Kufuor Has Huge Task

A Ghanaian election observer, Mr Fred Gobah-Tengey, has called on the Chairman of the African Union, President J. A. Kufuor, to help deepen democracy on the African continent.

He also urged the AU chairman to use his position and influence to free the continent from electoral violence some of which results in fatalities, to enable Africans to benefit meaningfully from the ballot box.

He said Africa, which is very rich in human and natural resources, must not suffer from electoral frauds that involvement in governance beyond prayers and standing as candidates by serving as observers during general elections.

Commenting on the Nigerian election, Mr Gobah- Tengey, who is a Synod Member of the Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) Church, observed that the polls were full of electoral fraud.

“Even in some electoral areas in Nigeria, ballot papers were not sufficient and they ran out of them by 3 p.m., especially in the Ojo Alaba electoral area, and anxious voters had to return home in disappointment,” he stated, adding that at most of the polling stations, voting started at 10 a.m. instead of 8 a.m.

Mr Gobah-Tengey cited an instance at Ward 2, Unit 3 of the Ojo Alaba electoral area, where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) supplied only 295 ballot papers for the 1,046 registered voters.

Comparatively, “the election in the Lagos State with a population of about nine million, was peaceful, unlike the other states, where there were many deaths and chaos”, he stated.

Mr Gobah-Tengey commended the Anglican Church in Lagos, especially the Diocesan Bishop of Lagos West, the Rt Rev Peter A. Adebiyi, for being instrumental in training their people for observation of the polls that contributed immensely to the peaceful election in that state.

He advised Ghanaians to take a cue from the nasty incidents that characterised the Nigerian election by being vigilant and refraining from any acts of hooliganism and electoral manipulation during the 2008 general elections in order to sustain peace, unity and stability in the country.

He also called on the Christian community in Ghana to train electoral observers for the 2008 election to ensure free, fair and credible polls, since Ghana is a peaceful nation.

The other members of the Ghanaian team were the Very Reverend J.Y. Ledoh, the former Moderator of the EP Church and Mr I.K. Kudu, a presbyter of the EP Church.can lead to social and economic instability and strangulation.

Mr Gobah-Tengey, who was on the three-member Ghanaian team sent to Nigeria by the All Africa Conference of Churches at the invitation of the Christian Council of Nigeria to observe that country's presidential election last Saturday, made the call through the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday.

He also appealed to the Christian communities in Africa to extend their involvement in governance beyond prayers and standing as candidates by serving as observers during general elections.

Commenting on the Nigerian election, Mr Gobah- Tengey, who is a Synod Member of the Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) Church, observed that the polls were full of electoral fraud.

“Even in some electoral areas in Nigeria, ballot papers were not sufficient and they ran out of them by 3 p.m., especially in the Ojo Alaba electoral area, and anxious voters had to return home in disappointment,” he stated, adding that at most of the polling stations, voting started at 10 a.m. instead of 8 a.m.

Mr Gobah-Tengey cited an instance at Ward 2, Unit 3 of the Ojo Alaba electoral area, where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) supplied only 295 ballot papers for the 1,046 registered voters.

Comparatively, “the election in the Lagos State with a population of about nine million, was peaceful, unlike the other states, where there were many deaths and chaos”, he stated.

Mr Gobah-Tengey commended the Anglican Church in Lagos, especially the Diocesan Bishop of Lagos West, the Rt Rev Peter A. Adebiyi, for being instrumental in training their people for observation of the polls that contributed immensely to the peaceful election in that state.

He advised Ghanaians to take a cue from the nasty incidents that characterised the Nigerian election by being vigilant and refraining from any acts of hooliganism and electoral manipulation during the 2008 general elections in order to sustain peace, unity and stability in the country.

He also called on the Christian community in Ghana to train electoral observers for the 2008 election to ensure free, fair and credible polls, since Ghana is a peaceful nation.

The other members of the Ghanaian team were the Very Reverend J.Y. Ledoh, the former Moderator of the EP Church and Mr I.K. Kudu, a presbyter of the EP Church.