Two incidents, one accident and the other orchestrated, nearly marred the campaign of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Accra on Wednesday.
The plotted one started when some unidentified people at Kokomba Market in Accra pelted stones, broken bottles, sachet water and other items at the Nana Akufo-Addo campaign and other by standers resulting in the injury of some people.
This was after the flag bearer had addressed a rally and was on his way to commission a party office. The timely intervention of the police saved the situation.
Some of the wooden structures around the area were also set ablaze, while people suspected to be part of the culprits were arrested by the police.
Just after the pelting incident, the team headed to the Odowna and from there to the Holy Gardens at Circle at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, where the platform on which the Nana Akufo-Addo and other leading members of the party who were addressing supporters collapsed around 6.45 pm.
Miraculously, none was injured while those who were sitting and standing on the platform maintained their positions after the collapse. Those on the platform included Mr Ken Agyapong, the MP for Assin North, Mr Dan Botwe, a former General Secretary of the NPP, Ms Vicky Bright, a Minister at the Presidency, Ms Gloria Akufo, Ghana High Commissioner to Ireland, Prof Mike Oquaye, MP for Dome-Kwabenya, Mr Alan Kyerematen, a former Minister of State.
It occurred when Mr. Alan Kyerematen was urging the party faithful to wholeheartedly welcome all the NDC members who have decided to join the NPP due to the NPP's good governance record.
Just after uttering these words, the height of the two-metre platform was razed to the ground but the canopies mounted on the platform still stood as the platform was without stands.
Spontaneously, most of the supporters who saw the collapse of the platform shouted 'Jesus'.
This did not deter the NPP presidential candidate from introducing the Nii Adjei Tawiah the NPP parliamentary candidate for Kottey Korley constituency.
He also urged the people not to be down hearted by the incident and promised the people that he would organised another rally at the area.
All these occurred when during the an 12-hour campaign tour of the NPP flag bearer of the Klottey Korle and Odododiodoo constituencies in Accra on Wednesday where he addressed supporters at eight areas.
Addressing the party supporters at the various mini rallies, he asked Ghanaians to be warry of politicians who play the ethnic card to score cheap political point.
He said such politicians were not for the good and unity of the country but were after their parochial interest irrespective of the what happened to the cohesion of the nation.
" Former President Rawlings had been going round telling the people of the Volta Region not to vote for the NPP because it was an Ashanti party", he alleged.
He condemned the said allegation and added that "Ghana and NPP are made up of people of all religion and ethnic groups and that it was not true that the NPP is an Asahanti party".
Nana Akufo-Addo said there was no justification for the people of Ghana to vote back the National Democratic Congress (NDC) because after 19 years in government they left an empty coffers.
He said but through the ingenuity and good policies of the NPP, the Ghanaian economy of the country had been put on track and was ready to take off.
"When we took office in 2001, they told us there was no way we could pay salaries and also manage the country, because there was nothing in the coffers, but to their amazement we have put the economy back of track", he added.
Other speakers include, Messrs Kyerematen, Kennedy Agyapong, Kwabena Adjei Agyapong, Ms Bright.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Be specific in condemning political violence attacks
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has asked religious bodies, the press and all peace loving Ghanaians not to hesitate to name and shame specific political parties that initiate violent acts.
“We must call things by their proper names. The tendency to blame both parties when clearly one of us is at fault encourages extremists on both sides.
“For example, reports of those incidents in Accra and resulting commentary that do not forthright condemn the NDC members who clearly had no schedule event and had no business being there, do not promote peace”, the party said.
Mr Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, Chairman of the NPP Campaign Team was addressing the press about the last Wednesday attack on the campaign team of Nana Adoo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, NPP flag bearer at Agbogbloshie in Accra today.
He said when Ghanaians fail to name and shame specific perpetrators of violent acts but decide to blame both the victims and culprits, it excludes accountability for what was happening.
He also called on security agencies to act more forcefully to prevent the outbreak of violent political events and those who were caught and found guilty must face the full rigours of the law, because “when those who plan and execute acts of violence are not dealt with, others lose confidence in the system and tend to take the law into their own hands.
Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey, also suggested that as the elections drew near, there should be more combined military-police patrols, especially around areas considered as flash points and also provide adequate security for political parties during campaigns.
He appealed to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) leadership to re-examine their motives and change their ways so that their actions would not be more supportive of peace and stability before, during and after the December 7 polls.
On the last Wednesday attacks on the NPP team, did not know what the NDC members who allegedly undertook the attacks were doing at a place where they have no schedule event adding that “it is clear that the NDC supporters went there with the sole purpose of disrupting the NPP event.
He said last the Tuesday Nana Akufo-Addo showed exemplary leadership which was worth emulating, this was when after filing his nomination, he personally ensured that all the NPP supporters left the Electoral Commission (EC) vicinity before the NDC supporters arrived with the presidential candidate, Prof JEA Mills.
“This was done and there was no violence. That is the hallmark of leadership. We expect that all leaders will act in a similar manner to minimise the chances of violence when more than one party needs to be in a place at the same time”, Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey.
He said the NDC had continuously invoking the recent instabilities in Kenya and Zimbabwe, stating that Ghana would have similar experience and like false prophets, working hard to make their dire prediction a reality.
He said they had begun this by condemning everything the EC was doing, to the extent of rejecting the transparent boxes during the balloting for a place on the ballot for the December polls.
Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey said the NDC had also planted misleading articles to create the impression that violence was inevitable.
He sited the example of an analysis by Sebastian Spio- Garbrah, the son of NDC aspirants, Dr Ekwow Spio Garbrah asserting that when the result were declared and it was favouring the NPP, there would be violence starting from some part of Accra.
“We must call things by their proper names. The tendency to blame both parties when clearly one of us is at fault encourages extremists on both sides.
“For example, reports of those incidents in Accra and resulting commentary that do not forthright condemn the NDC members who clearly had no schedule event and had no business being there, do not promote peace”, the party said.
Mr Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, Chairman of the NPP Campaign Team was addressing the press about the last Wednesday attack on the campaign team of Nana Adoo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, NPP flag bearer at Agbogbloshie in Accra today.
He said when Ghanaians fail to name and shame specific perpetrators of violent acts but decide to blame both the victims and culprits, it excludes accountability for what was happening.
He also called on security agencies to act more forcefully to prevent the outbreak of violent political events and those who were caught and found guilty must face the full rigours of the law, because “when those who plan and execute acts of violence are not dealt with, others lose confidence in the system and tend to take the law into their own hands.
Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey, also suggested that as the elections drew near, there should be more combined military-police patrols, especially around areas considered as flash points and also provide adequate security for political parties during campaigns.
He appealed to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) leadership to re-examine their motives and change their ways so that their actions would not be more supportive of peace and stability before, during and after the December 7 polls.
On the last Wednesday attacks on the NPP team, did not know what the NDC members who allegedly undertook the attacks were doing at a place where they have no schedule event adding that “it is clear that the NDC supporters went there with the sole purpose of disrupting the NPP event.
He said last the Tuesday Nana Akufo-Addo showed exemplary leadership which was worth emulating, this was when after filing his nomination, he personally ensured that all the NPP supporters left the Electoral Commission (EC) vicinity before the NDC supporters arrived with the presidential candidate, Prof JEA Mills.
“This was done and there was no violence. That is the hallmark of leadership. We expect that all leaders will act in a similar manner to minimise the chances of violence when more than one party needs to be in a place at the same time”, Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey.
He said the NDC had continuously invoking the recent instabilities in Kenya and Zimbabwe, stating that Ghana would have similar experience and like false prophets, working hard to make their dire prediction a reality.
He said they had begun this by condemning everything the EC was doing, to the extent of rejecting the transparent boxes during the balloting for a place on the ballot for the December polls.
Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey said the NDC had also planted misleading articles to create the impression that violence was inevitable.
He sited the example of an analysis by Sebastian Spio- Garbrah, the son of NDC aspirants, Dr Ekwow Spio Garbrah asserting that when the result were declared and it was favouring the NPP, there would be violence starting from some part of Accra.
NPP cannot be trusted — NDC
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) cannot be trusted with regard to its overtures to collaborate towards a peaceful elections.
It said the NDC was committed to peace and stability during the elections, however “a party that is busily lying about free education, free healthcare, free bus ride and deliberately shielding its supporters who are breaking the law cannot be trusted”.
Mr Fiifi Kwetey, the Propaganda Secretary of the NDC, stated this at a press conference at the party’s headquarters in Accra on Monday in response to the NPP’s accusation that the NDC was planning to plunge Ghana into chaos to prepare the way for power sharing.
Recently, the National Chairman of the NPP, Mr Peter Mac Manu, called on his NDC colleagues to collaborate with the security agencies to ensure a peaceful elections.
According to Mr Mac Manu, he had written a letter to his colleague in the NDC and was awaiting a reply and possible implementation of the suggestions.
On the alleged preparation by the NDC for power sharing, Mr Kwetey denied the existence of such a move and said the NDC unlike the NPP had over the years proved beyond all reasonable doubt that it was committed to democratic process.
This, he said, was amply demonstrated when the NDC in 2000 presided over a smooth election and handed over peacefully to the NPP.
He said prior to the 2000 elections, the NDC government ensured a complete revision of the 1992 register, introduced transparent ballot boxes and colour photo ID cards, annual opening of the voter register for those who had attained voting age and public display of election results at the constituency and national levels.
He said Ghanaians and the NDC did not need a power sharing government but an end to NPP-rule, which had been characterised by corruption, cocaine trafficking and usaege, rise in crime, deception, broken promises and rise in cost of living.
Mr Kwetey said Prof J.E.A. Mills, the NDC presidential candidate, had no plans in sharing power with his NPP counterpart, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, whose campaign had been marked by deception and empty promises.
He said in all cases of power sharing in Africa, it had been occasioned by the refusal of an incumbent party to accept defeat after it had lost an election and not when an opposition party had been defeated.
He explained that the NDC’s Director of International Affairs, Mr Kofi Attoh, who was being accused of going to Kenya to learn the power sharing deal, was indeed in Kenya but at the behest of the Frederich Erbert Foundation as a resource person at an international seminar.
Mr Kwetey said it was the NPP that called for power sharing during a meeting after the 2000 election moderated by the Christian Council whose secretary outlined the NPP’s demands to include 50 per cent of all parliamentary seats and 40 per cent of executive positions.
He said it was ironic that the NPP would call the NDC violent because the NPP and its antecedent had been violent to the extent of throwing bombs to destabilise the country during Kwame Nkrumah’s regime.
He said their presidential primaries to the election of their parliamentary aspirants had been full of bloody incidents and later extended to supporters of the NDC.
It said the NDC was committed to peace and stability during the elections, however “a party that is busily lying about free education, free healthcare, free bus ride and deliberately shielding its supporters who are breaking the law cannot be trusted”.
Mr Fiifi Kwetey, the Propaganda Secretary of the NDC, stated this at a press conference at the party’s headquarters in Accra on Monday in response to the NPP’s accusation that the NDC was planning to plunge Ghana into chaos to prepare the way for power sharing.
Recently, the National Chairman of the NPP, Mr Peter Mac Manu, called on his NDC colleagues to collaborate with the security agencies to ensure a peaceful elections.
According to Mr Mac Manu, he had written a letter to his colleague in the NDC and was awaiting a reply and possible implementation of the suggestions.
On the alleged preparation by the NDC for power sharing, Mr Kwetey denied the existence of such a move and said the NDC unlike the NPP had over the years proved beyond all reasonable doubt that it was committed to democratic process.
This, he said, was amply demonstrated when the NDC in 2000 presided over a smooth election and handed over peacefully to the NPP.
He said prior to the 2000 elections, the NDC government ensured a complete revision of the 1992 register, introduced transparent ballot boxes and colour photo ID cards, annual opening of the voter register for those who had attained voting age and public display of election results at the constituency and national levels.
He said Ghanaians and the NDC did not need a power sharing government but an end to NPP-rule, which had been characterised by corruption, cocaine trafficking and usaege, rise in crime, deception, broken promises and rise in cost of living.
Mr Kwetey said Prof J.E.A. Mills, the NDC presidential candidate, had no plans in sharing power with his NPP counterpart, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, whose campaign had been marked by deception and empty promises.
He said in all cases of power sharing in Africa, it had been occasioned by the refusal of an incumbent party to accept defeat after it had lost an election and not when an opposition party had been defeated.
He explained that the NDC’s Director of International Affairs, Mr Kofi Attoh, who was being accused of going to Kenya to learn the power sharing deal, was indeed in Kenya but at the behest of the Frederich Erbert Foundation as a resource person at an international seminar.
Mr Kwetey said it was the NPP that called for power sharing during a meeting after the 2000 election moderated by the Christian Council whose secretary outlined the NPP’s demands to include 50 per cent of all parliamentary seats and 40 per cent of executive positions.
He said it was ironic that the NPP would call the NDC violent because the NPP and its antecedent had been violent to the extent of throwing bombs to destabilise the country during Kwame Nkrumah’s regime.
He said their presidential primaries to the election of their parliamentary aspirants had been full of bloody incidents and later extended to supporters of the NDC.
EU to deploy 60-member observer team
FOR the first time in Ghana’s Fourth Republican democratic dispensation, the European Union (EU) is to send a 60-member Electoral Observer Mission for the December 7 polls.
The first batch of 24 will be in the country from November, 2008 to January, 2009 while the second batch known as the short-term group will monitor from December 4, 2008 to December 9, 2008.
Mr Filiberto C. Sebregondi, Ambassador and Head of the EU delegation in Ghana, announced this at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the EU and the Electoral Commission (EC) in Accra yesterday.
Mr Sebregondi signed for the EU while Dr Kwadwo Afari Gyan, the Chairman of the EC, initialled for the EC.
Apart from the EU, the Economic Community of West African States has indicated its readiness to send in a 200-member observer team, while the Carter Centre will also send a team.
Mr Sebregondi said EU election observations were based on the principles of independence, impartiality, transparency, long-term observation and professionalism.
In 2000, the EU developed a standard methodology for election observation, which covers all phases of the election cycle from pre-election, election day and immediate post-election.
Mr Sebregondi said EU Election Observation Missions did not interfere in the organisation of any election but collected and analysed factual information concerning the election process and provided public assessment.
Dr Afari Gyan said although Ghana had come far with elections, both local and international observer teams were still needed in the December polls to give an independent and objective assessment of the election.
He said a team like the EU was needed because of its experience in monitoring 58 elections worldwide, its time-tested and objective systematic monitoring techniques and pronouncement of verdict.
He said EU observer teams offered objective verdict “because they do not have immediate stakes in the elections”.
The first batch of 24 will be in the country from November, 2008 to January, 2009 while the second batch known as the short-term group will monitor from December 4, 2008 to December 9, 2008.
Mr Filiberto C. Sebregondi, Ambassador and Head of the EU delegation in Ghana, announced this at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the EU and the Electoral Commission (EC) in Accra yesterday.
Mr Sebregondi signed for the EU while Dr Kwadwo Afari Gyan, the Chairman of the EC, initialled for the EC.
Apart from the EU, the Economic Community of West African States has indicated its readiness to send in a 200-member observer team, while the Carter Centre will also send a team.
Mr Sebregondi said EU election observations were based on the principles of independence, impartiality, transparency, long-term observation and professionalism.
In 2000, the EU developed a standard methodology for election observation, which covers all phases of the election cycle from pre-election, election day and immediate post-election.
Mr Sebregondi said EU Election Observation Missions did not interfere in the organisation of any election but collected and analysed factual information concerning the election process and provided public assessment.
Dr Afari Gyan said although Ghana had come far with elections, both local and international observer teams were still needed in the December polls to give an independent and objective assessment of the election.
He said a team like the EU was needed because of its experience in monitoring 58 elections worldwide, its time-tested and objective systematic monitoring techniques and pronouncement of verdict.
He said EU observer teams offered objective verdict “because they do not have immediate stakes in the elections”.
Nana Akufu-Addo launches ‘Believe in Ghana”
The Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, will on Friday launch the “I believe in Ghana” concept at the Independent Square.
According to the National Organiser of the NPP, Mr Lord Commey , the launch was part of the party’s weekly campaign activities.
The launch is expected to attract old and new musicians .
He said the occasion would be used to showcase some Ghanaian businessmen, entrepreneurs and academicians who believed in Ghana, and had made it in life, to tell their story to motivate the youth to also believe in Ghana.
“Our presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, will tell his story of how he was born in Accra, boxed in Bukom, grew up in Swalaba and made it in Ghana as a young Ghanaian lawyer”, he added.
He said the launch of the programme was open to all Ghanaians irrespective of their political affiliations, and that “Nana Akufo-Addo would embark on the move for a change of attitude of all youth”.
Mr Commey said Nana Akufo-Addo would set the tone for Ghanaians to change their attitude, using himself as an example that when Ghanaians became disciplined they would achieve a lot.
According to the National Organiser of the NPP, Mr Lord Commey , the launch was part of the party’s weekly campaign activities.
The launch is expected to attract old and new musicians .
He said the occasion would be used to showcase some Ghanaian businessmen, entrepreneurs and academicians who believed in Ghana, and had made it in life, to tell their story to motivate the youth to also believe in Ghana.
“Our presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, will tell his story of how he was born in Accra, boxed in Bukom, grew up in Swalaba and made it in Ghana as a young Ghanaian lawyer”, he added.
He said the launch of the programme was open to all Ghanaians irrespective of their political affiliations, and that “Nana Akufo-Addo would embark on the move for a change of attitude of all youth”.
Mr Commey said Nana Akufo-Addo would set the tone for Ghanaians to change their attitude, using himself as an example that when Ghanaians became disciplined they would achieve a lot.
EC re-launched website
THE Electoral Commission (EC) last Thursday re-launched its website, www.ec.gov.gh, to educate and inform the world about the commission.
Launching the website, a Deputy Chairman of the EC, Mr David Kanga, expressed the hope that the website would serve as a medium to educate people about their electoral responsibilities.
He said media practitioners who browsed the website would be well-informed about the workings of the EC to enable them to educate Ghanaians.
The website was first launched in 2000 but had become inactive because of some technical difficulties.
Mr Hebert Akomea, Information Technology Director at the EC, said the website contained almost every information about the commission; from the laws setting out the commission, names and positions of career staff, names of constituencies and gender statistcics.
He added that other information on the website included voting and registration process as well as the dos and don’ts at any polling station.
Launching the website, a Deputy Chairman of the EC, Mr David Kanga, expressed the hope that the website would serve as a medium to educate people about their electoral responsibilities.
He said media practitioners who browsed the website would be well-informed about the workings of the EC to enable them to educate Ghanaians.
The website was first launched in 2000 but had become inactive because of some technical difficulties.
Mr Hebert Akomea, Information Technology Director at the EC, said the website contained almost every information about the commission; from the laws setting out the commission, names and positions of career staff, names of constituencies and gender statistcics.
He added that other information on the website included voting and registration process as well as the dos and don’ts at any polling station.
Prez Mills asks DECs to stay at post
THE President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, has directed all sitting district, municipal and metropolitan chief executives to be at post until further notice.
He said nothing indicated that they should vacate their positions when there was a change of government and that they must ensure that there was continuous functioning of government business in their areas of jurisdiction.
The Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Mahama Ayariga, who said this on behalf of the President, added that Prof Mills gave the directive because there was information that some chief executives vacated their posts when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was pronounced the winner of the 2008 elections.
He noted that as stated by the law, the chief executives could leave office only when they resigned, were impeached by the assembly or fired by the President, adding that since none of those had occurred, they should all stay at post.
He described the said vacation of posts by the chief executives as “worrying” and noted that as promised by the President in his inaugural address, the Mills administration would hit the ground running and would not leave any room for witch-hunt, political vendetta and the blame game.
The President is expected to nominate 138 people of his choice who will be confirmed or rejected by their various assemblies for a four-year term.
But the President has the power and authority to remove any of the chief executives without assigning reasons.
In 2001 when there was a change of government from the NDC to the NPP administration, the new government ordered all the chief executives to vacate their offices and residences.
Their end-of-service benefits took a long time to be paid because, according to the new administration, the chief executives were being investigated.
With that as a guide, some serving chief executives, in anticipation of similar treatment, vacated their posts and packed from their official residences when the results of the 2008 presidential elections were declared.
He said nothing indicated that they should vacate their positions when there was a change of government and that they must ensure that there was continuous functioning of government business in their areas of jurisdiction.
The Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Mahama Ayariga, who said this on behalf of the President, added that Prof Mills gave the directive because there was information that some chief executives vacated their posts when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was pronounced the winner of the 2008 elections.
He noted that as stated by the law, the chief executives could leave office only when they resigned, were impeached by the assembly or fired by the President, adding that since none of those had occurred, they should all stay at post.
He described the said vacation of posts by the chief executives as “worrying” and noted that as promised by the President in his inaugural address, the Mills administration would hit the ground running and would not leave any room for witch-hunt, political vendetta and the blame game.
The President is expected to nominate 138 people of his choice who will be confirmed or rejected by their various assemblies for a four-year term.
But the President has the power and authority to remove any of the chief executives without assigning reasons.
In 2001 when there was a change of government from the NDC to the NPP administration, the new government ordered all the chief executives to vacate their offices and residences.
Their end-of-service benefits took a long time to be paid because, according to the new administration, the chief executives were being investigated.
With that as a guide, some serving chief executives, in anticipation of similar treatment, vacated their posts and packed from their official residences when the results of the 2008 presidential elections were declared.
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