Don't Toy With Our Peace – DI Warns EC

Policy think tank Danquah Institute (DI) has asked the Electoral Commission not to go ahead with its planned limited registration of fresh voters ahead of the November polls until it has implemented a validation exercise recommended by the Panel of five eminent members. Executive Director of DI Nana Attobrah Quaicoe told journalists at a press conference in Accra on Monday February 1 that the validation process will ensure that close to 600,000 names of dead people are removed from the 2012 register of voters. “Ladies and gentlemen of the media, now, how come this most sensible and cost-effective proposal from the Panel of experts is being totally ignored by the EC? We say it is being totally ignored because the EC has already given a date for the limited registration, which is from March 21 to April 4, and that exercise has nothing to do with validation, as currently planned. “In our view, the period for limited registration is perfect for validation as well,” Mr Quaicoe said, adding: “The Danquah Institute, by this news conference, is asking the EC to postpone the date for the limited registration for another month or so, consider the proposal from the Panel and work towards incorporating validation with the limited registration exercise.” “This would only mean that those who turn up for validation would have to join one queue and those who show up for new registration, as first time voters, would also have their own queue since their exercise would require the filling of forms, and having their fingerprints and photographs taken and a new card issued. “By this, the exhibition exercise, which will take place a couple of months after, will be done for the complete register of those who were validated and those who registered anew. “Indeed, the EC can go as far as even presenting fresh laminated cards for those who will go through validation during the validation/limited registration exercise. We estimate that this whole exercise of validation, even if it involves the issuance of a new laminated voter ID card, should not cost the state more than an additional $15 million. But, we also know that it would, once and for all, answer all the main issues that those calling for a new credible register have raised. The benefit is that we will go into this year’s elections with our nation at peace with itself,” Mr Quaicoe added.

Source: classfmonline.com

2016, A Straight Fight Between NDC & NPP...No Serious Impact By Other Political Parties

NPP and NDC       A political science lecturer at the Methodist University College, Dr. Owusu Bonsu has predicted that the 2016 election battle scheduled for November 7, 2016 is a straight fight between the largest opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC). He insisted the 2016 election does not foresee any other political party making any serious impact to push the election for run-off. But a renowned pollster, Mr. Ben Ephson has professed that the election of Mr. Ivor Greenstreet as the Flagbearer of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) has the tendency to push the 2016 election for re-run with 7 percent of the total votes. He explained that Mr. Ivor Greenstreet is well connected to the grassroots and can pull a surprise in the 2016 election. But commenting on Okay Fm’s Ade Akye Abia Morning Show, Dr. Owusu Bonsu said he believes Ivor Greenstreet can use the various disable groups in the country to his advantage and win sympathy votes but added all depends on the effective campaign the party will embark on. “I believe the 2016 election battle is a straight fight between the major political parties [NPP and NDC]; I don’t think the other political parties can make serious impact in the 2016 election. Until all the break-away p[arties emerge to form a formidable party, I don’t think CPP can make any serious impact in Ghana politics,” he asserted. He however asserted that the CPP delayed in choosing its Flagbearer as it should have been done a year ago to patch up any difference which may arise especially as the party is yet to elect its parliamentary candidates. He therefore advised the CPP Flagbearer, Ivor Greenstreet to immediately reach out to those who lost to him in the contest and forge a united front by assigning roles to the losers in his campaign team.

Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com.gh/E-mail: bigdallas1985@gmail.com

Celine Dion Holds Her Twin Sons By The Hand As She Says Goodbye To Husband

Celine Dion gripped her five-year-old twin boys by the hand as she said a final goodbye to her husband Rene Angelil. In emotional scenes, the singer led hundreds of mourners at a public funeral for her late partner of 21 years at the same church where they married in 1994.

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Source: Mirror.co.uk

I will never endorse a presidential candidate - Lil Win

 

Kumawood superstar Kwadwo Nkansah, popularly known as as Lil Win, has disclosed that he will never endorse any presidential candidate nor a political party ahead of the November 7 polls. 

Lil Win refuted the publication that Kumawood players have declared support for President John Mahama ahead of the November 7 polls. 

"I haven’t declared my support for any presidential candidate yet and I will not do that for the sake of my fan base.   

"It has come to my notice that some individual are openly endorsing political candidates for this year’s elections. I place on record that these endorsements are the decisions of individuals and not that of the entire actors in Kumasi . 

"I have a large fan base from different political backgrounds so in a normal sense, I cannot be taking sides and engaging in partisan politics.”

Lil Win made the comments on the Boss FM Countdown Show in Kumasi.  

Sources: SeanCitygh.com 

I Am Deeply Disappointed . . . - CPP Chair

CPP National Chairman, Professor Edmund Delle has waded into the controversial bribery allegation made by Samia Nkrumah after the just ended congress which elected Ivor Greenstreet as the party’s flagbearer for the November 2016 election. Prof Delle expressed disappointment over Samia’s comment and described it as unfortunate. “I’m deeply disappointed . . . I didn’t expect leading members of the party to speak in that way. I’m saddened by it and I think we should respect delegates,” he said.  Adding that - “I am confident that our former chair and leader will think about it and probably come back to withdraw it because it is not in the interest of the party.”  Ivor Greenstreet was last Saturday elected as the flagbearer of the CPP at a congress held in Accra – he polled 1,288 votes out of the 1,992 valid votes to beat her former chairperson, Samia Nkrumah who came a distant second with 579 votes. The other contrstants were Joseph Agyapong – 83 and Bright Akwetey 42 votes. Samia Nkrumah after the election alleged that, Ivor Greenstreet paid delegates to vote for him - “Every delegate was paid GH¢200 and GH¢500 actually, among many other things. So, it was down to money and of course we cannot be happy about that.”  However, in an interview with JOY FM, Professor Edmund Delle noted that Somia’s comment has tarnished the party’s image. “I stood with Samia Nkrumah in 2012 and I lost. I accepted the defeat. I never complained . . . I’ve been in this party for years. I’ve run several elections and I’ve lost, but I’ve remained loyal to the party. I’ve never said one word against any member of the party,” he noted – adding that - “CPP is a family. When we have family problems we go indoors, we discuss them and we speak with one voice.”  According to Prof Delle, it was important to note that delegates were “discerning” people and that “gone are the days that we thought that delegates were like sheep and goats that we go and buy in the market.”

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/ Twitter: @Washman5/ Instagram: Washman007