A total of 120 security personnel has been deployed to Central Region to maintain law and order in the ongoing Council of State election.
Today’s exercise is to elect certain individuals who will serve as an advisory board to aid the President in executing his duties.
Established under Articles 89 to 92, the Council comprises a former Chief Justice, a former Chief of Defence Staff, and a former Inspector-General of Police, all appointed by the President in consultation with Parliament.
Additional members include the President of the National House of Chiefs, one elected representative from each region—set to be chosen on Tuesday—and 11 others appointed by the President.
In the Central Region, ten aspirants are competing for a single representative seat.
During a brief visit to assess the election venue at the Banquet Hall of the Regional Coordinating Council, Central Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Kofi Adu, assured the Ghana News Agency of comprehensive security arrangements.
DCOP Adu reaffirmed the police’s firm stance against violence, stressing that law enforcement would be strict to maintain order and ensure a smooth electoral process.
A Distinguished media lawyer, Samson Lardy Anyenini, has clarified that while voting is meant to be secret, individuals who voluntarily disclose their vote are not subject to legal punishment.
He pointed out that the law guarantees voter confidentiality, holding election officials accountable for failing to protect this secrecy.
Mr Anyenini emphasized that the constitutional provision for vote secrecy is designed to protect the voter, with the onus on election organizers to ensure that no one can observe or interfere with a person’s vote.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Tuesday, December 3, lawyer Anyenini asserted “If I voluntarily disclose my vote, I cannot be punished for voluntarily disclosing my vote.”
He further clarified that, regardless of the interpretation of the law, it does not impose penalties on the individual whom the secrecy provisions are intended to safeguard.
“The secrecy rule cannot be enforced against the person whose vote is meant to be protected if they choose to disclose it voluntarily,” he said.
Lawyer Anyenini also pointed out that public vote declarations typically happen after voting, referencing the example of exit polls conducted in the United States.
“That is why we have exit polls, where people stand by waiting for you to vote. As soon as you vote, they ask you who you voted for, and you declare—’ I voted for Trump.’ By the close of voting, even though the votes have not been counted and declared, America already knows who has potentially won the election,” he said.
He ended by pointing to the constitutional definition of a crime “A crime is what is prohibited by written law. The law must be written, and the offence must be prescribed. Which law can you refer to that says you are prohibited from doing what you just said?”
In preparation for the December 7 general elections, visually impaired voters in the Ashanti Region have been trained on how to use the Tactile Jacket voting method.
Typically, all voters aim to cast their ballots privately and independently, but this has often been a challenge for those with disabilities, particularly those with visual impairments. To address this, the Electoral Commission conducted a training session at the Asokore Mampong District Office over the weekend.
Isaac Obeng, a participant, expressed his appreciation for the initiative, saying it would help maintain the confidentiality of his vote on election day.
“For instance, if you want to vote for the third person, just count from the top two down. So top one, two, three and you count one, two, three. So as you see the dots are three, then you move to your right side, where you see the box.
“So after you are done locating the box, then you can print and you put your hand on the box so that you can thumbprint there.”
The Electoral Commission organizes training sessions to equip beneficiaries with the required skills before election day.
This initiative is particularly praiseworthy for visually impaired voters, as it enables them to cast their votes independently and privately.
The flagbearer for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has expressed strong confidence in securing victory in the 2024 elections.
Speaking during a campaign in the Saboba constituency, Bawumia emphasized that his primary focus is not just winning, but achieving a decisive margin of victory.
This optimism follows a recent poll by Professor Smart Sarpong, which shows Bawumia leading the race with 49.1% of the vote.
While campaigning in the Saboba constituency on Saturday, November 23, Bawumia called on Ghanaians to show up in large numbers, ensuring a decisive victory.
“Make no mistake about it. By the grace of God, Insha Allah, we are winning this election. The only issue for me today, if we vote today, is the gap.
Bawumia urged his supporters to come out in full force and help secure an overwhelming win for the NPP.
“How big a gap we are going to give our opponents? I want a big gap. I want all of you to come out because we want to beat them well, well,” he added.
With his focus on mobilizing voters, Bawumia is confident that the NPP will emerge victorious with a substantial margin over its competitors in the December elections.
The Electoral Commission (EC) is strengthening its commitment to an error-free electoral process to foster public trust and uphold democratic values.
To enhance operational efficiency and reliability, the EC has launched a recruitment drive that has added over 200 experts in mathematics, statistics, and other quantitative fields to its ranks.
This strategic move is aimed at bolstering the accuracy and credibility of election results.
In a media interview on Tuesday, November 5, Dr. Eric Bossman Asare, Deputy Chairperson of the EC, shared insights into the Commission’s preparations.
He highlighted the importance of transparency and accuracy, stressing the EC’s resolve to prevent any errors that might affect public confidence.
Dr. Asare noted that the newly recruited professionals bring essential analytical skills to the team, aiding in data collation, vote tabulation, and statistical analysis—all vital for a dependable electoral process.
“The Commission has already recruited over 280,000 individuals who are going to work on this election. We have also recruited people who are going to help with the collation.
“These are people who have a background in mathematics, actuarial science, and statistics and will be assisting with quantitative methods. So they are going to assist the returning officers at the constituency level.”
In the wake of Akua Donkor’s passing, the flagbearer of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), speculation has surged online regarding the potential impact of her death on the ballot placements of presidential candidates in Ghana.
Many Ghanaians, particularly those active on social media, are expressing concerns about whether her departure could lead to last-minute changes in candidate positions.
This heightened interest stems from the fact that political campaign content has frequently utilized these positions for branding and meme strategies.
However, the Electoral Commission (EC) has made it clear that Akua Donkor’s death will not affect the ballot arrangements, as they have already commenced printing the ballot papers.
Just days ago, the EC reiterated that printing is underway, and all candidates will retain their assigned slots. Any alterations at this stage would pose significant logistical challenges and incur high costs.
The idea of changing ballot positions has gained traction following comments from the New Patriotic Party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, known as Chairman Wontumi. Weeks earlier, Wontumi had threatened to move John Mahama from position No. 8 to either No. 6 or 7 to assert his influence.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Asuogyaman, Pius Hadzide, has made a compelling promise to his constituents: vote for him, and he will help make it possible for their children to travel to the United States for the 2026 World Cup.
Addressing supporters at a recent campaign event, Mr Hadzide highlighted his connections and extensive experience in the sports sector as key assets that could open doors for Ghanaian youth to participate in major international sporting events.
This pledge comes amidst a backdrop of controversy. In 2017, Mr Hadzide, then Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, was involved in the Australian Visa scandal, where several Ghanaians were accused of posing as journalists to secure visas for the Commonwealth Games in Australia.
Mr Hadzide faced suspension during the investigation but was later cleared of any wrongdoing and reinstated by President Nana Akufo-Addo.
Despite this past issue, Hadzide remains a significant figure in the NPP and is now focused on winning a parliamentary seat.
His campaign underscores a commitment to youth empowerment and international exposure, aiming to use his sports experience to provide new opportunities for the youth of Asuogyaman.
“Nananom, did you know that it takes 18 hours to travel from Ghana to Australia? Yet, I was able to assist some individuals in making this journey. The 2026 World Cup will be held in America, which is just a 7-hour flight from Ghana.
“If you, Nananom, desire for your children to travel to America to work and send money back home, or if you are a young person eager to explore opportunities abroad, I promise to support you when I become MP.
“Unlike my opponent, who has had the chance but failed to assist the youth, I will facilitate travel opportunities for all interested young people to destinations like Germany, America, UK, France, and Canada.
“So, I kindly ask for your support in the upcoming election, and I will ensure that I help you achieve your dreams of travelling abroad.”
Some Ghanaians have planned to stay at home and enjoy a good meal rather than participate in the voting process on election day.
This is the intention of a young Ghanaian man named Fifi.
He told The Independent Ghana during a vox pop session with citizens that he doesn’t see any difference his vote makes.
He mentioned that he voted against Mahama, only for Akufo-Addo “to be presented as the same to us.”
Therefore, this year, he will not exert his energy and time to cast votes for any candidate.
“For me that day I will prepare a very sumptuous meal and enjoy. That is if I am in the country.”
Ghana will soon be heading to the polls on December 7, 2024.
The battle is set to ensue between the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
With both parties presenting strong candidates and a host of promises aimed at addressing the country’s pressing issues, the upcoming election is expected to be highly competitive.
The NPP, currently in power, is campaigning on it achievements, such as the Free SHS program, while the NDC is as well focusing on offering an alternative vision, aimed to address the economic challenges facing Ghanaians.
The Independent Ghana (TIGPost) has embarked on a survey aimed at understanding voter participation levels ahead of the 2024 elections.
The questionnaire seeks to delve into the factors influencing voter decisions, particularly focusing on citizens who may be disinterested in voting.
The survey is designed to collect anonymous responses, helping researchers identify key reasons behind voter apathy. This initiative hopes to shed light on why some citizens choose not to vote and provide insights that could help boost civic engagement.
TIGPost encourages everyone to participate, as the findings will offer a deeper understanding of the challenges surrounding voter turnout and may guide future strategies to enhance democratic participation in Ghana.
A member of the Communications team for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Kwadwo Agyei Yeboah, commonly known as Nana Kay, has asserted that former President John Dramani Mahama is not suitable to lead the nation as president.
He argued that Mr. Mahama’s desire for a honeymoon period from labor unions indicates his lack of preparedness to assume the presidency.
Mr. Mahama mentioned that the Akufo-Addo government had depleted the nation’s finances, hence he was refraining from making any commitments.
Speaking at a ‘Campus Connect’ event in Hohoe, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer remarked that Ghana is currently facing financial difficulties.
“This country is in dire straits, and so, we appeal to you that when we assume office, grant us a grace period. Let’s organize things so we can stabilize the economy,” he expressed.
In his view, Ghana is not in a position to grant a grace period to any president, as there is no time to waste; the president-elect must begin work immediately after inauguration.
“And I will plead with the teacher union: GNAT, NAGRAT, UTAG, and TEWU and all of them; I know all of you are clamouring for allowances.
“Let me caution you that in 2025 when we take over, we will show you the books and the finances of this country, and when we have done that, we can accede to your demands again, and that’s why I’m being very measured in the promises that I make because we all know the crisis in which this country has been plunged,” he further indicated.
But, Nana Kay believes that Ghana cannot afford to offer any president a grace period, as there’s no time to spare; the president-elect must commence work immediately after taking the oath of office.
Speaking to Accra-based Wontumi FM, Nana Kay drew a parallel, questioning “Would you hire someone who begs for a job, but demands that you give them time to adjust to the position? JM is requesting this.
“H.E. Mahama is simply not prepared, hmm,” Nana Kay said.
“All he’s doing is trying to use words to gain authority. We need doers, therefore technically please don’t bother with talkers. Dismiss H.E. Mahama Dr. Bawumia deserves your vote because he is a doer.”
“And you will realise the harm that the NPP administration has done to Ghana’s economy.
The Advocacy and Policy Engagement Director at the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Dr. Kojo Pumpuni Asante, has urged Ghanaians to transcend the traditional two-party narrative and make well-informed voting choices.
He emphasizes the importance of supporting candidates who present tangible solutions to the nation’s pressing issues.
During a Point of View interview on Citi TV with Bernard Avle, Dr. Asante highlighted the current economic crisis in Ghana, likening it to the challenges faced in the 1980s.
He expressed concern over the lack of clear plans from candidates on how to address these critical issues, noting that some are making vague promises that don’t align with the nation’s realities.
Dr. Asante called on Ghanaians to boldly make informed decisions to avoid future hardships. He urged voters to move away from conventional two-party rhetoric and scrutinize candidates’ proposals more critically.
He emphasized the need for courage in this election cycle, cautioning that empty promises without viable solutions will only exacerbate the country’s challenges.
“I really hope that Ghanaians tackle this business as usual two-party kind of sloganeering. We are in an election year. Already you will hear people putting out very empty promises that have nothing to do with the problems that we are facing.
“We have an economic crisis that we haven’t seen since the 80s and nobody is coming to tell us how are they going to fix that problem.”
“So I am hoping that in this election we would have lot more courage because if people will go and throw these things about and then they get into government, we are the ones that are going to pick up the pieces because then they cannot offer any solutions,” he stated.
A trader has vowed to sell her votes in the upcoming December 7, 2024 general elections.
Speaking candidly in an interview with AdomTV, the trader noted that she had observed that the disparity in wealth and resources among delegates and said most people who sell their votes are often wealthy.
Today, Thursday, December 21, the Electoral Commission (EC) is set to conduct elections in district assemblies where the polls were previously postponed.
Approximately 40 districts in the Ashanti and Eastern Regions experienced delays due to errors on ballot papers, challenges in the distribution of voting materials, and malfunctions of Biometric Verification Devices (BVD).
Following the setbacks in the District Level Elections held nationwide on Tuesday, December 19, stakeholders, including the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), expressed disappointment in the challenges encountered.
CODEO attributed the issues to the EC’s failure to fulfill its responsibilities and called for improved performance in subsequent polls.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) issued a stern warning to the EC, urging the commission to rectify technical challenges and avoid repeating the same issues in the upcoming 2024 polls.
The party emphasized the need to prevent any untoward incidents and called for a more effective electoral process.
A bill to make caste discrimination illegal in California is due to be debated in the state assembly this week.Savita Patel, a California-based independent journalist, speaks to those supporting and opposing the bill becoming a law.
Sukhjinder Kaur*, a nurse at a hospital in California, works long and tiring hours serving patients. But whenever it’s break time, things become oppressive.
She is a Dalit (a community that is placed at the bottom of India’s deeply discriminatory caste hierarchy) and says she often faces casteist insults from her South Asian colleagues.
Dalit rights activists say scores of caste-oppressed Californians face housing, educational, professional, and social discrimination.
In March, Senator Aisha Wahab, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party, authored and introduced the SB-403 bill – legislation that seeks to add caste as a protected category in the state’s anti-discrimination laws alongside gender, race, religion and disability.
The bill was passed by the state’s senate in May with a 34-1 vote. If it goes through in the state assembly, California will become the first US state to ban caste discrimination.
“Nurses from upper castes pass slurs about chamars [a pejorative term for Dalits] being dirty and polluting,” says Ms Kaur, who is among those who are in favour of the law.
In February, Seattle became the first city in the US – and outside South Asia – to outlaw caste discrimination, generating momentum for the legislation in California. It is being propelled by the same broad multi-faith, inter-caste, multi-racial coalition of over 40 American and international Dalit and human rights activists and organisations, led by California-based Equality Labs.
California has a large South Asian diaspora and is home to some of the world’s biggest tech companies.
Image caption,Renu Singh (left) has been advocating for the bill at the grassroots level
The state is home to more than half of the 500,000-plus Sikh population in the US and gurudwaras (Sikh temples) in California have been mobilising momentum to outlaw caste discrimination.
Two of the community’s largest advocacy groups – The Sikh Coalition and Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund – support the bill. Among Sikhs, it is the Ravidasia community – the largest Dalit community in the state with approximately 15,000-20,000 members – which is advocating for the bill at grassroots level.
Renu Singh, who follows the Ravidasia tradition and is also a women’s rights activist, has been urging women to speak about their own experiences of caste discrimination and those they see around them so that lawmakers understand the gravity of the issue.
Data from an Equality Lab study shows that one in four caste-oppressed people from the South Asian American diaspora have faced physical and verbal violence; one in three has faced discrimination in education, and two out of three have experienced workplace discrimination.
It was the first extensive study of caste distribution and its effects in the US and had over 1,500 respondents. The findings, published in 2018, say that those from “lower castes” fear retaliation and worry about being “outed” and hence “hide their caste”.
However, a significant section of the Indian diaspora rejects caste discrimination claims.
Deepak Aldrin, a San Francisco-based Dalit activist is not in favour of the bill. “I’ve lived here for 35 years. No Hindu has ever asked me what caste I belong to,” he says.
The bill is meeting strong opposition from many Indian-American individuals, religious and professional groups, who argue that even though it does not specifically name their religion, it will “discriminate against Hindus, their places of worship and even make them less hiring worthy”.
They say the existing laws in California are sufficient to address any discrimination and are mobilising the community to urge their lawmakers to disallow the legislation to proceed.
Image caption,Dalit rights activists say scores of caste-oppressed Californians face discrimination
Many businesses and Hindu temples under HinduPACT – an American Hindu grassroots advocacy initiative – have appealed to California lawmakers to reject the bill. Its convenor Ajay Shah says that the legislation is “deeply flawed, ill-intentioned and targets children and youth from the Indian subcontinent and those who follow the Hindu dharma [Hinduism].”
Suhag Shukla, co-founder and executive director of the Hindu American Foundation, says this bill is already creating an “undesirable” awareness about caste. She says she has been “hearing inappropriate queries from workers, especially in tech, who are being asked about their caste by non-South Asians”. She says if this becomes a pattern, it can be grounds for ethnicity-based harassment.
The foundation has sued the state in a federal court for an “unconstitutional definition of caste” and has also challenged the addition of caste to its non-discrimination policy, saying that it “singles out one community for ethnic profiling and additional policing”.
Those opposing the bill say they are also perplexed as to how the state plans to identify an individual’s caste since it’s a very complex issue, .
The bill, Ms Wahab explains, does not include details for identifying caste, similar to other protected categories.
“There is no language on how caste will be determined. This is simply an anti-discrimination bill. When somebody takes a matter up to the courts, that is usually when subject matter experts are engaged, the type of discrimination potentially that has taken place [is investigated].”
Ms Wahab says she has received “death threats” after proposing the bill. She now faces a recall campaign and a possible re-election. She adds that the “visceral reaction” to the bill is “disheartening” and has urged Californians to read the bill.
“Whether you’re upper caste or lower caste, it does not matter, it will protect you as well,” she says.
*Some names have been changed to protect identity.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Klottey-Korley Constituency, Dr. Zenator Agyemang-Rawlings has admitted that on Friday, March 24, 2023, while voting to confirm several ministerial nominees, she recorded a picture or video of her secret vote.
The MP claims that she did so even though she knew it was wrong in order to save her honor and have proof that she dissented from the National Democratic Congress leadership’s directive to approve the nominations (NDC).
In a Facebook post, Dr. Agyemang-Rawlings described what happened in Parliament on Friday before the secret vote. She recounted that “In the Chamber, when the back and forth was done, the voting began midst threats to cancel your vote if you were discovered revealing your ballot paper.”
“My sister MP, Angela Alorwu-Tay and I, began a discussion on how to ensure that we had evidence of our votes. The last time there was a secret ballot, the women in our caucus were falsely accused en bloc of having betrayed the NDC. Some unscrupulous person even used my picture and that of a number of colleagues as part of that ludicrous headline at the time. We had no intention of allowing our integrity to be attacked again!
“The idea of taking a photo of my vote was so alien to me but given the high level of suspicion and finger pointing already in the public domain, I realised it was imperative to take such a drastic measure to protect my integrity, ‘in the interest of probity and accountability (in the words of the late President JJ Rawlings).’”
She continued “As the time drew closer for me to vote and I felt the increasing tension in the room, and I decided to put my camera on video mode.
“I knew it was risky taking my phone into the booth, because there was a chance that the Speaker might chastise me openly. I told my colleagues sitting in my section what I was going to do and why. I got to the voting booth and nervously lifted my phone to record my hand ticking the ‘No’ column, feeling so annoyed that I was having to subject myself to this! When I got to my seat, I checked the video to make sure it had captured my vote, and then informed my colleagues that it had worked! I then suggested that they do same, for their own protection.
“I must admit that I was still shocked by the results. I was crestfallen! But even the knowledge of my evidence of how I voted, did not bring me the relief I had hoped for. People were looking up to us, and we had let the side down.”
She also expressed disappointment in her colleague Minority MPs who voted against the party’s decision and supported the majority side to approve the President’s nominees.
Read details of the full statement below:
The I in the Collective!
The NDC took a decision to vote against the President’s nominations on principle. We needed President Akufo-Addo to avert his mind to the bloated size of his government/cabinet to show the commitment of the Executive to reduce its expenditure as the government struggles with unsustainable debt.
If you disagree with a position the party and leadership have taken, have the courage of your convictions and speak up! It is cowardice and treachery to hide within the collective to pursue your individual parochial agenda!!! For the first time, I was forced to keep evidence of my votes to protect my integrity and my name!
I’m still reeling from the outcome of the secret ballot in the House on Friday. I’ve sat with the sad realisation that the unfortunate side of being part of a collective is the collective shame that comes with the actions of a few unknown faces whose actions affect everyone.
In the Chamber, when the back and forth was done, the voting began amidst threats to annul your vote if you were caught displaying your ballot paper.
My sister MP, Angela Alorwu-Tay and I, began a discussion on how to ensure that we had evidence of our votes. The last time there was a secret ballot, the women in our caucus were falsely accused en bloc of having betrayed the NDC. Some unscrupulous person even used my picture and that of a number of colleagues as part of that ludicrous headline at the time. We had no intention of allowing our integrity to be attacked again!
The idea of taking a photo of my vote was so alien to me but given the high level of suspicion and finger pointing already in the public domain, I realised it was imperative to take such a drastic measure to protect my integrity, “in the interest of probity and accountability (in the words of the late President JJ Rawlings).”
As the time drew closer for me to vote and I felt the increasing tension in the room, and I decided to put my camera on video mode.
I knew it was risky taking my phone into the booth, because there was a chance that the Speaker might chastise me openly. I told my colleagues sitting in my section what I was going to do and why. I got to the voting booth and nervously lifted my phone to record my hand ticking the ‘No’ column, feeling so annoyed that I was having to subject myself to this! When I got to my seat, I checked the video to make sure it had captured my vote, and then informed my colleagues that it had worked! I then suggested that they do same, for their own protection.
I must admit that I was still shocked by the results. I was crestfallen! But even the knowledge of my evidence of how I voted, did not bring me the relief I had hoped for. People were looking up to us, and we had let the side down.
As I’ve enquired about the possible reasons for what happened, I’ve concluded that we are looking at a situation of different interests converging in a single outcome. So, what is the solution to this wicked problem?
As a party, we have been drifting from our principles and values not-so-slowly, and I guess this is a wakeup call that this drift can no longer be ignored or brushed under the carpet. It took a handful of people and a single iceberg to sink the titanic and with it, many innocent persons drowned or froze to death.
As I type and share this, I’m cognisant of the usual abuse that some people are happy to hurl at anyone who dares, however I know that my reticence on this matter will be even more damaging!
My father continued to advise and chastise the party in the face of sometimes outright abuse from his own, but he remained true to his convictions. I still remember vividly when from his hospital bed, he asked me how the people in my constituency were doing in the lead up to the 2020 General Elections. Even when he was a few days away from his own death, he was still worried about Ghana! On Friday night, I felt this deep pain that maybe it was perhaps better that he was not alive to witness what had happened to the NDC. But then again, I thought perhaps had he been alive he would probably have challenged all of us to go and swear on Antoa or dared us to take a lie-detector test!
Alas! Our Founder is no longer with us, but we have come too far to destroy our own legacy! We must course correct, immediately! We need to return to the values and principles on which this party was built including honesty, accountability, integrity, discipline and commitment to our nation, Ghana!!
Grammy Award-winning musician Burna Boy, known in real life as Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, has responded to online trolls who have criticized him for not voting or participating in Nigerian politics.
Burna Boy responded by claiming he has never received money from the Nigerian government in his Instagram story on Tuesday.
The singer, who affirmed his political stance, stated that he does good for the country because of his heart and not for social media validation.
“I’ve never made money from any Nigerian government and I never took any house, land or money from any governor.
“I’ve never been appointed into any public office and I never intended to be. All the good I do for my country comes from my heart, pockets, time and emotions. it’s not for social media validation and it’s definitely not because I owe anybody.
“I say I nor vote. Make everybody getat,” he wrote.
As the general elections in Nigeria continue to gain traction, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the party’s presidential candidate, made a dramatic appearance at his voting location in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State.
The well-known politician arrived with his wife Remi by his side, and his followers, who had been anticipating his arrival, greeted him with wild delight.
The APC flag bearer could be seen calming an extremely excited supporters at the pulling unit.
Tinubu, who emanated a sense of confidence and calm, was observed speaking to his ardent fans in an effort to subdue their agitation.
It was clear that the APC candidate had arrived at the polling place well-prepared to cast his ballot because it was already bustling with activity.
All eyes are on the results of this hotly contested race as the elections come to a conclusion.
The ruling All Basotho Convention, in power since 2017, has been unable to pass important constitutional changes in parliament.
Lesothowill hold a parliamentary election on Friday, amid failures by its politicians to pass constitutional reforms meant to end years of political instability in the southern African mountain kingdom.
The All Basotho Convention (ABC) has run the country since 2017, but divisions within the party have led to two prime ministers over five years. One of them, Thomas Thabane, stepped down in 2020 after being charged with the murder of his ex-wife.
He denied any wrongdoing and the charges were later dropped.
His successor, Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro, declared a state of emergency in August after legislators failed to pass two bills meant to end political volatility in parliament.
Last month, Lesotho’s highest court ruled the declaration unconstitutional.
The ABC has selected another leader, former health minister Nkaku Kabi, to contest the ticket, after he defeated Majoro in a party vote in February.
The proposed constitutional reforms would have amended everything from the role of political parties, to rules over floor-crossing in parliament, the appointment of senior officials and the role of the prime minister.
The aim was to make Lesotho less prone to political logjams when disagreements occur. But lawmakers failed to agree on them in August.
Lesotho has seen four military coups since independence from Britain in 1966.
In 2014, gunshots were heard in Maseru and then-Prime Minister Thabane temporarily fled the country, accusing the military of overthrowing him, which forced South Africa to mediate to restore order and allow his return.
Opposition riots in the capital Maseru in 1998 prompted South Africa to deploy troops to restore order.
Surrounded on all sides by a South African mountain range, Lesotho’s cool lakes and springs are a vital source of freshwater for its bigger neighbour, supplying the taps of its commercial capital, Johannesburg.
Ghana is marching to 2020 election and all candidates are so wild trying to win the hearts of Ghanaians to vote for them. The two major political parties in Ghana who are likely to engage in fierce battle to take the flag of Ghana and lead Ghanaians into the promised land are The New Patriotic Party and The National Democratic Congress with Akufo Addo and John Mahama being the flag bearers respectively.
However, due to the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus, major percentage of the campaign exercises are taking place on social media, television stations and FM stations unlike previous years where campaign rallies are organised. Campaigns comes with promises which candidates use to convince Ghanaians to vote for them.
Several Ghanaian major news portals have conducted several online polls between the rulling president, Akufo Addo and the former president,John Mahama.
JoyNews conducted an online polls which ended and as usual NDC took the lead. Over 42, 000 people participated and from the results collated, the NDC has 57% while the party in power NPP has 43%.
The voters also are of the view that Dr. Bawumia the Vice president has failed Ghanaians as he has been unable to arrest the depreciating cedi and also level of press freedom in the country and the lack of competency by the rulling government.
After the Joy news poll, popular Ghanaian blog and news website, yen.com also conducted another poll. Yen.com think candidates are still making promises towards the 2020 Election, is only right that the public has the chance to judge which among the them honours his promises and so Yen.com put a Facebook poll to compare the flag bearers of the two major political parties in the country; National Democratic Congress and New Patriotic Party.
After the poll ended. John Mahama emerged Ghanaians favourite as he was voted as the best president who honours his campaign promises with 66% of the total votes while Akufo Addo bagging only 34%.
The big question is, should Akufo Addo and Bawumia be worried about these online poll results?
NDC has won almost all online polls conducted by many institutions in the previous years but they were still disappointed.
Could these poll results be some kind of mind games being played by NPP members? Well, I don’t think NPP should jubilate over past experiences at all.
From the ongoing polls, it seems the current government might have the shock of their lives just as the NDC in 2016 if care is not taken by the NPP to address the issues raised by the voters, this is because, majority of this year’s election is taking place on social media platforms and other media outlets due to the outbreak of the corona virus. This should imply that this year, social media will have major influence on the election results.
The Electoral Commission (EC), has submitted to Parliament a new Constitutional Instrument (C.I) to compile new voters register for the 2020 general elections.
The Public Elections (Regulation of Voters) (Amendment) Regulations, 2020 when passed will make a passport number one identification to be presented as evidence as a Ghanaian.
The C.I, signed by the Chairperson of The Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa, in line with article 51 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana is seeking to amend Regulation 1 of the Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2016 (C1. 91).
According to the C.I and by the substitution for subregulation (3) of (3), “a person who applies for registration as a voter shall provide as evidence of identification one of the following:
(a) a passport;
(b) a national identification card; or (c) one voter registration identification guarantee form as set out in Form One of the Schedule, that has been completed and signed by two registered voters and (b) by the substitution for subregulation (4) of “(4) Despite paragraph (c) of subregulation (3), a registered voter shall not guarantee the identity of more than ten personsâ€.
