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Elections of NPP
Presidential Candidate was inconclusive – CODEO
Accra, April 29, Ghanadot/GNA – The
Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) on Wednesday
described the election of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)
Presidential Candidate in December 2007 as inconclusive and
scolds the Electoral Commission (EC)
for legitimizing it.
“It was quite unacceptable for the EC to declare a winner in an
inconclusive election, which was fragrant violation of the
party’s own Constitution in spite of its avow for due process,”
Mr John Larvie, CODEO lead Observer stated in Accra.
Mr Larvie stated during an interaction between the EC and
Domestic Election Observers organised by the KAB Governance
Consult in Accra, which was attended by Christian Council, Ghana
Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and
other civil society groups.
At the close of over 16-hours of voting and counting, Nana
Akufo-Addo obtained 1,096 of the total 2,285 valid votes cast,
representing about 47.97 per cent; Mr Kwadwo Alan Kyerematen
polled 738 votes representing about 32.30 per cent while the
Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama placed third with 146 votes
representing about 6.39 per cent. Eight votes were rejected.
Article 12 (7) of the NPP Constitution, on the Election of the
Presidential Candidate states: "Where there is only one
contestant for nominations as the Party's presidential
candidate, the National Congress shall acclaim his nomination as
the party's Presidential Candidate.
"Where there is more than one contestant, each delegate will
cast his or her vote by secret ballot for one of the
contestants. Where a contestant obtains more than fifty percent
(50%) of the votes cast, he or she shall be the party's
Presidential Candidate.
"Where, however, no contestant obtains more than 50% of the
votes cast, there shall be a run-off between the first two
contestants and the contestant with a simple majority shall be
the party's Presidential Candidate. In the event of a tie
between the two contestants, the run off will continue until one
contestant obtains a simple majority."
Mr Larvie said under the circumstance the EC should have ordered
the party to organise a run-off among the two leading
candidates; “I don’t think the EC operate different laws for
national elections and another for the political parties”.
In response to the CODEO accusation, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, EC
Chairman explained that, “how parties select their Presidential
Candidate is not the business of EC, in fact we are not required
by law to be there.
“The legal requirement is on how they select national and
regional leaders, whatever means a party adopt to select its
Presidential Candidate is their business, but hope they do it in
accordance with the Constitution they have lodged with the
Commission,” Dr Afari-Gyan stated.
Other issues CODEO identified as infractions during Election
2008 were, replacement of lost identification card, lack of
inadequate public education, failure to sanction law breakers,
shortages of some electoral materials at some polling stations
and late state of polls.
Professor Miranda Greenstreet who read the CODEO report urged
the National Media Commission and the Ghana Journalists
Association to collaborate to re-orient journalists to be
circumspect.
“The way media practitioners chunked out information –
sensational information into the public created an unnecessary
tense environment,” stressing that media should help bring
national cohesion.
She however, commended the EC for adhering to best international
electoral practices in spite of the challenges, “the comportment
of EC Commission members before, during and after the elections
is commendable.”
On behalf of the Christian Council, Dr Fred Deegbe, General
Secretary of the council suggested that in view of the
challenges the nation faced during the limited registration
exercise the EC should conduct annual registration.
The Council also reiterated calls for change of the electoral
timetable, “election day should be on specific day and month to
avoid conflict with religious bodies.”
Dr. Afari-Gyan said December 7th as Election day was forced on
the Commission by the Constitution, but wondered why Parliament
had not yet amended the date to bring it forward.
“It will take not more than two months to change the law, as the
law stands the Presidential Election can be conducted as early
as September, fortunately the provision of Parliamentary
election is not entrenched and can be changed.
“Only the Presidential Election provisions are entrenched but
there is room for it to be conducted as early as September, I
don’t understand why they have not done it,” Dr Afari-Gyan
stated.
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