Story: Kwame Asiedu Marfo, Takoradi
THE Bishop of the Sekondi Diocese of the Methodist Church, the Rt Rev John Harvey-Ewusi, has urged all Christians and for that matter all Methodists to comport themselves, use decent language and exercise their franchise in a manner that will be approved by God, during and after this year’s elections.
“Beloved, we need to remind ourselves that for us as Ghanaians and as Methodists, this year is special,” he said, adding that “it is a year of elections for both the Methodist Church and also for the nation”.
Addressing the 47th annual synod of the Sekondi Diocese at the Freeman Memorial Chapel at Kwesimintsim, Rt Rev Harvey–Ewusi said the Methodist Church would elect nine bishops for nine respective dioceses, while the Methodist Conference would elect a new presiding bishop and a new lay president in August this year.
“In December, the entire nation will go to the polls to decide on who should take the mantle from the incumbent head of state and new members of parliament,” he stressed.
“You and I know that such important events cannot go on smoothly and successfully without God’s guidance and vision to make the right choices,” he said, adding, “The prayers of the entire diocese are therefore urgently needed at this synod and hereafter for a successful elections for both the church and the state.”
He, therefore, urged them to make time at the various societies and organisations to pray for God’s direction to make the right choices.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Monday, May 5, 2008
PARLIAMENT COMMITTED TO DEEPENING DEMOCRACY — SPEAKER (PAGE 47)
Story: Kwame Asiedu Marfo & Juliet Aguair, Takoradi
Regional Parliamentary Centres are to be established across the country to serve as points for collaboration and dissemination of information on the work of Parliament.
The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, who disclosed this, said the centres would also provide the opportunity for all Ghanaians to participate in its work.
Mr Hughes was speaking at the opening session of a parliamentary forum on “Strengthening the Legislature through Public Engagement” in Takoradi.
The forum, the last of a series of Regional Parliamentary Outreach programmes, was sponsored by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and attended by the leadership of Parliament, some Members of Parliament, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, students, civil society organisations, as well as the general public.
Mr Hughes said since the inception of the Parliament of the Fourth Republic in January 1993, various efforts had been made at strengthening both Parliament and parliamentary services to enable the House to effectively discharge its duties under the constitution.
He said Parliament had developed an Enhanced Strategic Plan that laid the foundation to address priorities critical for an effective parliamentary institution for the nation.
“Parliament is an institution of and for the people and provides opportunity for the voices of the silent majority to be heard in its representational role,” he said.
Among the three arms of government, the Speaker said, Parliament served as the body with the responsibility of ensuring that through the Members of Parliament, views of all Ghanaians found expression in the bodypolitic.
Mr Hughes noted that the creation of a forum in which Parliament and the people that it represented, came together to have close interaction was an important step in forging a close bond between the House and the electorate and that this would greatly help in advancing the cause of meaningful democracy.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr A. E. Amoah noted that democracy was a good thing and that the government would do all within its power to sustain it.
He pointed out that as a people, we were partly responsible for the action and inaction of those who were voted into office.
“We need to be interested in what they do and to ensure that they serve our interest,” he said, adding that “this we can do by constantly keeping in touch with our parliamentarians”.
He said it was important that people knew what went on in Parliament so that they could make informed choices in the exercise of their democratic rights.
“This parliament outreach programme is indeed a very useful exercise and should be sustained as a means of enlightening the Ghanaian about the responsibilities and privileges of a parliamentarian” he said.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo-Prapram, Mr E. T. Mensah, who represented the Minority Leader, noted that the demands of the people from the MPs were many.
He explained that the Executive arm of government at the local level were the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies whose functions had been explained in the law establishing them.
“There is nowhere in the law that MPs are assigned these responsibilities,” he stressed.
He said the development role MPs played was the consideration of the budget by Parliament.
The Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abraham Osei Aidoo, said Parliament had made progress in the development of the state.
He urged Ghanaians to take an interest in the activities of parliamentarians in their areas, especially during election, adding that “we are going to be judged by what we are doing in the elections”.
Therefore, he advised all to assess candidates during this election before they were voted into power.
The Programmes Coordinator of Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Mr Samuel Opoku-Agyakwa, pointed out that the forum had brought Parliament as an institution closer to the electorate hence promoting good governance.
He said such interactions demonstrated how well-informed the Ghanaian population was in the governance of the country, adding that “the foundation will continue to support the growth and development of Parliament”.
Regional Parliamentary Centres are to be established across the country to serve as points for collaboration and dissemination of information on the work of Parliament.
The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, who disclosed this, said the centres would also provide the opportunity for all Ghanaians to participate in its work.
Mr Hughes was speaking at the opening session of a parliamentary forum on “Strengthening the Legislature through Public Engagement” in Takoradi.
The forum, the last of a series of Regional Parliamentary Outreach programmes, was sponsored by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and attended by the leadership of Parliament, some Members of Parliament, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, students, civil society organisations, as well as the general public.
Mr Hughes said since the inception of the Parliament of the Fourth Republic in January 1993, various efforts had been made at strengthening both Parliament and parliamentary services to enable the House to effectively discharge its duties under the constitution.
He said Parliament had developed an Enhanced Strategic Plan that laid the foundation to address priorities critical for an effective parliamentary institution for the nation.
“Parliament is an institution of and for the people and provides opportunity for the voices of the silent majority to be heard in its representational role,” he said.
Among the three arms of government, the Speaker said, Parliament served as the body with the responsibility of ensuring that through the Members of Parliament, views of all Ghanaians found expression in the bodypolitic.
Mr Hughes noted that the creation of a forum in which Parliament and the people that it represented, came together to have close interaction was an important step in forging a close bond between the House and the electorate and that this would greatly help in advancing the cause of meaningful democracy.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr A. E. Amoah noted that democracy was a good thing and that the government would do all within its power to sustain it.
He pointed out that as a people, we were partly responsible for the action and inaction of those who were voted into office.
“We need to be interested in what they do and to ensure that they serve our interest,” he said, adding that “this we can do by constantly keeping in touch with our parliamentarians”.
He said it was important that people knew what went on in Parliament so that they could make informed choices in the exercise of their democratic rights.
“This parliament outreach programme is indeed a very useful exercise and should be sustained as a means of enlightening the Ghanaian about the responsibilities and privileges of a parliamentarian” he said.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo-Prapram, Mr E. T. Mensah, who represented the Minority Leader, noted that the demands of the people from the MPs were many.
He explained that the Executive arm of government at the local level were the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies whose functions had been explained in the law establishing them.
“There is nowhere in the law that MPs are assigned these responsibilities,” he stressed.
He said the development role MPs played was the consideration of the budget by Parliament.
The Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abraham Osei Aidoo, said Parliament had made progress in the development of the state.
He urged Ghanaians to take an interest in the activities of parliamentarians in their areas, especially during election, adding that “we are going to be judged by what we are doing in the elections”.
Therefore, he advised all to assess candidates during this election before they were voted into power.
The Programmes Coordinator of Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Mr Samuel Opoku-Agyakwa, pointed out that the forum had brought Parliament as an institution closer to the electorate hence promoting good governance.
He said such interactions demonstrated how well-informed the Ghanaian population was in the governance of the country, adding that “the foundation will continue to support the growth and development of Parliament”.
DARKO-MENSAH REPLACES GLADYS ASMAH AS NPP CANDIDATE (PAGE 17)
Story: Kwame Asiedu Marfo, Takoradi
A 34-year-old man, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, has been elected as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Takoradi, in a primary which was supervised by the Electoral Commission (EC) officials.
Mr Darko-Mensah, who is the Chairman of the Finance and Administration Sub-committee of the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), polled 35 votes as against 25 by Madam Jane Edna Nyame, the Western Regional Director of the Department of Women, which is under the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs.
Mr David Okruw, Special Assistant to the Minister of Fisheries, Mrs Gladys Asmah, obtained 15 votes; Mr Patrick Amoateng, a public servant, also got one vote, while Mrs Ellen Sweetie Sowa had two votes.
A 34-year-old man, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, has been elected as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Takoradi, in a primary which was supervised by the Electoral Commission (EC) officials.
Mr Darko-Mensah, who is the Chairman of the Finance and Administration Sub-committee of the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), polled 35 votes as against 25 by Madam Jane Edna Nyame, the Western Regional Director of the Department of Women, which is under the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs.
Mr David Okruw, Special Assistant to the Minister of Fisheries, Mrs Gladys Asmah, obtained 15 votes; Mr Patrick Amoateng, a public servant, also got one vote, while Mrs Ellen Sweetie Sowa had two votes.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
OVER 40,000 LOSE THEIR VOTER ID CARES IN WR (PAGE 18)
Story: Kwame Asiedu Marfo Takoradi
THE Western Region recorded a total of 40,895 applications during the replacement of lost voter identity (ID) cards.
Out of the figure, 680 applicants, constituting 1.7 per cent of the total figure, had their ID cards defaced or badly damaged, while 40,215 applicants had lost their voter ID cards.
Also, 37,797 applicants representing 92 per cent were resident voters , whilst the remaining 3,098 or eight per cent were non-resident applicants.
The Western Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Stephen Opoku-Mensah, announced this at a Special Regional Inter-Party Advisory Committee forum in Takoradi. It was on “Building stakeholder confidence in the outcome of the 2008 elections”.
He said the Wassa West recorded the highest number of applications in the region with 14 per cent, followed by Takoradi-Effia Sub-Metro with 11 per cent.
He said Ahanta West, Mpohor Wassa East and Wassa Amenfi East recorded four per cent each, while Shama recorded the least number of applications with three per cent
Mr Opoku-Mensah regretted that the participation of major stakeholders, such as the political parties, was very low, adding that the registered political parties did not show as much interest as they did during registration and elections.
He said the political parties, which were found present at most centres, were the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Party.
He contended that the media had been generally supportive of the efforts of the commission and had been contributing positively in sensitising the public to exercises undertaken by the commission.
“It was, however, unfortunate that some sections of the media carried a wrong impression that the turn-out for the replacement exercise was very low”, he said, adding, “I want to place on record that the EC did not expect a high turn-out because the exercise was done for only voters who had lost their ID cards and those who had their ID cards badly damaged”.
In some cases, he said, it was difficult to process the replacement for non resident applicants especially where the applicants could not provide certain vital information to enable our officials to locate where they registered.
Mr Opoku-Mensah recommended that the political parties should show interest in all activities in connection with elections by sending their agents to all centres to avoid mudslinging, suspicion and speculation.
Also, he said, the media should exercise objectivity, discretion and circumspection in their reportage and that they should check any facts on electoral issues before going public.
He explained that the replacement of the lost ID cards was intended to give opportunity to voters whose ID cards were lost to replace them ahead of the revision of the voters register to avert a situation where such voters would attempt to re-register during the limited registration exercise period.
According to Mr Opoku-Mensah, this was the first time the commission had embarked on the replacement of lost ID cards as a major exercise.
THE Western Region recorded a total of 40,895 applications during the replacement of lost voter identity (ID) cards.
Out of the figure, 680 applicants, constituting 1.7 per cent of the total figure, had their ID cards defaced or badly damaged, while 40,215 applicants had lost their voter ID cards.
Also, 37,797 applicants representing 92 per cent were resident voters , whilst the remaining 3,098 or eight per cent were non-resident applicants.
The Western Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Stephen Opoku-Mensah, announced this at a Special Regional Inter-Party Advisory Committee forum in Takoradi. It was on “Building stakeholder confidence in the outcome of the 2008 elections”.
He said the Wassa West recorded the highest number of applications in the region with 14 per cent, followed by Takoradi-Effia Sub-Metro with 11 per cent.
He said Ahanta West, Mpohor Wassa East and Wassa Amenfi East recorded four per cent each, while Shama recorded the least number of applications with three per cent
Mr Opoku-Mensah regretted that the participation of major stakeholders, such as the political parties, was very low, adding that the registered political parties did not show as much interest as they did during registration and elections.
He said the political parties, which were found present at most centres, were the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Party.
He contended that the media had been generally supportive of the efforts of the commission and had been contributing positively in sensitising the public to exercises undertaken by the commission.
“It was, however, unfortunate that some sections of the media carried a wrong impression that the turn-out for the replacement exercise was very low”, he said, adding, “I want to place on record that the EC did not expect a high turn-out because the exercise was done for only voters who had lost their ID cards and those who had their ID cards badly damaged”.
In some cases, he said, it was difficult to process the replacement for non resident applicants especially where the applicants could not provide certain vital information to enable our officials to locate where they registered.
Mr Opoku-Mensah recommended that the political parties should show interest in all activities in connection with elections by sending their agents to all centres to avoid mudslinging, suspicion and speculation.
Also, he said, the media should exercise objectivity, discretion and circumspection in their reportage and that they should check any facts on electoral issues before going public.
He explained that the replacement of the lost ID cards was intended to give opportunity to voters whose ID cards were lost to replace them ahead of the revision of the voters register to avert a situation where such voters would attempt to re-register during the limited registration exercise period.
According to Mr Opoku-Mensah, this was the first time the commission had embarked on the replacement of lost ID cards as a major exercise.
NEW GIRLS' DORMITORY FOR NKROFUL AGRIC SHS (PAGE 22)
Story: Kwame Asiedu Marfo, Half Assini
THE Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) is providing a two-storey girls’ dormitory for the Nkroful Agricultural Senior High School (SHS) in the Ellembelle District in the Western Region at a cost of GH¢300,000.
The project, which is at the foundation level and has a contract period of 12 months, is being executed by Messrs Pegos Ghana Limited with consultants from the Architectural and Engineering Services Limited.
The Deputy Western Regional Minister, Mr Kwesi Blay, in the company of the Regional Director of Education, Mrs Rebecca Efiba Dadzie and the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ellembelle, Mr Saeed Abdul-Rahman-Yankey, has inspected the project.
Mr Blay noted that the provision of the dormitory block was in the interest of girl child education, since it would help increase enrolment of girls in the school. The deputy regional minister advised the contractor to finish the project within the contract period, stressing that he should also do quality work.
THE Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) is providing a two-storey girls’ dormitory for the Nkroful Agricultural Senior High School (SHS) in the Ellembelle District in the Western Region at a cost of GH¢300,000.
The project, which is at the foundation level and has a contract period of 12 months, is being executed by Messrs Pegos Ghana Limited with consultants from the Architectural and Engineering Services Limited.
The Deputy Western Regional Minister, Mr Kwesi Blay, in the company of the Regional Director of Education, Mrs Rebecca Efiba Dadzie and the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ellembelle, Mr Saeed Abdul-Rahman-Yankey, has inspected the project.
Mr Blay noted that the provision of the dormitory block was in the interest of girl child education, since it would help increase enrolment of girls in the school. The deputy regional minister advised the contractor to finish the project within the contract period, stressing that he should also do quality work.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
ELECTORAL SYSTEM HAS ENOUGH CHECKS, BALANCES (PAGE 44)
Story: Kwame Asiedu Marfo, Takoradi
The Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, has emphasised that there is a lot of integrity in the country’s electoral system.
He said all the electoral processes — the demarcation of constituencies, registration of voters, nomination of candidates, conduct of elections, collation and declaration of results — were important parts of the electoral system.
Those processes, he stressed, led to incontrovertible outcomes and made the results genuine and credible.
Dr Afari-Gyan was speaking at a special regional Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) forum in Takoradi.
The forum, which was on the theme:, “Building stakeholders’ confidence in the outcome of the 2008 elections”, was attended by representatives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), the Democratic People’s Party (DPP), the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Convention People’s Party (CPP), the People’s National Convention (PNC) and the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP).
“There is a lot of integrity in the system but integrity calls on you to be vigilant and take advantage of the opportunity given you,” Dr Afari-Gyan emphasised.
He explained that there was a formula for the demarcation of constituencies, taking into consideration the land mass and population of an area.
He said if anyone was aggrieved about a demarcation, that person could petition a tribunal that would be set up by the Chief Justice.
Touching on the registration of voters, he explained that there was an opportunity for representatives of the political parties to be at the registration centres during the exercise every day.
“Most political parties could not afford representatives,” he said, explaining that “if you do not want to take the opportunity, that is a different matter”.
On the nomination of candidates, he pointed out that as far as the EC was concerned, there were no presidential candidates.
He explained that there could only be presidential candidates when there had been nominations in September this year, adding, “Then after a statutory declaration one becomes a presidential candidate.”
Dr Afari-Gyan said political parties were allowed to send representatives to the printing houses when ballot papers were printed for them to know what was happening.
Also, he said political parties and candidates had agents at the polling stations to take care of their interests.
“Being an agent is very important and not a job for the boys or machomen. Agents have very important work to do at the polling stations so they must be knowledgeable and know what is happening there,” he said, saying, “Nobody is too big to be an agent”.
Dr Afari-Gyan advised the political parties not to recruit riffraff as their representatives, adding, “Find qualified people to be your agents.”
A member of the EC, Ms Eunice Roberts, said the commission recognised political parties as major stakeholders and that they had a crucial role to play in the electoral system.
He urged the political parties to study the legal framework for the election and educate their supporters on the law.
Ms Roberts emphasised that the success of the election was a shared responsibility of the EC, the political parties, as well as the media, adding, “This year’s election is an important one and we do not want to make mistakes.”
The Director of Elections at the EC, Mr Albert Arhin, said the revision of the voters register would be a limited exercise at the electoral area level.
He said there would be 2,500 working stations, one each for an electoral area.
The Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, has emphasised that there is a lot of integrity in the country’s electoral system.
He said all the electoral processes — the demarcation of constituencies, registration of voters, nomination of candidates, conduct of elections, collation and declaration of results — were important parts of the electoral system.
Those processes, he stressed, led to incontrovertible outcomes and made the results genuine and credible.
Dr Afari-Gyan was speaking at a special regional Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) forum in Takoradi.
The forum, which was on the theme:, “Building stakeholders’ confidence in the outcome of the 2008 elections”, was attended by representatives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), the Democratic People’s Party (DPP), the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Convention People’s Party (CPP), the People’s National Convention (PNC) and the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP).
“There is a lot of integrity in the system but integrity calls on you to be vigilant and take advantage of the opportunity given you,” Dr Afari-Gyan emphasised.
He explained that there was a formula for the demarcation of constituencies, taking into consideration the land mass and population of an area.
He said if anyone was aggrieved about a demarcation, that person could petition a tribunal that would be set up by the Chief Justice.
Touching on the registration of voters, he explained that there was an opportunity for representatives of the political parties to be at the registration centres during the exercise every day.
“Most political parties could not afford representatives,” he said, explaining that “if you do not want to take the opportunity, that is a different matter”.
On the nomination of candidates, he pointed out that as far as the EC was concerned, there were no presidential candidates.
He explained that there could only be presidential candidates when there had been nominations in September this year, adding, “Then after a statutory declaration one becomes a presidential candidate.”
Dr Afari-Gyan said political parties were allowed to send representatives to the printing houses when ballot papers were printed for them to know what was happening.
Also, he said political parties and candidates had agents at the polling stations to take care of their interests.
“Being an agent is very important and not a job for the boys or machomen. Agents have very important work to do at the polling stations so they must be knowledgeable and know what is happening there,” he said, saying, “Nobody is too big to be an agent”.
Dr Afari-Gyan advised the political parties not to recruit riffraff as their representatives, adding, “Find qualified people to be your agents.”
A member of the EC, Ms Eunice Roberts, said the commission recognised political parties as major stakeholders and that they had a crucial role to play in the electoral system.
He urged the political parties to study the legal framework for the election and educate their supporters on the law.
Ms Roberts emphasised that the success of the election was a shared responsibility of the EC, the political parties, as well as the media, adding, “This year’s election is an important one and we do not want to make mistakes.”
The Director of Elections at the EC, Mr Albert Arhin, said the revision of the voters register would be a limited exercise at the electoral area level.
He said there would be 2,500 working stations, one each for an electoral area.
EC WANTS GH¢41m ...And an additional GH¢7m in the event of a run-off (LEAD STORY)
Story: Kwame Asiedu Marfo, Takoradi
THE Electoral Commission (EC) has budgeted for GH¢41 million for this year’s general election, excluding the possibility of a run-off.
The Chairman of the EC, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, who announced this, said an additional GH¢7 million would be required should there be a run-off.
He was responding to questions at a special regional Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) forum in Takoradi.
He said the ballot papers were being re-designed based on some findings of the commission which showed that many ballot papers got rejected as a result of ignorance on the part of voters.
He advised people not to play politics with the said bloated voters register in 13 constituencies in the Ashanti Region, pointing out that “it is the collective responsibility of all of us to ensure that the voters register is clean”.
Dr Afari-Gyan stressed that the commission would faithfully declare the results of the elections if any party other than the ruling party won the elections.
“I cannot imagine a situation where the commission will not declare the results,” he said, adding, “It will be a dereliction of duty.”
“We will faithfully declare the results according to how Ghanaians see it.” he noted, stressing, “It is our right to declare the results and the media should help us to uphold the law.”
Dr Afari-Gyan, therefore, emphasised that it would be stupid for anybody else to declare the results, adding that that would bring about chaos.
Touching on the Representation of the People’s (Amendment) Law (ROPAL), the chairman said the EC had done a lot of work on it.
“We cannot use it in the 2008 elections since we have not done enough,” he added.
He said it was the obligation of the EC to implement the law gradually, saying, “When we reach the right stage we will implement the law.”
In another development, the EC has explained that the postponement of the re-opening of the voters register is the result of a delay in the delivery of a new work station and not because of lack of funds, reports Donald Ato Dapatem.
According to the Director of Elections at the EC, Mr Albert Kofi Arhin, the new work station, which would replace the Polaroid instant camera for the registration of voters, was expected in the country in June this year.
The work station is a new digital equipment comprising a camera, a printer and a set of batteries which will enable the EC to instantly deliver identity cards to voters who register and also facilitate the processing of data.
Last Monday, the commission issued a statement that it had postponed the May 8 to 17 re-opening of the voters registration exercise indefinitely.
Mr Arhin noted that the EC had had assurances from the providers of the equipment that it would be in by June.
He explained that although the EC had held up the registration of new voters, that would not affect its electoral calendar for the year, especially the filing of presidential nominations in September and the general election in December.
He added that the EC had no problem as far as resources for the registration were concerned and gave the assurance that it would work within the calendar to ensure smooth elections.
Mr Arhin urged political parties and Ghanaians in general to see it as their civic duty to encourage those who had attained 18 to register and ensure that they expose those who had already registered and still wanted to register again and those who had not attained the adult suffrage age but wanted to register.
He said the EC, as usual, would put in place appropriate measures, including adequate training of personnel, to man all the registration centres.
THE Electoral Commission (EC) has budgeted for GH¢41 million for this year’s general election, excluding the possibility of a run-off.
The Chairman of the EC, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, who announced this, said an additional GH¢7 million would be required should there be a run-off.
He was responding to questions at a special regional Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) forum in Takoradi.
He said the ballot papers were being re-designed based on some findings of the commission which showed that many ballot papers got rejected as a result of ignorance on the part of voters.
He advised people not to play politics with the said bloated voters register in 13 constituencies in the Ashanti Region, pointing out that “it is the collective responsibility of all of us to ensure that the voters register is clean”.
Dr Afari-Gyan stressed that the commission would faithfully declare the results of the elections if any party other than the ruling party won the elections.
“I cannot imagine a situation where the commission will not declare the results,” he said, adding, “It will be a dereliction of duty.”
“We will faithfully declare the results according to how Ghanaians see it.” he noted, stressing, “It is our right to declare the results and the media should help us to uphold the law.”
Dr Afari-Gyan, therefore, emphasised that it would be stupid for anybody else to declare the results, adding that that would bring about chaos.
Touching on the Representation of the People’s (Amendment) Law (ROPAL), the chairman said the EC had done a lot of work on it.
“We cannot use it in the 2008 elections since we have not done enough,” he added.
He said it was the obligation of the EC to implement the law gradually, saying, “When we reach the right stage we will implement the law.”
In another development, the EC has explained that the postponement of the re-opening of the voters register is the result of a delay in the delivery of a new work station and not because of lack of funds, reports Donald Ato Dapatem.
According to the Director of Elections at the EC, Mr Albert Kofi Arhin, the new work station, which would replace the Polaroid instant camera for the registration of voters, was expected in the country in June this year.
The work station is a new digital equipment comprising a camera, a printer and a set of batteries which will enable the EC to instantly deliver identity cards to voters who register and also facilitate the processing of data.
Last Monday, the commission issued a statement that it had postponed the May 8 to 17 re-opening of the voters registration exercise indefinitely.
Mr Arhin noted that the EC had had assurances from the providers of the equipment that it would be in by June.
He explained that although the EC had held up the registration of new voters, that would not affect its electoral calendar for the year, especially the filing of presidential nominations in September and the general election in December.
He added that the EC had no problem as far as resources for the registration were concerned and gave the assurance that it would work within the calendar to ensure smooth elections.
Mr Arhin urged political parties and Ghanaians in general to see it as their civic duty to encourage those who had attained 18 to register and ensure that they expose those who had already registered and still wanted to register again and those who had not attained the adult suffrage age but wanted to register.
He said the EC, as usual, would put in place appropriate measures, including adequate training of personnel, to man all the registration centres.
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