GBA warns EC, parties - Don't compromise nation's peace

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has challenged the Electoral Commission (EC) and the political parties to avoid acts that will compromise the peace of the nation.

Opening the GBA's 2008/2009 National Conference in Kumasi yesterday, the acting president of the association, Mr Benson Nutsukpui, said electoral disputes in parts of the continent had resulted in the infamous power-sharing syndrome which Ghana was not ready for.

He, therefore, advised that in the event of any electoral disputes, the bench must be ready to act on them with dispatch.

He was speaking moments after his appointment as the acting president following the sudden resignation of Nii Osah Mills as president of the association.

Members of the association had planned to impeach Nii Mills at the congress but he tendered his resignation about 8.00 p.m. on Sunday

Sources close to the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting where Nii Mills announced his resignation, citing personal reasons, said there had been a heated argument between Nii Mills and some of his colleagues over a statement he had made to the effect that the former GNPC boss, Mr Tsatsu Tsikata did not get a fair trial.

A quick decision was then arrived at for Mr Nutsukpui, who is the Vice-President of the GBA, to act as president of the association for the opening of the conference.

Referring to the resignation of Nii Mills, the acting president said it would in no way break the front of the association.

He said even though there had been improvement in the judiciary, there was still more to do to bring standards to acceptable levels.

He said, for instance, that there was the need to address the deplorable conditions in the courtrooms and also tackle the malfunctioning automated systems.

The three-day conference is on the theme, ''The legal profession in a globalised world".

Opening the conference, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, said Ghana was on the threshold of a major election to test its democratic principles, adding that lawyers had a crucial role to play in that.

He listed a number of reasons that had promoted globalisation and said the legal profession in Ghana could be better off if it joined the chorus.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu noted the pressure on the courts to deal with the numerous cases and said that was why the traditional system of adjudication must be encouraged, stressing, "Under customary law and usage, there are a lot of benefits in the adjudicating system."

The Asantehene advised the judiciary to be fearless and continue to administer justice with all fairness.

The Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, stated that developing the legal profession to internationally accepted standards would enhance the international respectability of the profession in Ghana.

"It will also reinforce the competitive advantage of Ghanaian lawyers in terms of their employability and engagement," she said.

Mrs Justice Wood said it was, therefore, important to see the profession projecting itself in that direction through awareness creation and information sharing.

The Chief Justice pointed out that the "one-man legal practice" which was common in Ghana was outmoded and called for the need for lawyers to adapt to changing trends which had made it possible' for networking. in the legal profession.

She promised to continue with reforms in the judiciary which she started on assumption of office in 2007.

Mrs Justice Wood announced that a team from the International Relations Section of the US Federal Judicial Centre was in the country to help build the capacity of a core group of judges as trainers in judicial case management, including electronic case management.

She urged the bar to design strategies that would compel lawyers to render pro-bono legal services to poor indigent litigants.

The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Joe Ghartey, urged members of the bar and the bench to prepare themselves adequately for the oil and gas industry.

He said already five lawyers from the Attorney-General's Department had been sent abroad for Masters Degree programmes in oil and gas.

Mr Ghartey indicated that from the turbulent days of military dictatorship, the courts had now asserted their independence and so it was important for the people to have confidence in them.

Other speakers at the ceremony were the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr E.A. Owusu-Ansah, himself a member of the GBA, and the Ashanti Regional President of the GBA, Mr Anthony Osei-Poku.

Earlier, a member of the GBA, Mr Kwaku Ansa-Asare, had condemned the remarks made by Nii Mills in the media that suggested that Mr Tsatsu Tsikata had not been given a fair trial.

According to Mr Ansa-Asare, "It is improper for anyone, anybody or authority to comment on judIcial proceedings in matters that are presently pending before the court," adding that Nii Mills's comments were sub judice.

In a letter Mr Ansa-Asare wrote to Nii Mills, he said Mr Tsikata had been tried at first instance and that Tsikata had appealed against his conviction and sentence and noted that Mr Tsikata's appeal was still pending.

He also copied members of the Bar Council and Mr T. N. Ward Brew, the president of the Bar Association of Ghana and flag-bearer of the Democratic Peoples Party DPP.


Source: Daily Graphic

Exhibition of voters' register to be held Oct.5-11

Exhibition of voters' register will start October 5 at all polling stations and close October 11, the Electoral Commission (EC) announced on Monday.

The exhibition will afford registered voters to make sure that their names are on the register, and to make claims of correction of errors such as names, sex and age to avoid disappointment on voting day. Mr. Sylvester Kanyi, Northern Regional Director of the EC, in a release issued in Tamale on Monday, said the exhibition would be held in all 2,043 polling stations in the Northern region. He said during the exhibition, the 2006 voters' register and the 2008 provisional register which was compiled recently would be on display.

He appealed to all voters who registered in 2004, 2006 and 2008 to go to their respective polling stations to check and ensure that particulars on their voters' identity cards tallied with information in the register.

The release said challenge forms would be available at all polling centres for people to register their objection, or remove names of minors, deceased, aliens and other unqualified persons in the register to ensure that it was cleaned and prepared for the 2008 elections. The release appealed to Assembly Members, family heads, unit Committee members and relations of deceased persons to help ensure that dead persons' names were removed from the register. It said the exercise would not be for fresh registration and advised persons who did double registration to get one cancelled to avoid prosecution and to ensure that the register was clean, accurate, credible, reliable and dependable.

Source: GNA

NDC T-Shirts in high demand

Mrs. Lordina Mahama, wife of the National Democratic Candidate Congress (NDC) presidential running mate, has returned to Accra after a one-week tour of parts of the Brong-Ahafo Region and expressed worry over shortage of NDC T-shirts.   She said she felt helpless in the face of the high demand for the party's T-shirts but she was encouraged that those who did not have the T-shirts said they would vote for the NDC.          Mrs Mahama received a rousing welcome at Techiman, Kintampo, Nkoransa, Tuobodom, Ampoma, Bodum and Jema and appealed to the people to vote for the NDC.     She urged the supporters to continue being at peace with their political opponents and nothing should be done to tarnish the image of the party.    Hajia Maeriam Sinare, Deputy National Women's Organizer of NDC, said the party would revitalize agriculture and would subsidize fertilizer.    She said the NDC would enhance the tourism attraction sites in the region to help attract potential investors to the region.     "We will do that through the encouragement of individuals to build hotels and other tourism facilities that will also increase employment for the youth."     Hajia Zenaibu Mahama Joyce, Brong Ahafo Regional Women's Organizer, said the NDC would fulfil any promise it might make to the electorate and ensure that whatever was contained in its manifesto would be fully implemented.    She said the party would not deceive the people just to win their votes and turn their back on them when they are voted into power. GNA

CPP will live up to expectation – Dr. Nduom

The Convention People's Party (CPP) would live up to expectation to make the country an enviable place to live in if given the nod by the electorate in the December 7 elections, says Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, the party's presidential aspirant.      He told a forum at Essikado near Sekondi on Friday at the beginning of a campaign tour of the Western Region that CPP would not disappoint the people as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) have done.      CPP, he said, was determined to win political power once again and appealed to the electorate to vote for the party to enable it to prove its competence in the management of the country's affairs.      Dr. Nduom said Essikado was the cradle of CPP and therefore expects the people of the Western Region and Essikado in particular to vote massively for the party.      "The people of the Western Region, and for that matter, Essikado have the responsibility to give their full support to the CPP because of the special historical bond between them", he said.      He said the CPP has a strategic plan for the expansion and development of the Takoradi harbour and the railway system that would provide jobs for the people.      A government of the CPP would also establish a petrochemical industry in the region to enhance job opportunities for the youth.      The CPP flag-bearer said the party had an edge over the other political parties because it understands the country's challenges better and abhor violence as a campaign strategy.       Dr. Nduom promised to discourage pair-trawling if the CPP wins the elections to boost the operations of local fishermen.      Mr. Mike Eghan, National Treasurer of the party, said the electorate must give their mandate to the CPP since the NPP and the NDC have disappointed them.       Dr. Nduom introduced Mr. John Eghan, the party's parliamentary candidate for Essikado-Kettan constituency, to the people and urged them to vote for him. GNA

Garu-Tempane confirms President’s nominee

Mr Joseph Kpemka Dindiok, the President's nominee for the post of District Chief Executive for the Garu-Tempane District was on Thursday confirmed by members of the Assembly.      Mr Dindiok polled 25 votes out of 26 ballots cast.      The assembly has a membership of 32, with 22 serving in elective positions while 10 are appointed.      The position became vacant following the withdrawal of the former DCE, Emmanuel Asigri, to the President's office.      The Upper East Regional Minister, Alhassan Samari acted as the DCE until the confirmation of Mr Dindiok.      As stated in  the 1992 constitution, the local government Act and standing orders of the assemblies, there was the need for the president to nominate a suitable candidate to be confirmed or rejected by the assembly.      Mr Dindiok, a teacher by profession and also the Presiding Member (PM) for the Garu-Tempane assembly had to resign from that position before he was inducted into office by Mr Alhassan Samari, after swearing the Oath of office and secrecy.      Mr Samari, who addressed the members of the assembly earlier, reminded them of the unity and purposefulness that has existed in the assembly and said it was time to confirm it by ensuring that they approve Mr Dindiok's nomination.      Mr Dindiok's nomination is tactical because being a Bimoba; he is expected to use his neutrality to unify the people, who are predominantly Kusasis and Mamprusis.      It is also to sustain the peace and stability in the area, especially considering recent ethnic conflict that has bedevilled the Bawku traditional area.      Mr Dindiok commended members of the assembly for the trust reposed in him and said "I am humbly asking for your cooperation and assistance, just as you gave me during my tenure of office as the Presiding Member."      He thanked President John Agyekum Kufuor for the honour done him and said even though the country has a few months before the elections, he would mobilize the available resources to wage a relentless war on poverty, ignorance and disease, which are the main issues confronting the district.            The new DCE called on the people to gather courage and shun politicians, who would preach mayhem and division in the area and appealed to the security personnel in the district to deal decisively with such culprits.      The occasion was also used to elect Mr Solomon Awini, a Banker, as the new PM for the assembly.      Mr Awini, who served as PM with the then Bawku East District assembly before the creation of the Garu-Tempane district, emphasised the need for continued unity, to enable the assembly to achieve its development targets and pledged to be fair in dealing with all issues raised at the assembly's meetings.      The new PM was sworn into office by the Bawku Municipal circuit court judge, Mr Alex Ofori.  GNA

DFP elects a lawyer to contest Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa’s seat

Mr Anthony Robert Frempong, a legal practitioner, was on Friday elected the Democratic Freedom Party's (DFP) parliamentary candidate for the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa.      Mr Frempong, who was the only candidate at the close of nomination, was elected by popular acclamation by all the 96 polling station executives and the ward chairmen at the party's congress.      The District Electoral Commission conducted the election under the supervision of the Central Regional Secretariat of the DFP.      The Central Region, vice chairman of the party, Mr William F. K. Longdon, addressing members, said the country needed a change to propel it into a middle income state.      He said the New Patriotic Party government promised to fight corruption but had not been able to fulfill that promise.      He urged DFP wards' executives to campaign vigorously to win more members to vote the party into power come December 7, 2008.      He appealed to supporters of the party to avoid anything that could spark conflict and chaos saying, "we have no where to go if there is conflict in the country".      Mr Frempong, in his acceptance speech, thanked the delegates for his election and promised to work with the constituency and regional executives of the party to ensure victory.      He appealed to members of the party to carry their campaign in a peaceful manner devoid of insults and acrimony. GNA

Electoral Officers sceptical about photo-taking exercise

Electoral Officers at various photo exhibition centres in Sunyani Municipality were sceptical about the Electoral Commission's (EC) ability to provide photographs for all eligible voters for Election 2008.      They attributed their concerns to poor publicity and prospective voters' inability to identify photo-taking centres.      During a tour of some centres during the just-ended photo-taking exercise in the Municipality, by Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Thursday, it was realised that the turn up of eligible voters was very poor.      At Ahenboboano photo centre in Sunyani, as at 1415 hours on Tuesday only 150 out of the total 400 registered voters expected to take their photographs had turned up.      Mr Isaac Mensah, Electoral Officer at the centre said available statistics indicated that it would be very difficult for the Commission to capture the number of voters expected to take their photographs.      "The total number of voters recorded daily was not encouraging," he said and appealed for the re-opening of the exercise with effective publicity and awareness creation.      At Twene Amanfo centre, Mrs Doris Gyawula, Electoral Officer, described the attendance as "not very encouraging."      She said the centre was able to take photographs of about 950 out of the expected total number of 1,890 voters.      Mrs Gyawula said attendance was very poor until the late hours of Tuesday when most voters rushed there claiming they had just been informed about the exercise.      She said the situation put a lot of pressure on the staff who had to extend the closing time of 1800 hours to 1930 hours on Wednesday.      Mrs Gyawula said materials for the exercise at the centre got finished and they were not able to operate the following day, which was the last day of the exercise.      "All those who came to the centre were directed to take their photographs at another centre because materials were not available," she added.      Mrs Gyawula said "when we called office of the Electoral Commission, we were informed there were no materials. We had no option than to direct the people to other centres."       She noted that some of the eligible voters who thronged to the centre for their photographs forgot the names they used during the registration exercise and that made it difficult for them to trace their names, saying that was the main problem they encountered during the exercise.      A cross-section of eligible voters interviewed expressed concern about the manner in which the exercise was conducted and most of them seemed to have lost interest in obtaining the voter identity cards.      Mr Ibrahim Usman, an eligible voter, said "he was fed up and would not get time to chase for his identity card."      "I reported at Twene Amanfo exhibition centre around 0200 hours on Wednesday morning and directed to another centre for the photograph, but at the centre, I was informed the camera battery was down and since then I have not seen the cameraman again," he added.      He expressed concern about activities of the Electoral Commission "for not learning from experience during the registration exercise to provide enough materials for the photo exhibition exercise." GNA

Rawlings labels ban as absurd

Former President Jerry John Rawlings has said it was absurd for banning seven former Service Commanders from military installations by the national security.      Former President Rawlings, in a statement signed by his Aide, Kofi Adams, said the motive for the ban is designed to lock-out the noble intentions of the Generals who were trying to safeguard the integrity of the December elections.      "This absurdity can only emanate from a guilty and desperate NPP government incapable of facing the December 7 elections without fraud and violence."      The former President said the NPP was hiding behind the national security apparatus to deliberately skew the reasons behind his meeting with the affected retired Generals, to sow seeds of fear and intimidation.       He urged Ghanaians to see the action to ban the seven as a clear manifestation of the NPP's desperation.     He cautioned all Ghanaians to be alert "since the NPP is desperate to covert plans to perpetuate violence in the run-up to the elections because there is a clear indication that they will lose."     The former President called on Ghanaians to join hands in ensuring peace and security and be wary of persons and institutions that claimed to protect the citizenry but were rather operating to protect the ruling party to perpetuate its stay in power.     He described the former service chiefs as distinguished citizens of Ghana whose reputations were being maligned by a "paranoid government which has no modicum of respect left in its approach to issues."      Former President Rawlings said meetings aimed at ensuring peaceful elections would continue and enjoined religious, traditional and opinion leaders as well as well-meaning members of civil society to join the effort to preserve the sanctity of the right of choice and the electoral process.      The National Security this week announced the banning of Lt. Gen. Arnold Quainoo, Former General Officer Commanding, Brigadier General Nunoo Mensah, former Chief of Defence Staff, Rear Admiral Owusu Ansah, former Chief of Naval Staff, Mr C.K Dewornu, former Inspector General of Police, F.Y. Asare, former Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, Bruce Konuah, former Defence Advisor to Pakistan and W.K Aboah, former Commissioner of Police from entering military installations. GNA

Parties in Twifo Ati Morkwa constituency pledge peaceful election

Three political parties in the Twifo Ati Morkwa constituency at the week-end, pledged to ensure a peaceful election in December.  The New Patriotic Party (NPP), National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Convention Peoples Party (CPP), made the pledge at a forum, organised by the Twifo-Hemang-Lower-Denkyira District Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE).      They observed that since all political parties have one objective of offering good governance to the people, there was the need for them to co-operate to ensure an incident free election.  Later in his address, Mr Thomas Yallow, District Director of the NCCE, reiterated that the success of the election would largely depend on the leadership of the various parties.      He urged them to be circumspect in their utterances, especially during rallies and tolerate the views of their opponents, as well as educate their supporters on the "do's and don'ts" of elections, to ensure peace and tranquillity.  He also advised party activists and the youth not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to create tension and violence before and after the general election. GNA

President Kufuor returns home from US

President John Agyekum Kufuor returned home on Sunday night after a state visit to the US on the invitation of President George W. Bush.      He also attended the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.      Mr Andrew Awuni, Press Secretary to the President and Presidential Spokesman told journalists at the airport that following discussions between President Kufuor and President Bush, the US Government pledged to assist Ghana with technical expertise on her oil discovery.      He said under the pledge about 100 scholarships would be granted to Ghanaian students to study in the US to enrich their knowledge on oil exploration.      Mr Awuni said US Government also agreed to assist Ghana with 350 million dollars for rural electrification.      He said President Kufuor addressing the UN General Assembly, pledged government's commitment to ensure free and fair Election 2008 and invited international observers into the country during the election period.      Mr Awuni said the death Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning took its toll on President Kufuor and his entourage.      He described the late Baah-Wiredu as a hardworking and affable man adding" his death is indeed a sad event."      President Kufuor was met on arrival by Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Ministers of State, Lieutenant-General J. B. Danquah, Chief of Defence Staff and Mr Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, Inspector General of Police. GNA

A clean voters’ register necessary for peaceful elections-Dery

Mr Benard Dery, Volta Regional Police Commander, on Saturday said a clean voters' register was vital for peaceful elections in December.      He called on Ghanaians to assist the Electoral Commission (EC) to remove all ineligible voters from the register during verification and validation of names in the register.      Mr Dery was briefing a European Union (EU) fact-finding team on role of the security agencies in Election 2008 and the structure and work of the election security committees, at a meeting of representatives of political parties, security agencies, the EC, the media and EU, in Ho.      He called for the removal of names of minors, aliens and those who registered more than once from the electoral register to ensure smooth voting.     Mr Modestus Ahiable, Volta Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), said the party was working for peaceful elections but alleged that its opponents were planning mischief to gain advantage during the elections.      He also said the NDC was not comfortable with the certain happenings in the region that suggest police bias against the party.       Mr Yaagy Akuriba, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Regional Crime Officer, called on politicians to avoid accusations and to educate their followers on the need for peaceful elections and asked "Everybody is crying wolf, who is the wolf?"      The EU team would hold separate talks with officials of the EC in the region and other stakeholders. GNA

Rally solidly behind NPP to ensure victory - Nii Tawiah

The Covenant Traders Association (CTA), a Youth Wing of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was at the weekend inaugurated in Accra with a call on members to rally solidly behind the party in its fight to retain power in the upcoming elections.      Nii Adjei Tawiah, NPP parliamentary candidate for Korley Klottey Constituency, who made the call during the inauguration, reminded supporters of the party of the collective responsibility of all and sundry to work hard to ensure victory at the December polls since the NPP needed every single vote to win the elections.      The 10-member executive of the CTA has Mr Ebenezer Attah Marfo as its chairman, with Mr Emmanuel Ohene-Yeboah as the vice chairman.      Other executive members include Mr Victor Ameyeyeh (Secretary); Mr Twum Barima (Organiser); Miss Berlinda Awuah (Financial Secretary); Miss Ernestina Kankam (Treasurer); and Mrs Mary Agyeiwaa (Women Organiser).      While advising members to guard against negative and divisive tendencies, Nii Tawiah assured them that when elected as Member of Parliament, he would do all he could to help the Association to achieve the set goals.      Mr Alex Antwi, Constituency Chairman who inaugurated the Association, assured Ghanaians that the next NPP government under Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo would ensure that majority of the citizenry, lived in dignity, because "their standards of living would be raised to an appreciable level".      He urged the executive officers to live above reproach, and advised them not to lord it over their subordinates, but to provide selfless and dedicated leadership.      Mrs Juliana Ohemeng, Polling Station Chairperson of the Constituency lauded the NPP government for its remarkable achievements in the areas of health and education.      She mentioned the National Health Insurance Scheme; the School Feeding Programme and the Capitation Grant, as some of the achievements that the NPP could be credited with.      Association's Chairman and his Vice, who took turns to address the gathering, expressed the hope that come December 7, the good people of Ghana would renew the party's mandate to continue with its good works. GNA

NPP, NDC will implode before elections– Amoafo-Yeboah

Mr. Kwesi Amoafo-Yeboah, the only independent candidate vying for the presidency in the December polls, on Saturday said the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), would both implode before the December 7 polls.     He told the Ghana News Agency that the way the two leading political parties traded insults and accusation could only lead both of them to one thing "an implosion".     "That is where I come in – I'll take advantage of the situation and use the period between October 17, when I file my nomination, and December 7, to put my face and my message out there and win the elections," he said.      He noted that whiles Ghanaians were looking for leaders who would tell them how they intend to solve their problems of unemployment, disease, low income and other things, NDC and NPP had dedicated their campaigns to pointing fingers at each other and accusing each other of causing the problems facing the country.     Mr. Amoafo-Yeboah said that was a clear indication that both political parties had nothing to offer and were heading for an inevitable implosion.     "I am not interested in who caused the problem – my preoccupation is to offer the solutions to those problems rather than blaming someone for causing the," he said     Mr. Amoafo-Yeboah, who is also Chairman of ITEL Ghana, a mobile phone scratch card production company was the first and only candidate to pick his nomination forms from the Electoral Commission, whiles the various political parties accused the EC of extortion for charging 5,000 Ghana cedis for presidential candidates and 500 Ghana cedis for parliamentary candidates.      Mr. Amoafo-Yeboah noted that he picked his form early, not to show that he had money to spread but to give a clear indication that "from day one my focus had been to get my name unto the ballot paper and that is exactly what I am going to do."     "I believe that campaigning vigorously will be a useless exercise if after campaigning I did not get my name unto the ballot paper," he said.     If his name gets unto the ballot paper, Mr. Amoafo-Yeboah would have been the first independent candidate to have had his name on the ballot paper in the country.      Mr. Amoafo-Yeboah said he was well on his way to getting the mandated two signatories from all each of the over 100 districts across the country, saying that he was already done with Accra and was sure that by October 8, 2008 he would have gotten all the signatories.     "It is not as if I am now going to look for people to sign – I already have people across the country, it is just a matter of getting the forms to them," he said.     Mr. Amoafo-Yeboah said he had already selected his running mate, "a male", who would be outdoored on October 16, when he would submit his nomination forms to the EC.    But he refused to mention the name of his running mate.    Asked why he was not campaigning vigorously like his competitors he said; "I do not believe in rallies, I do one on one and house to house, but between October 17 and December 7, Ghanaians will see more of me."     Mr. Amoafo-Yeboah ridiculed promises of job creation being made by both the NDC and the NPP, saying that any political party that promised that its government would create jobs should not be taken seriously.     "Ghana Telecom, Ghana Airways and other state-owned companies are typical examples of the failure that awaits jobs created by a government," he said.     He said it was only jobs created by the many enterprising young people and private companies in the country with the support of the state that could be sustainable.     On that score he criticized the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) as a system bound to fail and called for it to be phased out.      "The NYEP is being run like a welfare system and so there is no way of measuring the output of the beneficiaries and yet we have earmarked huge sums from the talk tax to give to them as handouts," he said.     Mr. Amoafo-Yeboah said when he became President, he would rather give the money from the talk tax to the many enterprising young Ghanaians with great ideas and full of energy to create jobs for their colleagues.     On how he intended to run the country without a party support base in Parliament, he noted that his policies would be people-centred and he was therefore confident that parliament would support his policies even though he did not belong to any of the political parties represented in Parliament. GNA

Let December elections be without conflicts – Asantehemaa

Nana Afua Serwaa Kobi Ampem, Asantehemaa, has said it was important that political parties embarked on campaigns in a peaceful manner ahead of the December elections.      This, she said, was necessary if the nation was to consolidate her infant democracy and the peace the country was enjoying.      Nana Kobi Ampem made the call when Mrs Yvonne Nduom, wife of Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, flag-bearer of the Convention People's Party (CPP), paid a courtesy call on her at the Manhyia Palace at the weekend as part of her campaign tour of the Ashanti Region.      The Asantehemaa appealed to political activists, supporters and leaders to strive to conduct their campaigns devoid of provocative statements which had the tendency to throw the country into turmoil.      She commended Mrs Nduom for supporting her husband to achieve his political objectives and said it was time that women gathered momentum and fought for the promotion of their rights.      Mrs Ndoum commended the Asantehemaa for her sterling leadership qualities and called on other queens to emulate this shinning example to improve the welfare of their people. GNA

CPP commends ‘The Pioneer’ newspaper

The Convention People's Party (CPP) has lauded 'The Pioneer', Ghana's oldest independent newspaper for its immense role in sustaining Ghana's democratic dispensation.      Mrs Yvonne Nduom, wife of Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, the CPP flag-bearer said this when she paid a working visit to the offices of the Abura Printing Press, publishers of 'The Pioneer' in Kumasi at the weekend.      The visit formed part of Mrs Nduom's campaign tour of the Ashanti Region to solicit votes to augment the flag-bearer's presidency in the December elections.      It also aimed at affording her the opportunity to come to terms with the achievements and challenges facing the newspaper.      Mrs Nduom, accompanied by the hierarchy of the women's wing and some leading members of the CPP noted that, "since the establishment of the newspaper some 69 years ago, it had come under the barrage of numerous political and socio-economic challenges.      And yet it had managed to keep its composure and policy direction in the dissemination of information which had enhanced the nation's progress".      She said it was high time media practitioners stood up to the challenges associated with their profession to promote free and fair reportage of activities of the political parties.      This, she said, was crucial to ensure peaceful elections while also strengthening the public's confidence in the media.      Mr Johnson Gyampoh, Editor of the 'Pioneer' who welcomed Mrs Nduom and her entourage, commended her for the concern she had shown in the paper's activities.      He said many politicians had in the past made promised to provide the paper with state-of-the-art equipment to facilitate the work but did not fulfil them.      Mr Gyampoh said the newspaper had since time immemorial been fair in their reportage to all political parties and would continue to uphold this principle. GNA

Baah-Wiredu did not condone corruption-Former colleague

Mr. Alabira Ibrahim, former Special Assistant to the late Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, on Sunday extolled him as a very diligent and honest man who did not condone corruption.     He stressed: "I believe that Kwadwo Baah never condoned corruption even if it meant dealing with cases on the quiet… I knew of instances while I worked with him at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, when he said no-thank-you to people and ordered the return of gifts to senders."     Mr. Ibrahim, Former Convention Peoples Party (CPP) Member of Parliament (MP), for Mion, said his intrinsic worth might have endeared President John Agyekum Kufuor to name him as his first Cabinet Minister.      In a tribute made available to the Ghana News Agency, he said: "To say that Kwadwo Baah was very hard working will be an under statement.  Whatever he did, he did with all his might and with all his heart. He was meticulous with the examination of documents however voluminous.      "I came to know Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu as a colleague in the second Parliament of the Fourth Republic (1997-2000). When I lost my seat in the 2000 elections, he invited me to join him at the Ministry of Local Government where I worked as his Special Assistant for about 18 months."      He said as MP he worked closely with him, especially on the Public Accounts Committee of which he was the Vice Chairman.      Mr. Ibrahim said he often chaired the committee sittings because the then Chairman Mr J.H Mensah, was busy performing other duties as Minority Leader.           "Mr Baah-Wiredu attended every scheduled committee meeting and when attendance was low, he could always count on me too to be present and so we became close."     The former MP said Mr. Baah-Wiredu was a workaholic who came to work early and left the office late, sometimes after 2000 hours, when he had cleared his desk.     "He insisted on hard work and would call on officers to discuss their work, give people tasks or listen to reports; he would go round peeping into offices and greeting workers. To the surprise of many, I sometimes accompanied him to the workers canteen downstairs to eat lunch.      "In his Parliamentary duties, his favourite was the yearly Financial Statement (Budget) sent to Parliament for debate and approval.  In those days, Kwadwo Baah would scrutinize the Budget Statement from cover to cover and make copious notes on every page. In later years, when I visited him at the Finance Ministry, I heard him insisting that his secretary should send an advance copy of the Budget to Dr Nii Moi Thomsom of the CPP whose views he respected and cherished."     Mr. Ibrahim said Mr. Baah-Wiredu was a very humble and down to earth person who dressed simply and preferred to wear a tie only for the Chamber of Parliament or for formal occasions.     He noted that, the late Minister did not create an atmosphere of self-importance around him and was always smiling, not insulting or being saucy even when he was heckled on the floor of Parliament.     "One got a sense of how frugal this man was when you visited his house, you would see that, humility permeated the whole household from his wife to his daughters.      "Initially, at the Local Government Ministry, he insisted on using just a small saloon car while in Accra and did so till I left. He preferred using such smaller cars rather than being wasteful in a 4x4 vehicle just to run round Accra."     Mr Ibrahim said he was courteous and respected everyone he encountered, listening to their problems whether official and personal.       "He answered every phone call with a sincere "yes sir" or "senior" without knowing who might be at the other end.  His office door was always open to all and when the queue in his reception was long, he would occasionally pop out to assure the visitors waiting to see him of audience.      "One weekend in 2002, there was a knock on the front door of my flat which was answered by my daughter.  And to her utter surprise Mr Baah-Wiredu was at the door.  He had come to discuss a draft document on decentralisation that I was working on, and which he was to present at a Mini-Consultative Group meeting with the International Monetary Fund the following Monday.  When he left my daughter wondered why he had not called me, but rather chose to come to a subordinate to discuss work!"     Mr Ibrahim described Mr Baah-Wiredu as a very well-organised person who kept a daily record of activities that occurred in diaries, many volumes of which he was sure he filled up during nearly eight years as Cabinet Minister, and the last volume of which would have been with him till he passed away in South Africa.    "I like to end by paraphrasing the words of an old song which goes: Has anybody here seen my friend Kwadwo Baah? Can you tell Ghanaians where he is gone? He worked so hard for Ghana. But it seems the good die young. Ghanaians just looked around and he was gone.      "Kwadwo Baah loved to serve mother Ghana and did it wholeheartedly thus giving meaning to the word "Patriotism.  He was a true Patriot." GNA

NDC parliamentary aspirant vows to win Nsuta-Kwamang-Beposo seat

Mr Donkor Fuseini, National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary aspirant for Nsuta-Kwamang-Beposo Constituency says he is sure to win the seat because the people are crying for change.      The 30-year old health worker is contesting the seat along side Mr Kwame Osei Prempeh, incumbent New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for the Constituency who is also the Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and Mr Asafo Adjei, Director at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) also an NPP who has decided to go solo.      Speaking to the GNA in an interview at Kwamang on Friday, Mr Fuseini said though 30, his involvement in political activities and programmes had made him matured for the position.      He said when given the mandate, he would help the youth to develop their talents to assist in the rapid development of the area as well as improve on their living standards.      Mr Fuseini said he would sponsor brilliant students for the health sector and also help the self-employed.      He said he would promote agriculture, the main stay of the people with small credit facilities to expand and develop their farms so that they could contribute effectively and positively towards the development of the country.        The aspiring MP who did not mince words pointed out that it was time the youth in politics got to know that they were not there to be used as tools for political mischief.      "It is time for us also to take up leadership roles because we have the energy and the strength to do the work because parliamentary work is a service to the people," he said.      Mr Fuseini said as a young man, he had realized the meaningful socio-economic and cultural contributions of the three Paramount Chiefs of Beposo, Kwamang and Nsuta Traditional Areas and he would seek their assistance to enhance the development of the constituency. GNA

NPP Council of Elders sign Book of Condolence

A delegation from the Council of Elders of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), on Saturday visited the Cantonments residence in Accra, of the late Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, former Minister of Finance, to express their condolences to  the bereaved family.       The nine-member delegation was led by Mr Anthony K Deku, Acting Chairman of the Council.       The other members were Mr C.K Tedam, and Alhaji bin Salih, who together with Mr Deku are also Members of the Council of State.       The rest were Professor Daniel Adzei-Bekoe, Professor Yaw Asirifi, Mr Justice Akuamoah Boateng, Mr Gyedu Saffo, Mrs Mary Nartey and Mrs Delphine Oteng.       Mr Deku, on behalf of the delegation, urged the bereaved family to be calm in their moments of grief and sorrow, because "God knows best."       Members of the delegation, later signed a Book of Condolence.            A spokesman for the family, told the delegation that the one-week celebration would be held on Wednesday, October 1, at Asante Akyem Agogo, home-town of the late Finance Minister, who died last Wednesday in a South African Hospital.      Among dignitaries present at the late Minister's residence, was Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Minister of Chieftaincy Affairs.       GNA

West Akyem MCE accuses Sallas-Mensah of inciting Mepom youth

The West Akyem Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Kwabena Sintim-Aboagye, has accused the Member of Parliament for Upper West Akyem, Mr Samuel Salas-Mensah, of inciting the youth of Mepom to vandalize the control room of the Mepom small town water system.      He estimated the cost of damage at GH¢4,900.      Speaking at the second session of the municipal assembly at Asamankese, Mr Sintim Aboagye explained that towns benefiting from the small town water system projec were expected to pay five per cent of the counterpart funding.      He said while the assembly was grappling with the problem of convincing communities to pay their matching fund, Mr. Sallas-Mensah, at a rally at Mepom asked the people not to pay since it was the responsibility of government to provide potable water for the communities.      Mr. Sintim-Aboagye said the end result was that the people later refused to pay and those who had already paid were demanding and harassing the collectors for refund of their monies.   "Clearly this behaviour can deter donor partners from continuing to offer assistance to the municipality and mother Ghana as a whole".       He said, "such a step will adversely affect our development and must be totally condemned by all".      Mr. Sallas-Mensah, who was present was quick on his feet replying that indeed it was the responsibility of government to provide water for communities.      He explained that it was a big burden for communities to bear the counterpart funding and said if even the people were "stripped naked", there was no way they could afford to pay.      He said, if the municipal assembly could buy low tension poles for electrification projects in some communities, they could equally afford to pay the counterpart funding for communities needing water.      Mr. Silas-Mensah cited the case of the Adeiso small town water project, which the government paid the greater part of the counterpart funding of the community through the HIPC fund and said the government should find money to supply water to the people.      Mr. Philip Gyau-Boakye, Chief Executive Officer of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, who was present at the function, explained that donor countries required beneficiary communities to pay five percent counterpart funding since they owned the projects, adding that those projects were demand-driven.      He said it was a rule also set by the World Bank about 15 years and not a decision by the present government. GNA

Street processions associated with political rallies banned in Berekum

The Brong-Ahafo Regional Security Council has with immediate effect, banned street processions associated with political rallies in the Berekum Municipality.      The decision of the Council follows the violent clashes between supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the municipality last Sunday.      A statement signed by Mr. Francis Opoku Boateng, Regional Coordinating Director, said the council took the decision at a meeting after the violent clashes.      It said the meeting discussed and took measures to stop such acts in the run-up to the presidential and parliamentary elections in December this year.      The Council asked security committees to inform political party executives in the municipality about the decision and asked security agencies to strictly enforce the ban.       In a related development, a statement signed by Mr. Lord Oppong Stephen, NDC parliamentary candidate for Berekum has expressed regret for the clash and pledged that "we in the NDC wish that it never happens again".      The statement described as a complete lie claims by Mr. Kwesi Adu Gyan, the  Brong-Ahafo Regional Chairman of the NPP that the NDC was responsible for the clashes.      The statement said the false accusations levelled by the NPP on the NDC on the orchestration of the clash and the rush by the NPP to air their concerns were "nothing but a calculated plan to quickly cover up the 'shit bombing' or smearing of faeces carried out at the party's office on September 14 this year."      "What happened at the roundabout on Sunday was a clear case of NPP supporters and their executives including the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Kwabena Kyere Yeboah and a host of others ambushing and mobbing the peace loving NDC supporters who were returning to Berekum and surrounding communities after a football match at Senase, about two kilometres away from Berekum", the statement said.      The statement described as false the claims that the NDC did not obtain a permit from the police before organising the match.      The statement appealed to the "teeming supporters of the NDC especially the youth to remain calm and resolute and rally behind the party amidst extreme provocation and intimidation knowing that God is definitely on our side so we cannot fail".      It appealed to the NDC supporters and sympathisers both at home and abroad to unite as well as contribute both in kind and cash to support the party. GNA

Police Commander assures political parties of police neutrality

Mr Bernard Dery, Volta Regional Police Commander on Friday assured political parties operating in the region of the neutrality and preparedness of the police to handle all election related issues.      He said the police would give all political parties a level playing ground "without let or hindrance".      Speaking at a press conference in Ho, Mr Dery said 19 Election Task Forces had been formed in the region to maintain peace, law and order before, during and after the elections.      He said the region had about 1,199 polling stations, 15 collating centres and 300 flash points.      Mr Dery said the Inspector-General of Police had undertaken to beef up the 1,300 police personnel number in the region with an additional 300 to meet the exigencies of the election period.      The Police Commander said other security agencies were expected to provide some additional reinforcement to the police strength.      He appealed to all political parties to go by the rules of the game and avoid provocative utterances, insulting behaviour and personality attack.      "Politics should not divide us, Ghana is for Ghanaians and our destiny is in our hands," he said.      Mr Dery appealed to the general public to assist the police in maintaining the peace and expose those who would want to bring anarchy and chaos to the country.      He said: "Enemies of peace, law and order must be avoided," and     appealed to Ghanaians, especially the youth to refrain from acts that would endanger their lives.      He advised people who went about defacing posters of their opponents to refrain from such "unpatriotic act as the law will deal with them drastically if caught". GNA

Presidential aspirants to sign statutory declaration

All candidates contesting the presidential and parliamentary elections in December are mandated to sign a statutory declaration affirming his or her qualification to stand for and be elected for the slot being contested.

"The statutory declaration is to be made before and certified by either a judge, a judicial officer, notary public, commissioner of oaths, or any person authorised by law to administer an oath," Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Friday.

"Any person designated as vice-president for the election is also mandated to sign the statutory declaration, which forms part of requirements on the Election 2008 Nomination Form." The EC on Friday September 26 launched another phase of the electoral process by making nominations forms available for prospective candidates who wish to contest the presidential or parliamentary elections.

Presidential nomination forms are available at the EC headquarters in Accra whilst parliamentary nomination forms are available at the constituency and district offices of the EC.

The 92-page Presidential Nomination Form is divided into four parts. Part one deals details with the candidate's name, age, Voter ID Card number, Polling Station name and code, current residential address, occupation and particulars of two registered voters resident in the area of authority of each district assembly.

Part Two focuses on the Vice Presidential candidate; Part Three is statutory declaration; and Part Four is on the candidate's personal record including date and place of birth, home town, region, highest educational qualification, institution, year completed, present or last employer, position, profession, marital status and spouse. The completed nomination forms for the presidential and parliamentary elections would be received between October 16 and 17 between 9.00 am and 12.00 noon and 2.00 pm and 5.00 pm daily. Nominations for the presidential candidate will be received at the EC headquarters in Accra whilst the parliamentary forms will be received at the constituency and district offices.

The filing fees for the presidential and parliamentary elections are GH¢5,000 and GH¢500 respectively.

Dr Afari-Gyan explained that a candidate stood nominated; "whenever the nomination paper and the statutory declaration of a candidate are delivered and the deposit is paid in accordance with the relevant regulations unless a proof is given to the satisfaction of the returning officer of the death, withdrawal or disqualification of the candidate. The returning officer shall inform a candidate that his or her nomination is invalid where the particulars of the candidate or the persons subscribing to the nomination paper are not as required by law. The candidate would be allowed an opportunity to make any amendment or alteration that the candidate considers necessary. The returning officer will endorse and sign the nomination paper the fact and reasons for his or her decision, and inform the EC accordingly and the Commission shall refer the matter with its observations to the Attorney General.

Source: GNA

Electorate advised to be punctual on voting day

Miss Georgina Opoku Amankwa, Kumasi Metropolitan Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), on Friday advised the electorate to report at their various polling stations on time to enable them to easily cast their votes on 7 December.  She also advised the electorate against double voting unless under proxy, which should be arranged with any Electoral Commission (EC) office at least three months to voting.      Miss Amankwa was speaking at a sensitization forum in Kumasi, organised by the NCCE for identifiable groups in the metropolis to ensure peaceful elections.  The groups, mostly youth clubs which included representatives of some political parties, were targeted for the programme because young people were considered vulnerable to violence.      Miss Amankwa explained that the voting time, between 7am and 5pm would not be extended by the EEC, unless for a legitimate reason to be considered by the Commission.      She urged the youth to exercise their franchise peacefully since it was the only way to elect their favourite parliamentary and presidential candidates.  Miss Amankwa cautioned leaders of political parties not to instigate the youth to cause violence.  She asked agents of the various political parties who would be assisting on 7 December not to obstruct the work of EC Officials.      Miss Amankwa also advised presiding officers not to sign for party agents when they refuse to do so after collating the voting results.  Participants charged the NCCE to be up and doing at all times but not only during elections.  They appealed to government to provide enough resource to the Commission to enable staff work effectively.      Participants also called on parents to advise their children less than 18 years not to vote. GNA

Role of security personnel paramount in Election 2008

Speakers at a workshop on the role of the security services in ensuring peaceful elections in Kumasi, have noted that high degree of neutrality, alertness, and commitment of security personnel to maintaining law and order was paramount in ensuring the success of Election 2008.      They contended that members of the security services in the country were individuals who had personal preferences for the political parties and candidates who would be contesting the polls.      The speakers said despite this, it was essential that security personnel ensured that national interest superseded their personal interest, which they have demonstrated over the years.      The three-day workshop, held for a cross section of the security services was to help them improve on their capacity, to enable them to prevent conflicts and protect the general population to have confidence of the public.      It was organized by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, KAS, one of the seven German political foundations seeking to promote the ideals of good governance across the globe.      The participants called on security agents to exercise their duty without fear, favour or ill will to ensure peace and justice before, during and after the elections.      Mr. Klaus D. Loetzer, Resident Representative of KAS, said both the State and Citizens had a role to play to ensure safety.      He urged Ghanaians to give vital information to the police and corporate with them, especially at political functions.     Mr. Loetzer cautioned the media and leaders of political parties against inflaming passions saying 'Ghanaians have no where to go, there is only one Ghana to live, governance is also one of the several sectors of the country. Ghana has conducted four elections under the fourth Republic and you must not allow this election to wipe the gains so far chalked."      Mr. K.T. Hammond, Deputy Minister of the Interior, said Election 2008 would not only be a real test of the country's democratic credentials but also mark a significant milestone in the its political history.      He said that political manipulations and misunderstandings were major causes of conflicts in most Africa countries.      Mr. Hammond said despite the fact that the recent registration exercise was marred by violence at some centers, government was poised to sustain peace and stability in the country during the elections.      He said "As security agencies you have no choice but to be free, fair, extra vigilant and ensure that those who attempt to foment trouble are put in their proper place".      Mr. Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister said the success or failure of the forthcoming elections would depend largely on the conduct of members of security agencies and urged them to treat everyone equal and remain neutral in the electoral process.     He said "If you remain neutral; you can discharge your duties effectively to win the confidence of the people".      Mr. Emmanuel Debrah, a political science Lecturer at the University of Ghana, suggested that members of the security services undergo training on the administration of electoral process and complaints and evidence of violence should follow proper legal procedures.      Regional Deputy Superintendent of Police, K.A Opare-Addo promised that the police would live up to expectation in the December polls.      Mr. Kofi Asomaning, Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, said a secured environment for participants in any electoral process was fundamental and charged the security agents to work towards violent- free elections. GNA

Vote for dedicated leaders – Wife of PNC flag bearer declares

Mrs Comfort Mahama, wife of the flag bearer of the People's National Convention (PNC), on Friday appealed to the electorate to vote for selfless and dedicated leaders with proven potential of leading the country for accelerated development.      "We need dedicated leaders who have the interest of the people at heart and not those who would try to deceive the electorate with their money, looks and engage in deceptive politicking just to win their votes," Mrs Mahama told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra.      "Ghanaians should cast their vote by taking into consideration the candidate who can deliver when given the mandate and I know many Ghanaians believe that my husband, Dr Edward Nasigrie Mahama, and the PNC, would win this year's election," she said.      Mrs Mahama described the PNC flag bearer as a compromise candidate capable of eliminating inter-party antagonism, especially among the ruling New Patriotic Party and main opposition National Democratic Congress functionaries.      "Dr Mahama stands out among the lot as the most affable, politically mature, with an unblemished reputation both in private and in public life; he is internationally exposed and highly connected; has high diplomatic negotiation skills and ability to work with every Ghanaian, irrespective of one's political background," she said.      Mrs Mahama appealed to both the NPP and NDC to do away with inter-party antagonism, bickering and negative tendencies that had the potential of derailing the December polls and the nation's quest to set standards for Africa multi-party democracy.      She said: "I share the difficulties of most Ghanaians, but I pray that the electorate maintain their composure, not to sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate; you must consider the future of the nation, who among the lot has the capacity and capabilities to rule the country to bring accelerated human centred development."      She urged the electorate to vote massively for Dr Mahama as the man to bring real change in the lives of Ghanaians.      "The number of times my husband stood on the ticket of the PNC to contest the slot for the presidency is enough proof that he is the only candidate who has the welfare of Ghanaians at heart and is dedicated to changing their livelihoods for the better."      Mrs. Mahama urged the electorate to ponder over the policies in the manifesto of all the political parties to enable them to vote wisely during the December elections.      "PNC is the only party that has the welfare of the people at heart and if you give your mandate to the party you would experience a considerable reduction in terms of poverty levels in the country," she said. GNA

Presidential aspirants to sign statutory declaration

All candidates contesting the presidential and parliamentary elections in December are mandated to sign a statutory declaration affirming his or her qualification to stand for and be elected for the slot being contested.      "The statutory declaration is to be made before and certified by either a judge, a judicial officer, notary public, commissioner of oaths, or any person authorised by law to administer an oath," Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Friday.      "Any person designated as vice-president for the election is also mandated to sign the statutory declaration, which forms part of requirements on the Election 2008 Nomination Form."      The EC on Friday September 26 launched another phase of the electoral process by making nominations forms available for prospective candidates who wish to contest the presidential or parliamentary elections.      Presidential nomination forms are available at the EC headquarters in Accra whilst parliamentary nomination forms are available at the constituency and district offices of the EC.      The 92-page Presidential Nomination Form is divided into four parts. Part one deals details with the candidate's name, age, Voter ID Card number, Polling Station name and code, current residential address, occupation and particulars of two registered voters resident in the area of authority of each district assembly.      Part Two focuses on the Vice Presidential candidate; Part Three is statutory declaration; and Part Four is on the candidate's personal record including date and place of birth, home town, region, highest educational qualification, institution, year completed, present or last employer, position, profession, marital status and spouse.      The completed nomination forms for the presidential and parliamentary elections would be received between October 16 and 17 between 9.00 am and 12.00 noon and 2.00 pm and 5.00 pm daily.      Nominations for the presidential candidate will be received at the EC headquarters in Accra whilst the parliamentary forms will be received at the constituency and district offices.      The filing fees for the presidential and parliamentary elections are GH¢5,000 and GH¢500 respectively.      Dr Afari-Gyan explained that a candidate stood nominated; "whenever the nomination paper and the statutory declaration of a candidate are delivered and the deposit is paid in accordance with the relevant regulations unless a proof is given to the satisfaction of the returning officer of the death, withdrawal or disqualification of the candidate.      The returning officer shall inform a candidate that his or her nomination is invalid where the particulars of the candidate or the persons subscribing to the nomination paper are not as required by law.      The candidate would be allowed an opportunity to make any amendment or alteration that the candidate considers necessary.      The returning officer will endorse and sign the nomination paper the fact and reasons for his or her decision, and inform the EC accordingly and the Commission shall refer the matter with its observations to the Attorney General. GNA

Kwaebibirem District Electoral Security task force inaugurated

A nine-member District Electoral Security Task Force has been inaugurated at Kade to ensure peaceful elections in the district in December.      Mr George Aboagye, Presiding Member of the Kwaebibirem District Assembly, in his inaugural address, noted that this year's elections should be seen as a test case in evaluating the country's democracy, particularly in its electoral processes.      He said it was vital for all Ghanaians to ensure the success of the polls.      Mr Aboagye said the security task force would be the first point of contact should there be any disturbance during the electioneering process.      He urged members of the task force to mobilise the necessary logistics ready to enable them respond rapidly to any conflict situation.      Mr Aboagye asked the various political parties to co-operate with the security task force, adding that they should continue preach peace, tolerance and unity to their followers.      "We want to see Ghanaians more united after the general election".      He called on individual members to exhibit high sense of professionalism and judgement so that at the end of the day all contesting groups would be satisfied with the election results.      The Chairman of the task force, Police Superintendent Wisdom Akorli, Kade District Police Commander, pledged to work with commitment and dedication to ensure that there was no election related violence in the district. GNA

CPP mourns Baah-Wiredu

The Convention People's Party (CPP) on Friday joined other political parties in mourning the sudden passing of the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu.     A statement signed by Ivor Kobina Greenstreet in Accra offered the party's condolences to the family of the late minister.      It said: "The Honourable Baah-Wiredu was a humble approachable, hardworking and dedicated servant of the nation with a great capacity for attention to detail.      "Ghana has lost an extraordinary man and a first class gentleman. May his soul rest in peace." GNA

Security services urged to cooperate with political parties

The Northern Regional Elections Security Taskforce (RESTF) has been urged to cooperate with the various political parties and the media to ensure violence-free elections.      The Taskforce has in particular been urged to ensure that no two political parties held rallies on the same day and in the same town in order to avoid clashes among their supporters.      Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Northern Regional Minister, made this call when he inaugurated an eight-member RESTF as part of efforts to provide maximum security for the conduct of the 2008 elections in the Region.      The Regional Minister urged the Taskforce to hold meetings with the leadership of the political parties to know their programmes to avoid misunderstandings and also to ensure free flow of information between it and the media.      DCOP Ofosu-Mensah Gyeabour, Regional Police Commander is the Chairman of the Taskforce.      Members of the Taskforce include the Regional Security Co-ordinator; Regional Directors of Prisons, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Immigration Service and Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and the Regional Commander of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS).      Co-opted members of the Taskforce are the Regional Director of Information Service Department and the Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC).      Alhaji Idris impressed upon the members of the Taskforce to be neutral, fair, firm and resolute in the discharge of their duties and urged them to exhibit high sense professionalism.      He urged them to strictly enforce the rules of the elections while at the same time endeavouring to win public confidence.      He said Ghana had taken a cue from the election disputes that had led to violence in countries such as Kenya and Zimbabwe and was putting in place strategic measures to forestall similar disturbances in the country.         The Taskforce would among other things, maintain law and order throughout the Region; provide the desirable peace and secured environment for successful elections in December 2008.      It is also to provide secured environment for smooth campaign by all political parties and an enabling atmosphere for the updating of the Voters Register.      The Taskforce would assist the EC to send election materials and personnel to all polling stations, particularly to the inaccessible areas.      It would help to identify all flash points and provide maximum security in those areas and also maintain close liaison with the EC and monitor post election activities to maintain law and order.      DCOP Gyeabour said the Taskforce would ensure effective policing and maintain law and order and also conduct investigations into any disputes and ensure the free flow of traffic on Election Day. GNA

CPP would live up to expectation- Dr Nduom

The Convention People's Party (CPP) would live up to expectation to make the country an enviable place to live in, if given the nod by the electorate in the upcoming elections, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, the Party's presidential candidate said on Friday.  Speaking at a forum at Essikado, near Sekondi, to begin a campaign tour of the Western Region, he said the CPP would not disappoint the people as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) have done.  CPP, he said, was determined to win political power once again and appealed to the electorate to vote for the Party to enable it to prove its competence in the management of the country's affairs.  Dr Nduom said Essikado was the cradle of the CPP and, therefore, expected the people of the Western Region and Essikado in particular, to vote massively for the Party.  "The people of the Western Region and for that matter Essikado, have the responsibility to give their full support for the CPP because of the special historical bond between them," he said.  He said the CPP had a strategic plan for the expansion and development of the Takoradi Harbour and the railway transportation system that would provide jobs for the people, adding that in order to make this a reality, the people must give their mandate to the Party in the December Elections.  A government of the CPP would also establish a petrochemical industry in the Region to enhance job opportunities for the youth, he said   The CPP Flag Bearer also said the Party had an edge over the other political parties because it understood the country's challenges better and abhorred violence as a campaign strategy.  Dr Nduom promised to discourage pair trawling to boost the operations of local fishermen.  Mr Mike Eghan, National Treasurer of the Party, said the electorate must give their mandate to the CPP, since the NPP and the NDC have disappointed them woefully.  Dr Nduom introduced Mr John Eghan, the Party's Parliamentary Candidate for Essikado-Kettan Constituency to the people and urged them to vote for him. GNA

Agona West Constituency needs good political leadership- Candidate

Mr Samuel Oppong, an aspiring independent candidate for the Agona West constituency, has stated that, the area needs a quality, dynamic and visionary Member of Parliament (MP) for accelerated growth and development.      He said the constituency had been deprived of good roads, education and health infrastructures for the past eight years.      Mr Oppong said this when he launched his campaign at Agona Nyakrom on Friday to solicit votes from the electorate in the December 7, Parliamentary election.      Mr Oppong, who is a native of Nyakrom, urged the citizens to vote for him for improved social services.      He noted that Nyakrom, as a Paramount seat of Omanhene, lacked many social amenities such as market, lorry park, a community centre and accessible roads "because they had a visionless leader as their representative in parliament".      Mr Oppong, a former National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Agona West, from 1996-2000, expressed his concern about the low educational standards in the town and pledged to set up an Education Standard Committee to take oversight responsibility of education.      He said when voted as MP, he would use part of his MP's common fund to employ teachers to offer free lessons for the children, adding that student Unions at Nyakrom would also be encouraged to assist in improving education in the area.      Mr Oppong noted that the Education Committee would also offer career counselling to students in Senior High and the universities.      He said he would also assist unearth talented young footballers from Nyakrom.      The aspiring MP pledged to build a modern community centre with internet facilities, to enable the students and pupils to acquire ICT skills.      Mr Oppong promised to develop the Nyakrom Victoria Park into a modern durbar ground, where social gatherings could be held, especially during the Annual Akwambo festival.      Nana Kontor, Apagyahene of Agona Nyakrom urged the people to vote for Mr Oppong because he was contesting as an Independent candidate.      He said the people of the town saw his performance when he was elected as MP eight years ago and expressed the hope that if the mandate is given to him again, the development in the area would definitely improve. GNA

NPP campaign bases on truth and not propaganda

Mrs Agnes Okudzeto, First Vice-Chairperson of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), said on Friday that the party's campaign guiding principle was the graphic presentation of achievements of the party for assessment by the people.      She said that explains why the executive structure of the party at all levels had no position for a propaganda officer.      Mrs Okudzeto was addressing a durbar of mainly women party activists in the South–Dayi constituency at Tongor-Dzemeni on Friday.      Mrs Okudzeto, who accompanied Mrs Rebecca Akufo Addo, wife of NPP flag bearer on a two-day tour of the Volta Region, said propaganda, which entailed craftily using lies and half truths to win sympathy of people, was not part of the NPP style.      She said NPP performance was inviolable and could not be erased by messages and images of lies by other parties.      Mr Kofi Dzamesi, Volta Regional Minister, who was on the trip said projects the NPP government brought to the Dzemeni had established a bond between the party and the people there, which could not be broken by dishonest representations by other parties or individuals.      Mrs Akufo-Addo who commenced her tour at Juapong with a meeting with market women continued to Nkwanta and Kpassa in the northern part of the region.      Her programme hit a snag when on her return from Kpassa, the entire retinue including some wives of defeated aspirants to the NPP presidential candidature, Mr Dzamesi, party activists and hangers-on were held up for about two hours behind an articulated truck carrying scrap and a bus, stuck deep in mud on a partially completed culvert.     Mrs Akufo-Addo had told a rally at Kpassa that the roads in the area would be of paramount concern for her husband when he was elected president.      At all her stops, including Kadjebi she extolled the NPP policies of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), School Feeding Programme, Capitation Grant, infrastructure build-up.      The trip which should have continued to Ho and Dzodze was called off due to the death of the Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Finance and Economic Planning Minister. GNA