Judiciary ready to handle electoral disputes - Chief Justice

With 19 days to Ghana’s 2016 general elections, the news media was dominated by a mixed bag of story headlines ranging from campaign promises by the various presidential candidates and the assurance by the Judiciary to handle electoral disputes.

The Ghanaian Times with the headline “Judiciary ready to handle electoral disputes – Chief Justice” The chief Justice, Mrs. Justice Georgina Wood, has reiterated the judiciary’s commitment to diligently and expeditiously deal with electoral disputes that would arise before, during and after the December polls to safeguard the country’s democratic gains. According to the Chief Justice, the judiciary, as the true custodian and guardian of the rule of law, was duty bound to guide the country toward peaceful, orderly and credible elections, adding that it was prepared adequately to meet constitutional obligation.

“PPP targets more seats in parliamentary elections” is also a headline in Today. According to the story the presidential candidate of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr. Papa Kwesi nduom, says his party is hopeful of winning more parliamentary seats in the 10 regions of the country. According to him, the PPP fielded about 166 parliamentary candidates out of the 275 constituencies which he was very optimistic of their chances to win more seats.

The Ghanaian Times also has its headline “Soldiers warned against acts promoting Violence”. The paper reports that the officers and men of the Armed Forces have been asked not to engage in any acts that can mar the forthcoming elections. The Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Maxwell M. Y. Nagal, gave the advice in Accra yesterday, at the inauguration of a renovated Junior Ranks Mess and outdooring of the new instruments for the Silver Wings Dance Band of the Ghana Armed Forces.

The Daily Graphic with the caption “My record in fight against corruption unparalleled – Prez Mahama” states that President John Dramani Mahama has touted the achievement of his government as far as the fight against corruption is concerned and indicated that, his personal commitment to expose corruption is unmatched in the governance history of the country. He said unlike some former leaders who indicated that they would not expose corruption to bring down their government, he had taken the bold decision to expose corruption in his government.

The Ghanaian Lens with the headline “Prez Mahama responds to Amidu’s lies”. According to the story, President John Dramani Mahama has rubbish claims suggesting that he ordered  the country’s Attorney  General to discontinue an oral cross examination of Mr. Alfred Agbesi Woyome at the supreme  Court in  the case that sought to retrieve GHC51 million illegally paid to the  Ghanaian  businessman. Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice. Mr. Martin Amidu had made the allegation against the President in an application to the Supreme Court to be given the opportunity to orally cross examine Mr. Woyome.

The Daily Post “EC sets out rules for closing polls” The Electoral Commission (EC) says the December Polls would close at all polling stations at 1700 hours on Election Day. According to the EC’s 2016 Presidential and Parliamentary Manual tagged ‘A Guide to Voters’’ made available to the Ghana News Agency in Accra says at the close of polls, all persons in the queue waiting  to vote at that hour, must however be allowed to vote. The Presiding Officer (PO) should consequently, request the security personnel to stand at the end of the queue and ensure that no one joins in afterwards.

The Ghanaian observer- “I’ll never campaign again along ethnicity and tribalism - Akuffo Addo”. According to Ghanaian Observer, the 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, has stated that, unlike President Mahama, he will never tell the people of his home region to vote for him simply because he hails from there. According to Nana Akuffo-Addo, he has and will never campaign along the lines of ethnicity and tribalism, but will rather campaign on the basis of competence, coupled with programmes and policies that will return Ghana onto the path of progress and prosperity.

We end today’s newspaper review with the headline in the Enquirer “Fear Grips NDC Adherents”. The paper reports that  with about 20 days to the general elections, a section of the electorate who are known supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Sekyeredumase constituency and its environs in the Ashanti region have been hiding to avoid intimidation and violent attacks by thugs of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Enquirer gathered. Supporters of the ruling party often come under verbal attacks and sometimes intimidated by NPP hoodlums who threaten to do them harm for being in NDC paraphernalia, while others are discouraged not to vote for President Mahama.