All Is Set For Tuesday, Dec. 7th General Elections

Ghana our beloved country is heading for a historic fourth election under the 4th Republican Constitution. My only specific aim of writing today is to wish all Ghanaians a happy and a blessed election. Let no one stay at home to argue that ”I don't like politics” it is not about politics it about shaping the course of our lives and well-being as people and a Nation. This thing call politics affects the lives of all – children, adults, mothers, fathers and all. It is therefore the reponsibility of all to make sure the right people and/or group get the top job of leading the country. The chance to do so will be begging, coming Tuesday, the 7th of December 2004.

The major task on this date will be in the hands of Dr. Afari Gyan and his Electoral Commission. The EC and Dr. Afari Gyan have the chance to choose between going down into history as heroes or saboteurs of our democracy. It seems absolutely clear that the EC is not ready to compromise its reputation and Ghana is set for a rig-proof election. It was a great relief to hear the Commission assuring the nation that they have a system in place that will make rigging an impossible task.

Nevertheless, the EC alone cannot ensure the fairness of this election. It's equally a civic responsibility of all Ghanaians – individuals, opinion leaders, political parties, chieftaincies, NGOs, religious groups - to ensure victory for our democracy. It may interest many of us to know that it takes few acts of provocation to mess up all what have been systematically built since 1992, when the country embarked on yet another journey towards democracy and the rule of law.

The political parties, led by their various leaderships, are also expected to live up to their vows and promises to ensure a free and fair elections. The campaigns have been quited heated but mostly well conducted. It was a delight and re-assuring witnessing the presidential debate. Ghana's hope and expectation is that the same maturity will be shown when a winner is declared. When this is done, at the end of the day, there will be loser in the real sense of the word but victory for our democracy and rule of law.

The recent information that the Ghana Journalists Association [GJA] has put in place plans to ensure accurate reporting of the results give a welcome relief. According to the President of the association, Ms Ajoa Yeboah-Afari, these measures are intended to contribute to the rapid dissemination of accurate reports of provisional and ratified election results. The Association, she said has establised a direct communication link between the Press Centre and the EC from December 7 until all the results are declared. At this stage of our young democracy, the consequences of misinformation and deceit can be too expensive. It is therefore, not only civic but also a professional responsibility of the Press to put party affiliations aside and liaise with the EC as promised to ensure a violence-free election.

There is also high expectation about the conduct of the security services during the elections. Voting Ghanaian public must be protected from harassments of all types, irrespective of where they may be coming from. Any incidence of misconduct and malpractices must be checked and prevented. It's therefore in line with the need for adequate security that the govt has voted ¢35.3bn for this purpose only. Mr Owusu-Agyemang and the Interior Ministry have reiterated the assurance that the security personnel were confident of facilitating safe, free and fair voting to give meaning to democracy. This is a duty they so much owe the Nation and our young democracy. On Tuesday, December 7th, the period for politicking would be gone and it will be time for action. All eyes should be set on this date and those who want to influence the decision about which group lead the nation should go to the polls. This year's elections is certainly going into our history books as one of the most publicized and debated. Thanks to the magic of information technology, all Ghanaians, including those in the Diaspora, have keenly participated in the debates towards the elections. Every aspect about the elections is history. The first time in the history of the country, a civilian president has completed its term and is seeking a second term. It is for this reason that every Ghanaian voter should feel proud to be part by excercising his/her right to vote.

The New Patriotic Party's [NPP] victory in 2000 and incumbency for the past 4 years have generated lots of curiousity and excitement about these particular elections. Many Ghanaians [including myself] cannot wait to see the verdict of the people. Reports from across the country seem to suggest that the NPP has won mass following in areas which were formerly strongholds for the opposition, esp. the National Democratic Congress [NDC]. The Volta region in particular is where all attention is. Pundits have it that the NPP is not likely to sweep the votes in the region but will certainly do much better than in 2000. The NDC, on the other hand, seem to have reactivated past allegiances quite well and has entrenched its position as the party that can unseat the NPP from the Castle. This makes the match quite interesting and worth our attention and excitement.

It is the expectation of all Ghanaians and the international community to see that all the electoral tenets enshrined in our Constitution are upheld. Ghanaians want and deserve nothing but the best; where the principles of universal adult suffrage for citizens who are 18 years or older, non-compulsory voting, secret ballotting, a free and fair run-off in case none of the presidential candidates score the over 50% mark, and the situation where majority's votes carry the day.

Ghana, our beloved country is calling, don't forget to respond by going to the polls to cast your vote and, for the sake of our democracy, VOTE WISELY.

WE WISH THE ENTIRE ELECTORATE AND THE CANDIDATES A HAPPY AND A BLESSED ELECTION. Peter Ohemeng [Political Commentator]