Ghana’s historic elections peaceful
On Sunday, December 7, 2008, Ghanaians voted in an election that would enhance the country’s image as the beacon of hope, peace and democracy in Africa.
Reports coming from all over the country generally show that the polls have been conducted in an orderly manner.
The elections for a President and Members of Parliament were seen as significant because of the not too pleasant outcomes of elections in most African countries. Recently, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Cote d’Ivoire descended into chaos after disputed elections. Many observers though, hopeful that the Ghanaian elections would be peaceful, were cautious.
But Ghanaians have shown that they are a peaceful people and they are maturing in the practice of democratic principles.
Eight candidates including an independent candidate contested for president and 1060 candidates contested for the 230 seats.
Contesting for President were Nana Akufo-Addo of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Prof. John Evans Atta Mills of the National Democratic Party (NDC), Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Mr. Emmanuel Antwi of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), Dr. Edward Mahama of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Mr. Thomas Ward-Brew representing the Democratic People’s Party (DPP), Mr. Kwabena Adjei for the Reformed Democratic Party (RDP) and Mr. Kwesi Amoafo-Yeboah, the independent candidate.
Since voting ended Sunday evening at 5:00pm local time, counting has been going on throughout the night and into the morning of Monday December 8, 2008.
The results so far, show no clear leader, but there have been some casualties in the Parliamentary elections. In the Nkawkaw Constituency of the Eastern region, the incumbent Kwabena Adusa Okerchiri of the NPP have lost his seat to independent candidate Seth Adjei-Baah, popularly known as Shaaba, according to provisional results announced by the Electoral Commission (EC).
Adjei-Baah won by 19,757 votes to defeat Mr Kwabena Adusa Okerchiri, who had 14,376 votes.
Provisional results released so far show that the incumbent NPP MP for the New Juabeng North Constituency in the Eastern region, Hackman Owusu-Agyemang has retained his seat. He won with 13,711 votes.
The other contestants, Mr Emmanuel Adu Boateng, of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), polled 4,892, Mr Frank Adu Amankwa of Convention People’s Party (CPP), polled 285, Dr Kwame Twum Agyeman, independent candidate, polled 2,037, while Mr Victor Asare Gyapong, also independent candidate polled 2,783 votes.
By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi