It has become increasingly obvious that the conservative government of David Cameron is playing politics in Ghana in favour of the npp because of their common ideological base and tradition.
As much as I have no quarrel w ... read full comment
It has become increasingly obvious that the conservative government of David Cameron is playing politics in Ghana in favour of the npp because of their common ideological base and tradition.
As much as I have no quarrel with ideological solidarity it must be done in a way that should not disturb the peace in our country.The turf war on the different stand by the two main parties on this subject is acrimonious and such blatant support by the Cameron government will empower their ideological bedfellows to chant the war songs.
Cameron should not interfere in the internal politics of Ghana because we expect them to be neutral.Any show of bias will surely destabilize the country's internal cohesion.
If by now the Cameron government is not aware of the machinations of the opposition and his HC's excesses in Ghana then it is high the ndc government calls the attention of the British government to such acts.
LONTO-BOY 8 years ago
MASSA KOFI, thanks for your time and efforts in contacting the FCO officials in London. The statement provided by the British High Commission in Ghana on Vicki Morley's letter in response to the petition by the 'Concerned Gha ... read full comment
MASSA KOFI, thanks for your time and efforts in contacting the FCO officials in London. The statement provided by the British High Commission in Ghana on Vicki Morley's letter in response to the petition by the 'Concerned Ghanaians in the UK Against Electoral Fraud' is shamefully disingenuous. The British High Commission in Ghana, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office(FCO) in London cannot deny the letter and its content. Vicki Morley's letter explicitly states that the UK government is aware Ghana's Voters' Register is 10% higher than the continental average. The contents and the "10%" claim of the letter wasn't re-crafted to suggest that it has been misinterpreted by some sections of our Ghanaian media. The wording is fairly obvious, and reflects the Tory government's solidarity with the NPP. "Misinterpreted"? Why has the BHC, FCO or Vicki Morley failed to clarify the wording and the "10%" claim of the letter?
Ghana has a cordial relationship with UK, and a beneficiary of UK funds. However, Ghana is not under the political control of the UK. The rationale to look up to 10 Downing Street by that group to put pressure on Ghana's government/Electoral Commission to compile a new Voters' Register is carrying politics to an extent that is demeaning. The UK government can only persuade the Government of Ghana and the EC behind closed doors, but should not wade into Ghana's politics or be seen meddling in Ghana's internal affairs. Vicki Morley's letter is tantamount to an intrusion into Ghana's internal political affairs and also disrespectful to Ghana's statehood. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office(FCO) and Downing Street officials cannot claim they 'misunderstood' the political purpose of the petition as they consult UK's Diplomatic missions(High Commissions and Embassies) on such matters. Perhaps, the FCO officials never took into account the letter could be made public and how its response could play in Ghana's politics.
Anokye8 8 years ago
Hi Lonto,
In summary you are trying to tell readers that Ghana is Ghana and not UK so UK should stay away from Ghana internal affairs.
It is imperative that people have to understand global politicking. Ghana is not on the ... read full comment
Hi Lonto,
In summary you are trying to tell readers that Ghana is Ghana and not UK so UK should stay away from Ghana internal affairs.
It is imperative that people have to understand global politicking. Ghana is not on the planet by itself. I think some of you guys turn to forget that. Look at South Sudan, Burundi, Eritrea , and Central Africa Republic and tell me what is going on there. I was in South Sudan on diplomatic mission and would like you to know that we Africans cannot rectify our issues ourselves when things escalate. So when you making such pronouncement that Ghana internal affairs shouldn't be encroached by the Downing Street then I would ask you to watch what you are saying. My grandma used to say that it is easier said than done young blood.
LONTO-BOY 8 years ago
Anokye8, of course, I know Ghana is part of the international community. I do understand the dynamics of international politicking and influences of Western governments in addressing issues.
The problem here is that, the V ... read full comment
Anokye8, of course, I know Ghana is part of the international community. I do understand the dynamics of international politicking and influences of Western governments in addressing issues.
The problem here is that, the Voters' Register has become a political issue. Ghana is in an election year, and the UK government shouldn't be taking sides in Ghana's politics for any reason. The Voter's Register is a matter for Ghana. Both the NDC and NPP, by virtue of being the largest and electable parties, made their respective arguments strongly enough, regardless of the EC's integrity, its decision should be respected.
Foster D 8 years ago
I think anokye8 is saying no country is an island and we third world countries are even more dependent than other countries.
I think it's true that we just can't tell the rich ciuntries to mind their business and leave us ... read full comment
I think anokye8 is saying no country is an island and we third world countries are even more dependent than other countries.
I think it's true that we just can't tell the rich ciuntries to mind their business and leave us alone. The crucial thing is HOW they interfere in our affairs. Even if it's just making pronouncements on our affairs, they should know how they do that.
As a matter of fact, we too, can make pronouncements on their internal affairs. Nothing prevents us from doing that. But we must know how we do it.
So we can still ask if in this matter the FCO is acting right. The question is not that they shouldn't say anything when our own parties (NPP) take the matter to them.
Soomui 8 years ago
Good clarification, Foster.
It is however disgusting to note that after wasting all their time in acquiring some degree of education, some Africans - in this case Ghanaians, seem to be more comfortable living under the cl ... read full comment
Good clarification, Foster.
It is however disgusting to note that after wasting all their time in acquiring some degree of education, some Africans - in this case Ghanaians, seem to be more comfortable living under the cloud of colonialism as if to stress the point that Africans still cannot think for themselves.
Ankye8 seems to be a victim of that psychological disorder and even worse-still, is the NPP who ever so frequently, deem it fit to run-off to No. 10 Downing Street to present complaints to their slave masters.
LONTO-BOY 8 years ago
Foster D, I like what you've written here, "Even if it's just making pronouncements on our affairs, they should know how they do that". Good. My issue with the FCO is in the context of the response to group's petition. Such p ... read full comment
Foster D, I like what you've written here, "Even if it's just making pronouncements on our affairs, they should know how they do that". Good. My issue with the FCO is in the context of the response to group's petition. Such political petitions require a "careful response". Vicki Morley did not act responsibly in her communication.
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 8 years ago
UK has its own voter register problem as a result of government changes. It has been reported that an estimated 800,000 people have dropped off the electoral register since the government introduced changes to the system, wit ... read full comment
UK has its own voter register problem as a result of government changes. It has been reported that an estimated 800,000 people have dropped off the electoral register since the government introduced changes to the system, with students in university towns at highest risk of being disenfranchised, the Guardian has learned (The Guardian Newspaper, January 30, 2016). This is probably because the Conservative government is aware that most students vote either Liberal Democrats or Labour. What would Vicki Morley and the British High Commissioner say about this report? It's an indication that no Voters' Register is perfect including those of Ghana and the UK. So FCO and the High Commissioner should first take the log on their eye before removing the speck on the eyes of others.
Biggest 8 years ago
going by your own facts as you presented them here, it is either you are daft or you genuinely do not understand issues. if the British government says the voter population in Ghana is 10% more than the continental average, t ... read full comment
going by your own facts as you presented them here, it is either you are daft or you genuinely do not understand issues. if the British government says the voter population in Ghana is 10% more than the continental average, that does not in any way mean Ghana's register is bloated by 10%. What you need to know is that in calculating average, there are maximum and minimum outliers, if some countries had very low percentages and others have medium, you will expect that a few countries will also be above the average.That does not imply the register in these countries are bloated. Also note that some countries will be below the continental average, does that mean they under-registered people?
Kwasi nkwaa 8 years ago
Excellent analysis Mr Ata.
Excellent analysis Mr Ata.
Foster D 8 years ago
Ata's main point is that Ghanaians use the voter registration ID as an ordinary ID more than in comparable African countries.
But he has not given any evidence of that. He has not told us that South Africa and other count ... read full comment
Ata's main point is that Ghanaians use the voter registration ID as an ordinary ID more than in comparable African countries.
But he has not given any evidence of that. He has not told us that South Africa and other countries have national IDs that are not voter's IDs.
The Francophone countries in Africa are known to possess, and put great weight on, national identity cards (carte nationale d'identité). The Anglophone countries don't do that.
Does Kofi Ata know that other African countries don't use voter ID cards as general identification documents?
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 8 years ago
Foster D, Ghana's Voter ID being used as a de facto National ID Card is not from me but EC's explanation as to why Ghana has more than the African average percentage of registered voters per the eligible voter population. I a ... read full comment
Foster D, Ghana's Voter ID being used as a de facto National ID Card is not from me but EC's explanation as to why Ghana has more than the African average percentage of registered voters per the eligible voter population. I am only saying that the explanation is plausible and should be taken into consideration in "the more than African average debate". That is one of the pull factors why more people including minors in Ghana register to acquire ID card but not necessarily to vote. I have heard voter ID card is used by some Ghanaians to collect remittances sent to them by relatives abroad. On other hand, the comparable African countries do have National ID card for their citizens and no need to register to use the voter registration card as national ID card.
I know for fact that South Africa and Kenya have National ID cards (from my South African and Kenyan acquaintances (former university mates and work colleagues).
My main objective is that the Ghanaian Voters Register is not credible, which is not in dispute but the real problem is how to make it credible.
Sam 8 years ago
According to UK electoral rules,EU nationals cannot vote in UK national elections if they are not naturalized British citizens..However,they can vote in European elections. Trouble is, once their name or names are on the UK v ... read full comment
According to UK electoral rules,EU nationals cannot vote in UK national elections if they are not naturalized British citizens..However,they can vote in European elections. Trouble is, once their name or names are on the UK voters registers list,no council official can stop them from voting in any UK elections. In that sense the UK national register is even more "bloated" than that of Ghana. And they will stick "two fingers" up the native British citizens in the EU Referendum in their millions.How about that? Have you ever heard of any EU national being prosecuted in the UK for voting for his local MP which they are not allowed to?
KAE 8 years ago
Kofi,
Forget about the FCO and the British High Commissioner in Ghana. This is a Ghanaian problem for which all of us, particularly those of us who call ourselves educated have buried our heads in the sand, mostly for triba ... read full comment
Kofi,
Forget about the FCO and the British High Commissioner in Ghana. This is a Ghanaian problem for which all of us, particularly those of us who call ourselves educated have buried our heads in the sand, mostly for tribal and political reasons and hope that it will go away, but it will come to haunt us either during or after November 7.
This is what Mrs Charlotte Osei had to say about our fraudulent electoral register bequeathed to us by the rogue Afari-Gyan, who after more than 32 years in elections says he does not even know what constitutes “over voting” at a polling station!
"The magnitude of multiple registrations in the current register is very acceptable by any standard estimated at hundreds in the entire register of 14.8 million people." (Electoral Commissioner, January 2016)
In an article that I posted on Ghanaweb about two weeks ago, I stated among others things:
“I think the fraud in the electoral register is even more astonishing. If you believe the figures, Ghana had a total population of 25,758,108 in 2010. Of this 52.93% or 13,632,299 are aged 18 and above. So, even if Ghana should achieve 100% registration of eligible voters (a logistical and technical impossibility), there should only be 13,632,299 names on the Electoral Commission’s register. It has 14.8 million on its books and Mrs Charlotte Osei, says “multiple registration is only in the hundreds!” I have been wondering about the sort of jobs she has held and what she has done to her employers in the past.
Worldwide, the one country that registers the highest number of its eligible voters is Argentina, with 48%, followed by South Africa with 47.4%. Nigeria registers 38.8% of its eligible voters.
The Electoral Commission’s figure of 14.8 million means that Ghana registers 57.5% of its TOTAL population or an unbelievable 108.6% of its total number of ELIGIBLE voters, a new Guinness record or the 8th wonder of the world!
It is next to impossible to achieve even 50%, but if for the sake of argument, we assume 50% registration for Ghana, the figure comes to 6,816,150. In other words, Ghana's electoral register as it stands today, has 7,989,851 ghost names, more than double what it should be. “
These are the issues we have to deal with. It is not only an NPP matter. President Mahama knows about the fraud and so do Charlotte Osei and Dr Afari-Gyan and unless we all deal honestly and dispassionately with it, there is either going to be absolute chaos on 7 November or we shall be living in a very different Ghana on 8th November!
We need to begin to demand accountability from the people we pay to run the affairs of Ghana. We cannot continue to accept any garbage they throw at us when they live like Arab sheikhs at our expense.
Foster D 8 years ago
"Worldwide, the one country that registers the highest number of its eligible voters is Argentina, with 48%, followed by South Africa with 47.4%. Nigeria registers 38.8% of its eligible voters."
Perhaps you should have cla ... read full comment
"Worldwide, the one country that registers the highest number of its eligible voters is Argentina, with 48%, followed by South Africa with 47.4%. Nigeria registers 38.8% of its eligible voters."
Perhaps you should have clarified that to mean countries where officers go out to the field to register voters for elections.
I live in a small Western European country where there is NO registration of voters. This is because THERE IS NO NEED FOR THAT! Every eligible voter is already a registered voter on account of his/her residency and tax status. In effect, there is 100 per cent voter registration without anybody having to go out to a registration center.
The voters' register is available for all to check and scrutinize. Only those who don't find their names on the register need go to the relevant office to have the situation rectified. The announcement to this effect is made long in advance of any elections. There are hardly any complaints of mistakes!!!
This country does not conduct any populations census. There is no need. The statistics on everybody residing in this country is already known - to the best of human abilities.
So your Argentina and South Africa belong to a different category of democratic elections. And you should have mentioned that!
KAE 8 years ago
South Africa has a national ID system and I suspect Argentina too. In the UK and several European countries registration is compulsory, punishable by a hefty fine in the case of the UK.
I register and vote by post, from th ... read full comment
South Africa has a national ID system and I suspect Argentina too. In the UK and several European countries registration is compulsory, punishable by a hefty fine in the case of the UK.
I register and vote by post, from the comfort of my home (some do both on line), but even here, registration never reaches 100%!
Because of the long struggle with Apartheid and a superior literacy rate of 98.5% among the 25-32 year group, South Africans should be more politically enlightened than Ghanaians (and it shows in the kind of discourse one hears in our Parliamentary debates and on radio and television), South Africa should technically register more of its ELIGIBLE voters than Ghana, but it only registers 47%, the highest in Africa.
Ours is over 52% of the whole population, not just of the ELIGIBLE voter population. Considering the fact that about 48% of Ghanaians are below 18, that is outrageous!
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 8 years ago
KAE, your South African comparative analysis is inaccurate. The competition between NDC and NPP increases voter registration in Ghana. They encourage their members and sympathisers to register and often give then incentives t ... read full comment
KAE, your South African comparative analysis is inaccurate. The competition between NDC and NPP increases voter registration in Ghana. They encourage their members and sympathisers to register and often give then incentives to register and vote. So, despite the low literacy rate in Ghana, voter registration is relatively higher. Remember, it's the political parties who encourage under age children to register and vote. This is because Ghana has no national data system to determine the age of individuals so 15 year olds could be encouraged to register by adults who certifty that they over 18.
LONTO-BOY 8 years ago
KAE, I do agree with some of the issues in your commentary. However, recorded statistics from different countries are simply not comparable since they're affected by many factors.
KAE, I do agree with some of the issues in your commentary. However, recorded statistics from different countries are simply not comparable since they're affected by many factors.
KAE 8 years ago
Lonto-Boy,
There was a very clear demonstration of the hopelessness of our register in the Jomoro Constituency of the Western Region.
Ms Samia Nkrumah alleged that she thrown out of Parliament with a register that had bal ... read full comment
Lonto-Boy,
There was a very clear demonstration of the hopelessness of our register in the Jomoro Constituency of the Western Region.
Ms Samia Nkrumah alleged that she thrown out of Parliament with a register that had ballooned from an increase of 500 voters between 2004 and 2008 to 11,000 between 2008 and 2012. That is an unbelievable 22,000% increase in four short years and nobody has challenged that allegation.
There are similar increases in other constituencies. We pay public servants to do the right thin by the people of Ghana. If Ghanaian doctors, engineers, scientists and pharmacists worked the way these others work, all of us would be dead!
KAE 8 years ago
I meant "....She was thrown out of......"
I meant "....She was thrown out of......"
LONTO-BOY 8 years ago
KAE,
Samia's allegation and other instances of electoral malpractice is because the system of Ghana's voter registration is open to fraud. Ghana has no standard database of its citizens and foreign nationals living and work ... read full comment
KAE,
Samia's allegation and other instances of electoral malpractice is because the system of Ghana's voter registration is open to fraud. Ghana has no standard database of its citizens and foreign nationals living and working in Ghana.
More so, the EC don't look into such allegations because of 'politics'.
James 8 years ago
Is the total population as captured by the census accurate?
If the census figure is actually smaller than the true total population figure then the registered voter rate could be higher than expected.
Besides if voters are ... read full comment
Is the total population as captured by the census accurate?
If the census figure is actually smaller than the true total population figure then the registered voter rate could be higher than expected.
Besides if voters are marked with indelible ink after casting their vote then if should be difficult to vote multiple times
samson 8 years ago
So Kofi Attah, what is the point of your article? It is a complete waste of time. Don't you get it that in diplomacy there is nothing like facts? It is a game of shifting the goal post. All over the world this is the norm in ... read full comment
So Kofi Attah, what is the point of your article? It is a complete waste of time. Don't you get it that in diplomacy there is nothing like facts? It is a game of shifting the goal post. All over the world this is the norm in politics. Here in the UK when a government official says something that is controversial and another government spokes person is asked to comment do you ever hear them speaking against the person who made controversial statement? Why don't you contact Vicky herself to clarify matters? She is alive and kicking and can speak for herself. Since you are here in the UK, make an appointment to see her. It seems to me that this matter is of such importance to you that you must get clarification from the horse's own mouth.
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 8 years ago
sampson, I am not saying that the FCO or Imogen Maxwell should have contradicted Vicki Morley or the Higher Commissioner but it was wrong for them to say that some media in Ghana were willfully misinterpreting what was writte ... read full comment
sampson, I am not saying that the FCO or Imogen Maxwell should have contradicted Vicki Morley or the Higher Commissioner but it was wrong for them to say that some media in Ghana were willfully misinterpreting what was written. Again, there could be a reasonable explanation for why Ghana's voter registration is 10% above the African average. Last but certainly not the least, their language was undiplomatic.
I asked to speak to Vicki Morley herself but she was not at her desk and her answer machine was not accepting messages. That is why I exchanged e-mails with Imogen Maxwell.
Prof Lungu 8 years ago
We will not say the Ghanaian Voters' Register is perfect?
Neither can we say the "US voters register" is perfect?
Still it is nonsense, to keep this settled item on, and on, and on!
ITEM: Given the context, Ghana d ... read full comment
We will not say the Ghanaian Voters' Register is perfect?
Neither can we say the "US voters register" is perfect?
Still it is nonsense, to keep this settled item on, and on, and on!
ITEM: Given the context, Ghana does not need a "New Voters' Register".
(Bawumia never made a case! In fact, he nevr finished presenting his case. Read our response to Bawumia's Case, at www.GhanaHero.com/Visions, under "Prof Lungu Says....):
Let's get that!
So, what British crap of a "continental average"?
Why not the "continental median"?
Why not the "continental mode"?
So what?
Maybe the British are trying to play from both sides of their mouths?
After all, they must know they have a permanent interest! Sadly, many Ghanaians and Ghana supporters do not even have that elementary factor in their depreciated brains when they talk about these matters.
REGISTERED VOTERS TO POPULATION (%):
USA--------------53.39
Sweden-----------82.6
Senegal..........41.5
Tanzania---------42.5
Nigeria----------41.7
Mauritius--------70.38
South Africa-----47.75
Ghana------------56.2
Are we going to say Sweden is bloated?
Do you factor into the equation how many years Ghanaians have been voting since independence?
That nobody is chasing anyone to main, like they typically did in Kenya, South Africa?
Civil wars fought in other places that can make nonsense of a voters registers?
Development and illiteracy rates among the countries?
Unitary/cohesion facilitated by Kwame Nkrumah since the 1950s?
That, if you fail to precisely count the population it does not prevent them from registering to vote.
Let's be serious!
Gordon 8 years ago
In Sweden, there is NO registration of voters. Everybody is already registered since the country has a wonderful data system of registration of its inhabitants. The country was the first in modern times to start keeping recor ... read full comment
In Sweden, there is NO registration of voters. Everybody is already registered since the country has a wonderful data system of registration of its inhabitants. The country was the first in modern times to start keeping records of its citizens when pastors throughout the kingdom were obliged to keep records of all the residents in their parish.
The 82% may just be all the eligible voters in the country. Nobody is ever left out. It's almost impossible to be left out or counted twice!
Prof Lungu 8 years ago
Gordon,
Thanks greatly for the insight!
We imagine it is the sense of community and caring, knowing that they are all one community, that allows for the "wonderful data system of registration of its inhabitants".
the ... read full comment
Gordon,
Thanks greatly for the insight!
We imagine it is the sense of community and caring, knowing that they are all one community, that allows for the "wonderful data system of registration of its inhabitants".
there are people and governance behind the data, we all know!
Now, we can still contrast Ghana to US!
To the point, Ghana has a lesson to teach the US, obviously. But, by advancing "continental average", we do not give credit to Ghana for true democratic, electoral achievement.
And so, the NPP lackeys keep on hyping that nonsense about "bloat"!
ITEM: Goes to show that the so-called "continental average" is bull crap, especially coming from the UK, or their officials, if it did!
Or, maybe Kofi Atta (to the extent he is still chasing the spent story), and the British (to the extent they are reported to have put forth that toli of "average"), can tell us there is a statistically significant difference between South Africa and Ghana, or between Mauritania and Ghana, etc. that can only be explained by deliberate cheating that causes "bloat".
Thanks!
Mr Bond 8 years ago
The British High Commissioner to Ghana is an NDC stooge and Bootlick period.The British High Commissioner has disgrace the integrity of the Government for his political interest.The commissioner underestimate our ability to d ... read full comment
The British High Commissioner to Ghana is an NDC stooge and Bootlick period.The British High Commissioner has disgrace the integrity of the Government for his political interest.The commissioner underestimate our ability to detect lies.What a shame.
kweku trouble 8 years ago
What was this bah bah black sheep about? Your allegations sound typically Bawumiaish; no substance.
What was this bah bah black sheep about? Your allegations sound typically Bawumiaish; no substance.
It has become increasingly obvious that the conservative government of David Cameron is playing politics in Ghana in favour of the npp because of their common ideological base and tradition.
As much as I have no quarrel w ...
read full comment
MASSA KOFI, thanks for your time and efforts in contacting the FCO officials in London. The statement provided by the British High Commission in Ghana on Vicki Morley's letter in response to the petition by the 'Concerned Gha ...
read full comment
Hi Lonto,
In summary you are trying to tell readers that Ghana is Ghana and not UK so UK should stay away from Ghana internal affairs.
It is imperative that people have to understand global politicking. Ghana is not on the ...
read full comment
Anokye8, of course, I know Ghana is part of the international community. I do understand the dynamics of international politicking and influences of Western governments in addressing issues.
The problem here is that, the V ...
read full comment
I think anokye8 is saying no country is an island and we third world countries are even more dependent than other countries.
I think it's true that we just can't tell the rich ciuntries to mind their business and leave us ...
read full comment
Good clarification, Foster.
It is however disgusting to note that after wasting all their time in acquiring some degree of education, some Africans - in this case Ghanaians, seem to be more comfortable living under the cl ...
read full comment
Foster D, I like what you've written here, "Even if it's just making pronouncements on our affairs, they should know how they do that". Good. My issue with the FCO is in the context of the response to group's petition. Such p ...
read full comment
UK has its own voter register problem as a result of government changes. It has been reported that an estimated 800,000 people have dropped off the electoral register since the government introduced changes to the system, wit ...
read full comment
going by your own facts as you presented them here, it is either you are daft or you genuinely do not understand issues. if the British government says the voter population in Ghana is 10% more than the continental average, t ...
read full comment
Excellent analysis Mr Ata.
Ata's main point is that Ghanaians use the voter registration ID as an ordinary ID more than in comparable African countries.
But he has not given any evidence of that. He has not told us that South Africa and other count ...
read full comment
Foster D, Ghana's Voter ID being used as a de facto National ID Card is not from me but EC's explanation as to why Ghana has more than the African average percentage of registered voters per the eligible voter population. I a ...
read full comment
According to UK electoral rules,EU nationals cannot vote in UK national elections if they are not naturalized British citizens..However,they can vote in European elections. Trouble is, once their name or names are on the UK v ...
read full comment
Kofi,
Forget about the FCO and the British High Commissioner in Ghana. This is a Ghanaian problem for which all of us, particularly those of us who call ourselves educated have buried our heads in the sand, mostly for triba ...
read full comment
"Worldwide, the one country that registers the highest number of its eligible voters is Argentina, with 48%, followed by South Africa with 47.4%. Nigeria registers 38.8% of its eligible voters."
Perhaps you should have cla ...
read full comment
South Africa has a national ID system and I suspect Argentina too. In the UK and several European countries registration is compulsory, punishable by a hefty fine in the case of the UK.
I register and vote by post, from th ...
read full comment
KAE, your South African comparative analysis is inaccurate. The competition between NDC and NPP increases voter registration in Ghana. They encourage their members and sympathisers to register and often give then incentives t ...
read full comment
KAE, I do agree with some of the issues in your commentary. However, recorded statistics from different countries are simply not comparable since they're affected by many factors.
Lonto-Boy,
There was a very clear demonstration of the hopelessness of our register in the Jomoro Constituency of the Western Region.
Ms Samia Nkrumah alleged that she thrown out of Parliament with a register that had bal ...
read full comment
I meant "....She was thrown out of......"
KAE,
Samia's allegation and other instances of electoral malpractice is because the system of Ghana's voter registration is open to fraud. Ghana has no standard database of its citizens and foreign nationals living and work ...
read full comment
Is the total population as captured by the census accurate?
If the census figure is actually smaller than the true total population figure then the registered voter rate could be higher than expected.
Besides if voters are ...
read full comment
So Kofi Attah, what is the point of your article? It is a complete waste of time. Don't you get it that in diplomacy there is nothing like facts? It is a game of shifting the goal post. All over the world this is the norm in ...
read full comment
sampson, I am not saying that the FCO or Imogen Maxwell should have contradicted Vicki Morley or the Higher Commissioner but it was wrong for them to say that some media in Ghana were willfully misinterpreting what was writte ...
read full comment
We will not say the Ghanaian Voters' Register is perfect?
Neither can we say the "US voters register" is perfect?
Still it is nonsense, to keep this settled item on, and on, and on!
ITEM: Given the context, Ghana d ...
read full comment
In Sweden, there is NO registration of voters. Everybody is already registered since the country has a wonderful data system of registration of its inhabitants. The country was the first in modern times to start keeping recor ...
read full comment
Gordon,
Thanks greatly for the insight!
We imagine it is the sense of community and caring, knowing that they are all one community, that allows for the "wonderful data system of registration of its inhabitants".
the ...
read full comment
The British High Commissioner to Ghana is an NDC stooge and Bootlick period.The British High Commissioner has disgrace the integrity of the Government for his political interest.The commissioner underestimate our ability to d ...
read full comment
What was this bah bah black sheep about? Your allegations sound typically Bawumiaish; no substance.