Consistent with the Progressive People’s Party’s (PPP) desire to run a country devoid of election related violence, its 2012 flag-bearer, Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, has proposed the complete abolishing of the “so-called” polling agent phenomenon in Ghana’s elections.
This practice, Dr Nduom posits, enables political parties to engage in unnecessary aggression and all manner of illegal acts.
“If not checked, these acts would plunge this country into chaos, Dr Nduom cautioned.”
The Electoral Commission (EC), Dr Nduom averred, must hence not cede its responsibilities as a strong independent institution to anyone.
Dr Nduom made the submissions at a packed press conference in Accra yesterday to give an overview of the party’s recent nationwide tour as well as comment on the just-ended biometric voters’ exercise.
He further recommended that parliamentary and presidential candidates should make a monthly financial report presentation of income and expenditure, assets and liabilities including sources of income through the end of the year.
As innovative as he is, Dr Nduom proposed that data from the National Identification Authority (NIA) should be used as the source for registration of voters.
“As long as one carries a National Identification Card as a Ghanaian 18 years or older, he/she should be registered as a voter; continuous registration should be practiced from here on.”
For future elections, the PPP flag-bearer mentioned that the EC should explore the feasibility and practicality of electoral voting to further bring credibility and confidence to election results.
“The Electoral Commission must prepare the necessary procedures and legal instruments to ensure that it can nullify any polling station that records more votes than are recorded in the voters’ register,” he intimated.
He further urged the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) to- as a matter of urgency- release the census results to enable the figures to be used to check voter’s registration results to help bring confidence and credibility to the voters’ register.
On the nationwide tour, Dr Nduom remarked that the national leadership of the PPP is greatly satisfied and encouraged by the positive response and support of Ghanaians during the tour.
“Our message on this tour was simply a request, give PPP a Chance!”
He reported that the PPP was deeply disturbed by the enormous task left undone across the country; “the level of deprivation, poverty and inhumane conditions across the country contrasts sharply with political talk and propaganda by those who wish to take credit for work they have not done.”
“It was obvious to us throughout the tour that the PPP is unique.”
He averred that “ PPP is the only political party that is going to the people to discuss what its people can do to unite the country, raise the quality of Ghanaian life and solve the problem that confront us.”
The PPP flag-bearer further thanked all PPP members and executives across the length and breadth of the country for their great discipline and positive attitude they showed during the just-ended biometric voters’ registration organized by the EC.
Dr Nduom added that “In our short period of existence, the PPP has sworn to work with great discipline and show respect to all Ghanaians including our political opponents.”
According to him, the nationwide tour enabled the PPP to make its case directly to the people in small community group meetings, on radio stations and at work places.
Against this backdrop, Dr Nduom proposed “the bringing of the nation’s collective mind to ideas and solutions, a monthly briefing on the state of the economy and national security should be given to the presidential candidates and five national executives of the political parties who continue to meet the criteria included in the political party’s law.”
He again added that all political parties and subsequently independent candidates registered with the EC should be assigned security personnel who can assist in ensuring the protection of candidates and maintaining the peace.
“We wish to recommend to all political parties the need to focus on the solutions they have for the many problems that confront our people.”
“In the wake of the violence, anger and divisive behaviour exhibited by the NDC and the NPP over the past few weeks, many Ghanaians have expressed the willingness to vote for an alternative political party.”
Dr Nduom further condemned the violence that characterized the just ended biometric voter’s registration exercise adding that the registration of people to take part in elections is a normal activity which should not generate violent behaviour and injuring of people.
He laid the problems seen in the exercise squarely on the doorstep of politicians and specifically the actions and inactions of the political leadership of the NDC and NPP.
“The violence acted out during the voter’s registration process must be considered a strong wake-up call to all Ghanaians at home and abroad; it can only mean that some politicians are determined to win the 2012 elections at all cost.”
In an answer to a question posed by a journalist with regards to his running mate, Dr Nduom responded by saying that he would definitely come out with the name of his running mate before the end of June this year.
“Ghanaians can feel assured that should they vote for the PPP to run the affairs of this country in 2013, our party will live by the dictates of the Directive Principles of State Policy.”
STORY: SELORM ATUTORNU
