The Electoral Commission (EC) on Saturday fixed November
6th as the date to dialogue with Presidential Candidates contesting
Election 2012.
The EC and Presidential Candidates dialogue aims at building
on the integrity of the electoral process for a peaceful poll in
December, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, EC Chairman, told the Ghana News
Agency in an interview.
He said the dialogue was to brief the candidate on
preparations towards Election Day, and also to develop a healthy
relationship between the EC and the candidates. Dr Afari-Gyan told
the GNA that the platform was also to listen to any concern of the
political parties and assured the political leadership that Ghana's
electoral system had an inbuilt mechanism for free, fair and
transparent election.
The EC Chairman reiterated that electoral management was a
shared responsibility among all stakeholders, including the
political parties, media, electoral administrators and democratic
institutions.
He therefore charged all to play their roles effectively to
ensure that the credibility of the electoral process was not
tarnished.
The platform also seeks to offer the candidates the
opportunity to fraternise, share jokes, and dialogue as leaders of
the opposition sits on the same table with the ruling presidential
candidate and vice presidential candidate.
The Presidential Candidates expected to participate in the
dialogue are; President John Dramani Mahama of the National
Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Nana Addo
Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Convention People’s Party’s (CPP) Dr Michael Abu
Sakara Foster and Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom of the Progressive Peoples
Party (PPP).
The rest are The Peoples National Convention’s (PNC) Mr
Hassan Ayariga, United Front Party’s (UFP) Mr Akwasi Adddai Odike,
the Great Consolidated Popular Party’s (GCPP) Mr Henry Lartey and
an Independent Candidate, Mr Jacob Osei Yeboah.
GNA’s investigation indicates that the EC on October 20th,
2008 held the maiden inter-presidential candidates' dialogue
dubbed: "Safeguarding the Integrity of the Ballot".
The maiden dialogue was attended by Presidential Candidates
who contested Election 2008; NPP Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, and
his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia; Democratic Freedom Party
(DFP), Mr Emmanuel Ansah-Antwi; Democratic People's Party (DPP), Mr
Thomas N. Ward-Brew; and the running mate of the PNC, Ms Petra
Maria Amegashie.
Others were; CPP, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, and independent
presidential candidate, Mr Kwesi Amoafo-Yeboah.
The NDC was represented by the General Secretary, Mr Johnson
Asiedu Nketia and National Chairman, Dr Kwabena Adjei while the
Reformed Patriotic Democrats was represented by Mr Francis Kyei,
General Secretary.
Since 1992, Ghana has had uninterrupted democratic practice,
conducting five globally acclaimed successful elections.
