“I am hoping that they will renew our mandate and endorse the work that we have done in the last four years.â€
The timely intervention by a combined security team of Police, BNI officials and Fire Service Personnel averted possible chaos at the Madam No. 2 polling station in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region.
Confusion erupted when an unidentified male voter threatened to beat up the Presiding Officer of the polling station, Narh Abraham Tetteh whom he accused of taking advantage of the request of an aged voter for assistance to vote to attempt influencing her to vote in a particular direction.
“An elderly woman came here to vote and requested my assistance. I led her to the screen to take her through the process only for one of the voters to allege that I was telling her whom to vote for, claiming he knows my political affiliation,” narrated the PO.
The incident which occurred at 9 am temporarily brought voting proceedings to a halt until the arrival of the security team.
Odumase District Police Commander, DSP Ernest Kojo Dorkenoo said calm had been restored and voting proceedings restored.
“We were told that some family members were bringing some aged and they were trying to assist them to vote in a particular direction and we came here to talk to them that, it is not the right thing to do,” he said.
Meanwhile, police reinforcement has been deployed to the scene.
48 voters had cast their votes as of 9:06 am.
Some 72,923 people in Lower Manya Krobo are expected to partake in today’s voting exercise which is being keenly contested between the incumbent MP, Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi who’s seeking a third term in office, and Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Samuel Nuertey Ayertey.
Information reaching MyNewsGH.com indicates that a military man and an “okada†rider have been killed after they were run over by a vehicle in Accra by an unidentified driver.
The military man, according to an eyewitness on Angel FM, had his leg chopped off and died on the spot while the okada rider also suffered severe injuries and died moments later.
The suspect who run over the two men failed to stop despite being signalled by onlookers thus escaping arrest.
The incident happened in Accra on the Ablekuma High Way traffic light on Monday, December 7.
Bodies of the deceased persons have been deposited in the morgue according to reports.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service is yet to officially comment on the matter.
The Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) has asked all eligible voters to return home after casting their ballot.
The EC said there was no need to loiter around the polling centres after casting the vote.
Ghanaians are exercising their franchise to elect a president and Members of Parliament on Monday, December 7.
Voting started at 7:00 am and is expected to close at 5:00 pm.
The EC said on Monday that the voters can return after polls close to witness the counting of ballots.
“Go to your Polling Station with your Voter ID card if you are a registered voter between 7 am and 5 pm to cast your vote then leave quietly. You may return to the Polling Station after 5 pm to observe the counting of ballots,†the elections management body said in a tweet just before polls started.
Go to your Polling Station with your Voter ID card if you are a registered voter between 7am and 5pm to cast your vote then leave quietly. You may return to the Polling Station after 5pm to observe the counting of ballots.#LetTheCitizenKnow#GhanaElections2020pic.twitter.com/x4eHFwmzw9
— Electoral Commission Of Ghana (@ECGhanaOfficial) December 7, 2020
People at the Civil Service Centre Cantonments A Polling station in the Dade-Kotopon Constituency have had some challenges while trying to cast their vote.
Voting as everyone expects is supposed to start at exactly 7 am but not in the case of the people of Cantonment as their voting had to delay due to an uncovered ballot box.
This is because one of their ballot boxes did not come with a cover and the quest to find one delayed them in casting their vote.
Officials at the polling station tried to find a fitting cover for the box but to no avail.
Few minutes after trying to find another cover for the box, they still could not find a perfect fit so officials at the polling station opted for another ballot box.
New ballot boxes with fit covers came in around 7:55 am and voting proceeded afterwards.
Vice President and running mate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has cast his ballot at Kperiga Presbyterian Primary polling station A at Walewale in the North East Region.
He hails from Walewale and has been campaigning in the region throughout the weekend, where he ended his campaign tour.
On Saturday, 5 December 2020, the vice president inaugurated a state-of-the-art astroturf sports park in Walewale.
A total of 75,415 people have registered to vote in the Walewale Constituency which was won by the NPP in both presidential and parliamentary elections in 2016.
Speaking in an interview with the media, Dr Bawumia advised all and sundry to partake in the ongoing elections and was quick to commend the Electoral Commission for a smooth electoral process.
The NPP led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is seeking a second term in office; the presidential seat is fiercely being contested by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) led by John Dramani Mahama.
Some voters who have turned up at various polling stations in the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency are unhappy with the delay in the start of polls.
Some of these voters came as early as 5:00 am to form a queue so that they can vote early.
At the A&C Mall polling station, the delay in the start of voting is due to the non-inclusion of the indelible ink in the electoral materials that were delivered.
Radio Univers reporters at the Abelenkpe Pentecost Church polling station say the delay in the start of voting is because one of the covers of the ballot boxes has changed. One is black the other is grey. A black car just picked up the security person and they have left to bring the right box.
At the Pentagon Hostel polling station A, logistics for voting are yet to arrive as of 7:50 am.
Thermometer gun to check the temperature of voters is also not functioning.
Meanwhile, voting has started at many other centres across the country.
Some polling stations witnessed long queues hours before the start of polls.
Electoral processes have reportedly been delayed at Awutu Senya East and Tema Central constituencies.
At Tema Central, electorates especially the aged are seated and are waiting patiently for voting to begin at the Datus Preparatory polling station in Tema Central.
Over 415 persons are reportedly still waiting for the commencement of the voting process at Real Faith Life Mission Polling station in Amuzukope.
Electoral materials arrived at 8:20 am Amuzukope in the Awutu Senya East constituency.
EC officials have refused to speak to the issue, but Atinka news can confirm that the EC officials are busily putting materials together for the commencement of the exercise.
In an unusual case in the Ngleshie Amanfro constituency, the first 7 voters who cast their ballot at the New Covenant A polling station, used orange ink instead of the prescribed violet that needs to be on the ballot.
The Electoral Commission officials there explained that there was a mishap in the placement of the ink in the space where voters can cast their ballots.
The election officials there noticed the irregularity after the voters had left the polling station.
In a bid to prevent any trouble, party agents and the EC agreed to write an undertaken to include those ballots as valid when counting starts in the constituency.
There was chaos at the City Engineers polling station in the Odododiodoo Constituency in the Greater Accra Region after some voters budged into the centre despite the presence of security officers.
The voters who had formed a long queue in front of the main entrance to the centre forced themselves into the polling station.
Security officers had a difficult time controlling the crowd as they were overpowered by the impatient voters who had been in the queue since the early hours of Monday, December 7, 2020.
Electoral officials supervising the process were also helpless in calming the crowd.
However, after forcibly getting to the station, some voters engaged in fisticuffs as they were unable to rearrange themselves into the queues they had already formed outside the main entrance.
Citi News Nii Ayikwei Okine who was at the scene reported that some disgruntled voters alleged that the EC and security officers were circumventing the process by allowing persons who had not joined the queue into the premises.
“We came here at dawn to form the queue, but after hours of staying here, the officers will just come and allow some persons in. The police officers are not doing anything about it, they are just here looking on without taking any action. They are not giving us the opportunity to get in that is why we had to force our way inâ€, one of the voters lamented.
Ghanaians today December 7, 2020, are going to the polls to elect new Members of Parliament and a President.
The exercise which is the 8th time Ghanaians will be exercising their civic rights is taking place in all 275 constituencies in the country.
It is also the first time, Ghana is going to the polls with the highest number of presidential candidates since the start of the 4th republic in 1992.
12 people are be competing for the Presidential seat.
According to the early voters who spoke to GhanaWeb explained they want to get the opportunity cast their ballot early begin so that they can go about their duties.
To control the spread of the Coronavirus during the election, the EC has affirmed that it will provide face masks to voters in rural communities who come to the polling stations without one.
Jean Mensah, Chair of the Commission said the move is to ensure that no one is disenfranchised.
Residents of Whindo in the Kwesimintim Constituency in the Western Region Monday morning blocked roads to prevent officials of the Electoral Commission from assessing polling stations as they protest over the poor nature of their roads.
An eyewitness Emmanuel Afful who reported from the constituency stated that the residents in July this year warned that they will not allow voting to go on in the constituency if their roads are not fixed.
Afful reports that the timely arrival of personnel of the military and Police managed to disperse the crowd allowing the EC officials to move into the constituency.
He adds that the residents began to run for their lives after they saw the heavily armed military and police personnel.
Ghanaians are heading to the polls today Monday, December 7, 2020, to elect a President and 275 Parliamentarians.
Over 17 million voters are expected to take part in the exercise. The figure is 2 million more than the number of voters who voted in the previous election in 2016.
The electoral commission has said over 33,000 polling stations have been dedicated for the presidential and parliamentary polls.
The race is largely between the incumbent President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the NPP and former leader John Dramani Mahama of the NDC. Ten other presidential candidates are contesting in the polls.
Electoral materials have been dispatched to the various voting centres.
The Electoral Commission says it aims to declare results within 24 hours.
A member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akomea, has said his party expects to win Ghana’s general elections.
The Managing Director of the State Transport Company (STC) said the governing NPP has good records in government, hence Ghanaians, he said, will renew the mandate of President Nana Akufo-Addo in the polls.
He told TV3 on Sunday, December 6 that, â€many of the independent surveys like the Political Science Department of Legon, if you remember, they predicted four years ago that Nana Addo will win by ten percentage points and he did and they have predicted this year too and Ben Ephson has come out to say we will win by some ten percentage points so we expect to winâ€.
Ghanaians go to the polls to elect a president and Members of Parliament.
The Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) said on Sunday, December 6 that it was “fully†ready to conduct the eighth successive elections in the Fourth Republic.
Meeting journalists at the headquarters of the Commission, Chairperson Jean Adukwei Mensa assured that all is set for the polls.
“As a Commission, you recognize that we are accountable to the citizens of Ghana and I am pleased to inform you that by the grace of God, we are fully ready to conduct successful, credible, fair, orderly, and peaceful elections tomorrow Monday, December 7, 2020,†she said.
The Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) has started preparations in the various polling stations in the Navrongo Central constituency towards the elections today, December 7, 2020.
Some of the polling stations are the Bonia primary polling station; the Korania primary polling station and the COCOBOD polling station.
GhanaWeb correspondent from the Upper East Region indicates that there has been a huge turn out of voters at the various polling stations as at 5 am.
To control the spread of the Coronavirus during the election, the EC has affirmed that it will provide face masks to voters in rural communities who come to the polling stations without one.
Jean Mensah, Chair of the Commission said the move is to ensure that no one is disenfranchised.
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has denied rumours circulating on social media that it intends using vigilantes embedded within it, to launch a ground offensive from the eastern border.
The military has also described as false, claims that it is plotting to intimidate voters in the Volta and Oti Regions, strongholds of the biggest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
A statement signed by Col. E. Aggrey Quarshie, Director of Public Relations of the military, said the rumours were fabrications.
Read the full statement of the Ghana Armed Forces below:
GHANA ARMED FORCES RESPONDS TO FALSE INFORMATION IN CIRCULATION
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) finds it necessary to respond to two messages on social media, which impinge its professional integrity. One is an audio recording and the other, a written statement.
They both make unfounded commentaries on the GAF, which need to be corrected.
The audio recording by an unidentified male voice, alleges the relocation of “gadgets†from Accra to Ho, to intimidate the people of the Volta and Oti Regions in collaboration with a neighbouring country.
The fact of the matter is that the GAF has deployed to all the regions of Ghana in connection with the 2020 General Elections.
The deployment is in support of the Ghana Police Service and this is standard practice. There is no other motive.
The second is a statement by a purported “Concerned Officers of the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Police Serviceâ€.
This piece is a catalogue of falsehood and fabrications with no scintilla of truth in them.
Among the allegations are that vigilantes are embedded in the GAF and that there is a planned “coordinated ground offensive†from the eastern border on the night of 6th December.
This might either be an orchestration or a planted story to cause alarm among the local population.
All Ranks of the GAF are hereby implored to go about their duties with their usual focus and determination, to ensure the success of the elections.
The general public must also feel free to cast their ballots when the polls open on 7 December 2020.
Parliamentary Candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Kofi Adams has described the late announcement made by the Electoral Commission with regards to Parliamentary elections in the Buem Constituency as a mark of incompetence.
According to him, the late announcement will have an adverse effect on the elections to be held today December 7, 2020 in the area.
Kofi Adams who is seeking power to represent the people in the Buem Constituency who spoke to Accra-based Onua TV said “the last hour decision by the EC to halt parliamentary elections in my constituency shows her gross incompetenceâ€.
The Electoral Commission of Ghana announced that citizens in the yet to be created Guan Constituency in the Guan District will not be made to partake in the Parliamentary election.
The people of the Guan Constituency in the Oti Region will only vote in the Presidential election.
The Guan District was carved out of the Buem Constituency and its Constituency is yet-to-be carved out of Buem hence the decision to leave them out of the Parliamentary election.
“However as a result of the creation of the Guan District Local Government Instrument 2020 and pending the creation of the Guan Constituency, eligible voters in the Guan District will vote only in the Presidential election but not in the Parliamentary election in the Buem Constituency,†a statement from the Election Management body said.
Ex-Central Regional Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Bernard Allotey Jacobs has brushed aside the notion that President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is corrupt.
With few days left for all the political parties to bring campaign activities to an end, the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), have adopted strategies they believe when relied upon, could be used in nailing their opponents down ahead of Monday’s polls.
For instance, an alleged bribery video involving Nana Akufo-Addo was released earlier this week. The video which shows the President receiving money went viral on the internet, with the NDC capitalizing on it to campaign against the NPP.
The NDC accused President Akufo-Addo of taking a $40,000 bribe from the wife of the Director of Urban Roads to keep him in office but the NPP in a counter-press conference cleared that he [Nana Addo] was receiving a donation towards the party’s #AriseForChange campaign in 2016.
Mustapha Hamid, the NPP’s Deputy Campaign Manager who spoke at the presser affirmed that the video was another attempt by the NDC to clamp them down. He said the video was doctored to suit their corruption tag for Mr Akufo-Addo.
However, Mr Allotey Jacobs of the NDC is certainly unenthused with such strategies where political parties or candidates resort to lies just to destroy their opponents.
He recalled how people lied that former President John Agyekum Kufour and his appointees had deposited huge sums of money at Prudential Bank in 2008, and therefore called for a “clean politics” this year, to move the country forward.
He has since thrown massive support for Nana Akufo-Addo using his Facebook page. To Alottey Jacobs, the President is not susceptible to corruption and will never be.
“HEAR YE ALL
Nana Akuffo Addo is not corrupt
He cannot be corrupted
And will not corrupt
2008 Campaign about Prez Kufour and Appointees having huge amount of money deposited at Prudential Bank when it is not true, should not be part of this year election
Let us do clean politics to move Ghana politics forward
You win you win you lose you lose That’s All,” Allotey wrote on Facebook.
The Paramount Chief of the Asogli State in the Volta Region, Togbe Afede XIV is expressing concerns over allegations making rounds about ploys to disenfranchise certain Ghanaians, particularly people from the Volta region and other parts of the country.
According to a statement issued by the revered Chief, Ghanaians need hope and not fear in the midst of challenges such as the Coronavirus pandemic, joblessness, and generally difficult living conditions, among others.
“We are very concerned about the allegations making the rounds about all manner of ploys, mayhem and kamikaze tactics being planned to create confusion on voting day December 7, 2020, and make impossible the smooth and fair conduct of voting in certain parts of the country, especially Volta Region,†the statement from the Chief said.
The statement pointed out that “At this time when unimaginable atrocities are being visited on the black man in various parts of the world, we need to work together to strengthen the peace, and create harmonious living conditions at home so that xenophobic isolation abroad would not be preferred by our people.â€
“So as we prepare to go to the polls on December 7, we ask all Ghanaians to keep in mind our important responsibility to contribute our utmost to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections. We all need, at this crucial time, to remember our “pledge to be faithful and loyal to Ghana, (our) motherlandâ€, it noted.
Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged Ghanaians, especially the various political parties to accept the verdict of the people of Ghana as the country goes to election on December 7.
He believes that the NPP-government has worked enough and will be rewarded accordingly, therefore urging all to ensure peace during and after the election.
He made the call at the Third High-Level Meeting of the Presidential Elections Peace Pact 2020.
President Akufo-Addo also charged the security agencies to ensure the atmosphere is conducive enough to conduct a free and fair election.
He added that without peace, no political party or leader can deliver on their campaign promises.
The Coalition of Professionals for Peaceful Elections (CPPE) has asked the Electoral Commission of Ghana to be transparent in the upcoming elections on December 7.
A statement signed by Claudia Lumor, Founder, Glitz Africa & UNFPA Ambassador, Ghana, and two other members of CPPE said, as Ghana heads to the polls on Monday “we the CPPE call on all Ghanaians, young and old to act in accordance with the laws of Ghana whilst we exercise our democratic right to periodically choose our leaders.â€
The statement explained that elections provide us with the platform to freely express our political will, as the sovereignty of our homeland Ghana resides in us, “in whose name and for whose welfare the powers of government are to be exercised†as we are told in the first clause of the first article of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
“We therefore commend the Electoral Commission for all the work it has done in preparation for the upcoming elections, and for the transparency and professionalism that has epitomized and characterized its work in the past few months, and was further exhibited during the special voting exercise this week.
We however urge the Electoral Commission to demonstrate this same transparency and professionalism in the conduct of the elections on Monday 7th December 2020, so as to entrench our democracy and repay the confidence we have reposed in them as an independent State institution.
We also commend the security agencies for their consistent commitment to safeguarding our nascent democracy in our Fourth Republic, and urge them to be vigilant before, during and after the elections in order to maintain the peace and stability we are presently enjoying.
Finally, we call on all political parties in Ghana to deliver their closing arguments to the good people of Ghana this week, in a peaceful, professional and respectful manner, devoid of fake news, misinformation and disinformation, insults and/or name-calling, and further urge them to cooperate with the Electoral Commission and the security agencies to make the elections a resounding success, where Ghana will be the ultimate winnerâ€, the statement said
CPPE is an association of young Ghanaian professionals from all walks of life, dedicated to ensuring free, fair and peaceful elections in Ghana in 2020 and beyond. It is made up of Dr. Kwaku Agyeman-Budu, Lawyer & Law Lecturer (Convener, CPPE); Claudia Lumor, Founder, Glitz Africa & UNFPA Ambassador, Ghana (Programmes Coordinator, CPPE); Mr. Andrew Khartey, Lawyer (Press Secretary, CPPE).
A promise by the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress to extend the Free Senior High School initiative to private institutions has been warmly received by the Coalition of Parents of Students in Private Institutions.
According to the coalition, the policy if implemented will help relieve parents of their financial burden.
The group said in a press release that every Ghanaian child has a right to free education whether in private or public schools.
It, therefore, expressed optimism that in the event that John Dramani Mahama wins the December 7 polls, he will honour his promise to them.
“Every child in Ghana deserves the best of care and a piece of the national cake. We are very optimistic that this promise will come true,†he said.
The Coalition then urged its members to show interest in the upcoming elections and support the fruition of this idea and follow up on its implementation.
“These are our rights and nobody should stop us from enjoying them. We are urging our students in private institutions to have hope, that this country will not disappoint them and that, the war of life sometimes begins with difficult battles and it is only those who preserver that succeed.â€
The extension of the Free SHS to private second cycle institutions is one of the promises made by the NDC in its manifesto.
The NDC said that it will improve the Free SHS policy, scrap the doubletrack system and make students of private schools beneficiaries of the project.
“We plan to make the Free SHS more inclusive by expanding it to cover students in private senior high schools in under-served and deprived parts of the country,†Professor Jane Naana Opoku said at the manifesto launch.
Ms Brigitte Dzogbenuku, Flagbearer for the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) says the Party will pass the Affirmative Action Bill into law in its first 100 days in office.
The Affirmative Action Bill seeks an equal representation and participation of both women and men in governance, public positions of power, and all decision-making spaces of the country and also requires all sectors to reserve a percentage of their employment for women.
The Flagbearer said PPP, when voted to power in the December polls would pass the bill in 2021 to empower females to rise the ladder of leadership in local governance and improve on their businesses to contribute effectively to the economy.
She said the Party would support local industries, use government purchasing power to create jobs out of local and indigenous skills, and remain accountable to the people.
Speaking to party faithful during her campaign tour of Tamale North, Ms Dzogbenuku said women played a very vital role in the upbringing of children and required much support from the government to do better.
She said some hands-on skills such as basket weaving, oil palm production amongst other indigenous productions done mainly by women would be given the needed support to meet international standards.
The PPP Flagbearer said the Party amongst other initiatives to curb corruption would empower citizens to vote for their Municipal and District Chief Executives and ensure that full percentage of the Assemblies Common Fund was paid to facilitate development.
“Five percent of revenue is expected to be given to the Assemblies but in the past, only 1.9 percent or 2.5 percent has been given to them; the PPP will make sure all is given to ensure development at that level.†She described the Party as an inclusive party and urged the people to vote for the PPP come December 7 for development and employment for the youth.
Alhaji Kwame Mutala, Northern Regional Chairman of the Party, urged the audience to eschew violence and vote the number ten on the ballot sheet; Ms Brigitte Dzogbenuku as president.
He said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had both failed Ghanaians and that the PPP was the best option for the people.
The team in its five-day tour visited Tamale North, Salaga North, Bimbila, Upper East; Navrongo Central, Bongo, Upper west; Wa Central.
The team spent two days in the Northern and Savannah regions.
The Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako says the video in circulation on social media alleging bribery against President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was recorded in October 2016.
He said it was recorded by Salis Yakubu Atsuluwo, at a time President Akufo-Addo was campaigning to become President in the 2016 elections.
He indicated the said money, GH¢40,000 was offered as part of political party campaign support and that it was not true that it was US$40,000 as being alleged in the second video.
He also added that it was not bribe as alleged in the second video published by the Salis newspaper owned by Salis Yakubu.
Speaking on Accra based Peace FM’s Kookrokoo morning programme on Wednesday [Watch video below from 1:41:20 onwards], Mr Baako said Salis Yakubu used to work with Anas Aremeyaw Anas’s Tiger Eye P.I. but has since parted ways with Anas.
He said Salis did not know that the original video was “available to us [Kweku Baako and others], so we released it to expose his doctored one,” he said.
Baako who said some aspects of the issue was linked to his [Baako’s] case with Kennedy Agyapong in court as well as that of Anas Aremeyaw Anas versus Kennedy Agyapong in court insisted that he cannot go into details because of the court case.
He said the allegation of bribery was out of place and that it is clear that the money was to help Akufo-Addo finance his campaign in 2016.
Mr Baako said he first came into contact with Salis Yakubu Atsuluwo in 2006 and that Salis approached him at the Labadi Coffee Shop in Accra.Â
From then, he [Baako] influenced his entry into Tiger Eye P.I.
He said when Salis walked to him for the first time, he opened up to him [Baako] that he was an NDC activist.
But later on along the line, Mr Baako said Salis became an NPP member, he told him.
Baako said Anas parted ways with him, so Salis set up his own group afterwards.
He alleged that Salis has currently “exited to Benin” in the wake of the issue
Watch the video below showing Baako [1:42:32 onwards] discussing the issue on Peace FM Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile, the Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Sammy Gyamfi says members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) deliberately released a “doctored” video as a ploy for the public to dismiss the “authentic” video which alleges bribery against President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Mr Sammy Gyamfi said this at a press conference in Accra Wednesday [December 2, 2020] afternoon and insisted the recording was done in 2017.
He named the person who did the recording as Yakubu Suale to counter what Kweku Baako said was Salis Yakubu Atsulowo.
He confirmed Yakubu was working with Anas Aremeyaw Anas and that the recording was done at a time Yakubu was still working with Anas, but he [Gyamfi] cannot tell if the recording was done with Anas’s approval.
He said Yakubu became friends with Kennedy Agyapong after he parted ways with Anas and that he was the one behind Kennedy Agyapong’s “who watches the watchman.”
Reacting to concerns on the timeless for the recording of the video, Sammy Gyamfi insisted that there is another version of the recordings, which he will later make available and that in that video, which has no audio, the person who recorded it, President Akufo-Addo and Ambassador Barwuah sitting in the same office were captured and the camera captured the date.
Ranking Member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has asked the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to amend their candidate, John Dramani Mahama.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Tuesday, December 1 announced an amendment to their manifesto and has since promised to absorb the fees of students who will be admitted to the various tertiary institutions across the country in the next academic year.
This is an upgrade on its earlier promise of halving fees for continuing students of the various University students.
But reacting to the swift change, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko in a post on social media said that the NDC should rather consider amending their candidate for the impending election.
He said, “I hear the NDC have amended their manifesto with a few days to go. Perhaps, they should consider amending their candidate instead!â€
Meanwhile, the Scholarship Secretariat has announced a scholarship package for the first batch of Free SHS graduates.
I hear the NDC have amended their manifesto with a few days to go. Perhaps, they should consider amending their candidate instead!
President of Policy Think Tank IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe has said that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is the luckiest political party going into the 2020 election.
The IMANI Africa boss acknowledged that the Free SHS policy will be a game-changer for the governing New Patriotic Party.
In his estimation, the NPP has about five hundred thousand votes from the beneficiaries of the most touted policy, Free SHS.
Mr. Cudjoe who made this known said although there are allegations of corruption that have become an albatross on the neck of the President and some members of his government, first-time voters do not care about these allegations.
The IMANI Africa President said, “The NPP is very lucky. Free SHS is the game-changer for them. Potentially they have at least 500k Free SHS votes. These first-time voters care less about corruptionâ€.
The Director of Electoral Services at the Electoral Commission, Dr Serebour Quaicoe, has said one violates the principles governing the electoral process if an individual takes pictures of their ballot paper after voting.
According to him, an individual does not commit an offence by telling others the party he voted for but can be arrested, according to the law, for sharing photos of ballot papers as it breaches the secrecy of the ballot.
He said “If you finish and you tell people who you voted for, that is fine but it is an offence for you to take photos of it and be showing it to people. That breaches the secrecy of the ballot. In the view of the law you can be arrested,†he said.
Dr Serebour Quaicoe who was speaking on Eyewitness News after the Electoral Commission held special voting for Security personnel, journalist among others on Tuesday, December 1.
He registered his displeasure on how ballot papers made rounds on social media during the exercise.
A total of 109,557 out of voter population of 17,027,641 participated in the special voting by security personnel, media personnel and some workers of the Electoral Commission (EC) yesterday ahead of December 7 general elections.
The smooth exercise commenced at 7:00 am in almost all centres and ended at 5:00 pm.
President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo has disclosed that his stance on illegal mining remains unchanged despite promises by the opposition National Democratic Congress to return seized excavators to the miners.
Government through a collaboration with the Operation Vanguard Task-force managed to seize mining machinery and equipment including excavators from illegal miners who operated without permission during the Galamsey ban.
In February 2020, it was reported in the media that the seized excavators and other equipment seized from the illegal mining operators have gone missing. It later emerged, although unsubstantiated that some of the missing excavators had actually been given to NPP loyalists.
This prompted the flagbearer of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama, to promise that he will retrieve all seized excavators and concessions belonging to the small scale miners that have been allegedly handed to NPP supporters when elected president on December 7.
But addressing a campaign crowd at Manso Nkwanta in the Ashanti Region, on December 1, 2020, President Akufo-Addo said his fight against illegal mining remains unchanged despite stiff backlash from the opposition.
The President said, “In the days of our forefathers, they engaged in mining but they did it in a sustainable way which did not disturb the land or water bodies. I will not support illegal mining which will destroy the environment. My decision remains the same, where I am on this fight remains unchanged.â€
He also added that he will not sit down and watch on as activities of illegal miners continue to deteriorate the land.
Disclosing governments intervention for small scale miners, Nana Addo stated, “We are going to roll out the community mining and my government is working hard on itâ€.
Voting has ended successfully at the Galloway Police School Canteen polling station in the New Juaben South at exactly 5 pm.
The voting process went on and ended smoothly without any major hitch even though a total of 15 security officers who walked to vote were surprisingly told their names were not in the register.
The affected persons apparently sent their details late after the special voting list had already been compiled by the Electoral Commission.
They were however assured by the EC officials that their names would be put in the main register so they can vote on December 7.
Speaking to the media, Municipal Electoral Officer for New Juaben, Kofi Owusu Asante, expressed worry that about 145 voters couldn’t turn up to vote.
According to him, these people will not have the opportunity to vote come December 7 as their names will be classified under the absent list.
Member of Parliament(MP) for Anyaa Sowutuom and Foreign Affairs Minister Shirley Ayokor Botchwey has condemned attempts by some political opportunists for trying to take advantage of the comments she made at Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency recently.
Shirley Ayokor Botchwey while campaigning for her colleague Lydia Seyram Alhassan in the Ayawaso said “Parliament is for serious minded people and not people who have done some movies and think they are popularâ€.
She added further “It is a serious place, I will tell him, the laws of the country are enacted in parliament. If our President can continue his job very well, he needs Lydia Alhassan in Parliament to do the job so that all you need as a constituency will be easily given to youâ€.
Her comment has received a lot of attention with some players in the creative arts industry seeing its an insult to the industry.
But a statement from the Lawmaker and Minister said what she meant by her comment was that it does not take only popularity to win an election.
According to her, any attempt by political opportunists to take advantage of her comment should be treated with the contempt it deserves because she has over the years supported the Creative Arts Industry and is aware of some good lawmakers who the industry has produced.
She used the opportunity to reassure members of the industry of her respect and continued support for the industry.
Confusion almost broke out at the designated special voting centre for the Bortianor-Ngleshie-Amanfro constituency when supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) objected to the sharing of food by suspected New Patriotic Party (NPP) members within the voting centre.
The centre, which is expecting 201 members of the security services, personnel of the National Ambulance Service, accredited media persons, the National Media Commission and staff of the EC to cast their ballot had seen about 40 people vote by 9 am.
Speaking to Citi News about the development, the NDC parliamentary candidate for the area, Alexander Ackuaku said the Electoral Commission needs to take steps to prevent such occurrences from happening as they can potentially lead to more challenges on December 7.
“We need to stamp our authority. It should not be left in the hands of the opposition to be challenging some of these things. It is not the best. People should be bold enough and let people know that the peace of this nation is paramount enough. We should not entertain some of these things. It is not the best.â€
On his part, the parliamentary candidate for the NPP in the constituency, Sylvester Tetteh absolved his supporters of any wrongdoing and urged the NDC to rather focus on canvassing for votes ahead of the December 7 electios.
“We have breakfast, lunch and snack for our agents. Because it is a special voting day, some executives were lending support to our agents there and some of them were also observing the process for the first time. So when you are taking breakfast to your people obviously you will not take for two or four people. Our agents are allowed to be fed at the premises. I have seen instances where you take a drink to the polling centre, an NDC agent will take it. It does not influence the vote.â€
A total of 109,577 persons are casting their ballots for their preferred presidential and parliamentary candidates in the special voting exercise currently ongoing across the country today.
Minister of Communication Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has expressed optimism that the December 7 elections will be peaceful.
The Member of Parliament for the Ablekuma West constituency who toured some polling centres in her constituency during the special voting on Tuesday, December 1 said she was impressed by the work of the Electoral Commission (EC).
Speaking to TV3, the minister said “I am impressed with what I have seen so far. Everything is running smoothly.”
She added: “I am very happy with what I have observed at the Dansoman police station. If this is a sign of what is to come, then we must be assured that we will have a free and fair election. Let me commend the Electoral Commission for the job so far.â€
She further indicated that the EC ensured strict compliance with the protocols against coronavirus.
“So far, the COVID-19 protocols being observed is good. They clean the machines after each person takes their turn. I think the Electoral Commission should be commended,†she said.
Reports from various polling stations suggest a free and transparent Voting for special voters casting their votes today.
Meanwhile, there have been few reports of missing names from the register.
Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Minister of Education, has cautioned the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) members and supporters to be vigilant during the December 7 elections.
According to him, he has picked intelligence that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has hired some people to disrupt the elections by stealing ballot boxes from the polling stations.
He called on the NPP not to go home after casting their ballots but stay at the polling stations to check miscreants.
Ghanaians will be going to the polls on Monday, December 7, 2020 to elect a President for Ghana.
Twelve political parties are contesting the elections but it is largely believed that the contest is between the two biggest parties, the ruling New Patriotic Party(NPP) and largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“NPP must be vigilant especially in polling stations that the NPP wins massively because some of our opponents have spurred some people to grab the ballot box and cause chaos for the votes to minimize. So, they should be vigilant not to go home after casting their votes but rather gather ourselves and make a bonfire, and go round it so that we show any person who attempts to steal the ballot box that we’re still around,” Matthew Opoku-Prempeh said in an interview on Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo” programme.
Scores of supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) within the Tema East constituency on Monday night massed up at the Tema Community 11 police station to demand the release of their parliamentary candidate for the area, Nii Ashai Odampten.
According to information picked up by Citi News, the parliamentary candidate is being held by the police for failing to meet a bail condition he was given by an Accra court on counts of alleged embezzlement while he was Mayor of Tema.
The incumbent MP, Titus Glover who is being accused as the brain behind the arrest has on several platforms alleged that the former Mayor and parliamentary candidate for Tema East, Ashai Odampten signed a number of shady contracts during his tenure as mayor and called for his arrest.
However, scores of party faithful last night upon hearing about the detention of their candidate trooped to the community 11 police station to demand his release.
One of the supporters who spoke to Citi News said the arrest of the aspiring parliamentarian is unlawful.
“We are here because our incoming MP has been arrested. The work he has done within 3 years is unprecedented. The sitting NPP MP has not been able to do anything close to what Ashai Odampten has done. They cannot just arrest him like that. You have to send him a letter and if he refuses to come, then you arrest him. It is unlawful to just arrest him. We love the man.â€
The party supporters mounted roadblocks in front of the police station and attempted to set some car tyres ablaze to express their anger.
They also threatened to destroy properties of the NPP in the constituency.
