Special Voting Will Not Be Counted Ahead Of Election Day - Supreme Court

GHANA ELECTIONS 2016 DAILY NEWS MEDIA REVIEW – 15TH NOVEMBER, 2016

Barely 23 days to the December 7 polls, have issues of threat to national security emanating from clashes between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) dominated headlines of various news media for today.

According to the Daily Graphic headline, ‘Special voting will not be counted ahead of Election Day – Supreme Court’. According to the story, the Supreme Court yesterday, unanimously dismissed a suit which had prayed it to direct the Electoral Commission to declare the result of the special voting exercise ahead of the elections. According to the Court, granting such request will “gravely prejudice the secrecy of the ballot of the easily identifiable voters concern, contrary to Article 49 (1) of the 1992 Constitution”. Daily Guide also has its headline “Supreme Court Dismisses Special voting Suit”. In the story, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, yesterday dismissed the case brought against the Electoral Commission (EC) over the counting of the ballots in the special voting. The seven-member panel of judges, presided over by Justice William Atuguba, said the case of the plaintiffs  - Dr Amoako Tuffour, Benjamin Arthur and Adreba Abrefa Damoa, was in contravention of the provisions of the 1992 constitution. In a similar vein, the Ghanaian Times has its caption ‘Supreme Court rejects suit on special voting’. The story says the Supreme Court yesterday dismissed an application filed by Dr. Amoaka Tuffour and two others for the special voting on December 1, to be counted by the Electoral Commission (EC). In a unanimous decision by the seven-member panel presided by Justice William Atuguba, the court said the action of the plaintiff to seek an order to compel the EC to count and declare the results of special voting was premature and unconstitutional. On the same issue, the Today newspaper, carries the headline “Supreme Court throws out special voting case”. The story says, the Supreme Court has struck out a suit brought before it by an activist of the New Patriotic Party, Dr Amoako Tuffour and two others, praying the Court to direct the Electoral Commission to count and declare the results of the special voting on the same day it is cast. The apex Court explained that declaring the direction of the vote would prejudice the election since the participants are usually the personnel from the various security agencies, journalists among others whose services would be needed on the election day.

Other stories in some the dailies are as follows: According to the Daily Graphic, “Nkrumah Interchange inaugurated to boost traffic in Accra”. According to the story, Accra celebrated the opening of the iconic Kwame Nkrumah Circle Interchange with a breathtaking ceremony last night. A demonstration of Ghana’s growing socio-economic infrastructure, the three-tier interchange, constructed to replace the old Kwame Nkrumah Circle, was officially opened by President John Dramani Mahama, who said: “This is the day that the Lord has made”

According to the Statesman, “Nana Akuffo-Addo Calls for Calm among Supportes”. In the story, the Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo Addo has called on the rank and file of his party to remain calm in the face of last Sunday’s unprovoked attack on his residence by members of the governing NDC.

The Finder has its headline, “We’ll cancel, deny you visa – US Embassy warns trouble makers”. According story, the United States of America has condemned all political violence in Ghana, especially any violence act directed at political candidates, their homes or family. In a statement issued by Sarah Veldhuizen Stealy, Press Attaché, US Embassy, Accra, stated that while campaigns can be vigorous and sometimes contentious, violence has no place in the electoral process.

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This news media review is made possible with funding from the INDIGO Trust.