Front Page: Wednesday, September 24, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, has attributed cases involving political conflict in some parts of the country to the wayward behaviour of some political event organisers.
He has, therefore, challenged political parties and their leaders to stick to their schedule of programmes to avoid the recurring violence in the ongoing electioneering.
The IGP also appealed to the followers of political parties, particularly the youth among them, to learn to comport themselves during political events.
Mr Acheampong, who, together with the Director-General of Police Operations, DCOP Patrick Timbillah, and other officers, spoke to the Daily Graphic yesterday, said any time organisers of political events went against their scheduled programmes, it often resulted in conflicts.
The IGP and his officers from the Ghana Police Service were commenting on the recurring political violence between supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Mr Acheampong said because the police were often not informed of those events which brought about the conflicts, it often created challenges for security personnel.
He said if the youth comported themselves in their interactions, there would always be peace.
He explained that the leadership of the various political parties interacted frequently without any problems, but anytime their followers were involved, there was trouble.
Mr Acheampong said what was surprising was that prior to the electioneering, the youth interacted at both formal and informal levels without conflicts.
For his part, DCOP Timbillah urged political parties to abide by the code of conduct they had all agreed upon to sanitise the electioneering, adding that if they did not abide by their own code of conduct, it would be difficult for the police to compel them to live by it.
Throwing more light on the Public Order Act, Ac 491, Superintendent Zakaria Dudimah said the police could only advise that political parties should not hold semi-events after their main fora for which permission had been granted by the law.
He explained that the law did not indicate the specific time for the close of special events and that the only occasions when the police could refuse the holding of special events at certain places were when the areas had been identified as flash points.
Supt Dudimah said if organisers or patrons of special events went outside the purview of their programmes, the law would deal with them as it would to other citizens.
He said the framers of the law could not have foreseen such violence, saying that explained why the law was silent on rallies held in the night.
Supt Dudimah said politicians must, however, look beyond the law and act in good faith and organise their activities between 6.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m.
The Director of Police Public Affairs, DSP Kwesi Ofori, said the abrupt holding of mini rallies on the way to scheduled places must be reconsidered by the political parties.
He said it made it difficult for the police to be in firm control of events in terms of protecting the leaders and the followers of political parties, as well as ward off any untoward event.
“These dotted spots on the way to planned destinations should be looked at carefully,” he added.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
OIL BOOM * 100 US scholarships for petro-chemical industry
Front Page: Tuesday, September 23, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE US Government has agreed to offer scholarship to Ghanaians to train in the petro-chemical industry in three states in the United States of America (USA).
The programme, which will be conducted at the Masters degree level in universities in those states, will enrol 100 students to begin with from January next year.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, told the Daily Graphic that the deal was clinched during the recent State Visit of President J. A. Kufuor to Washington, D.C.
The minister, who was part of the government delegation to the USA, said on his return home that the training programme was part of the US government’s support for the country in its preparation towards the drilling of oil in the country.
Mr Asamoah-Boateng said the graduate programme was geared towards building the manpower base before the drilling of the oil in 2010.
He said under the programme, accounting and legal staff would also be trained in readiness for the oil boom.
He said the duration of the programme would be between one-and-half years and two years and indicated that although the exact number to be trained would be worked out later, the programme would be rolled on to enable as many people benefit from the petro-chemical-engineering field.
Mr Asamoah-Boateng explained that the government had wished to begin the programme this month but that was not possible because contact with the universities in Texas, Oklahoma and California would take some time.
He noted that hopefully the programme would take off after the mid-semester holidays in January next year.
The minister said the government was grateful to the US government for the support and expressed optimism that the programme would help Ghana to have the optimum number of personnel to man Ghana’s oil industry.
He said a Cabinet sub-committee would be formed to work out the modalities, with support from technocrats in the public service.
Mr Asamoah-Boateng said the technical team would work out very clear guidelines and criteria for the selection of applicants for the programme.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE US Government has agreed to offer scholarship to Ghanaians to train in the petro-chemical industry in three states in the United States of America (USA).
The programme, which will be conducted at the Masters degree level in universities in those states, will enrol 100 students to begin with from January next year.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, told the Daily Graphic that the deal was clinched during the recent State Visit of President J. A. Kufuor to Washington, D.C.
The minister, who was part of the government delegation to the USA, said on his return home that the training programme was part of the US government’s support for the country in its preparation towards the drilling of oil in the country.
Mr Asamoah-Boateng said the graduate programme was geared towards building the manpower base before the drilling of the oil in 2010.
He said under the programme, accounting and legal staff would also be trained in readiness for the oil boom.
He said the duration of the programme would be between one-and-half years and two years and indicated that although the exact number to be trained would be worked out later, the programme would be rolled on to enable as many people benefit from the petro-chemical-engineering field.
Mr Asamoah-Boateng explained that the government had wished to begin the programme this month but that was not possible because contact with the universities in Texas, Oklahoma and California would take some time.
He noted that hopefully the programme would take off after the mid-semester holidays in January next year.
The minister said the government was grateful to the US government for the support and expressed optimism that the programme would help Ghana to have the optimum number of personnel to man Ghana’s oil industry.
He said a Cabinet sub-committee would be formed to work out the modalities, with support from technocrats in the public service.
Mr Asamoah-Boateng said the technical team would work out very clear guidelines and criteria for the selection of applicants for the programme.
Security Task Force assures political parties
Page 53: Monday, September 22, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Greater Accra Regional Elections Security Task Force has assured all political parties and the electorate that it will be fair, firm and transparent in its work before, during and after the December elections.
It said the regional task force would hold a series of fora with the political parties to address their concerns and also collaborate with them to ensure peaceful elections.
The Accra Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) James Oppong-Boanuh, who is also the chairman of the task force, gave the assurance yesterday when the task force held its second meeting to discuss its strategies and how it would work with all stakeholders in this year’s elections.
Other members of the task force are the Tema Regional Police Commander, DCOP John Kudalor; the regional crime officers for Accra and Tema, representatives from the Ghana Immigration Service, the Ghana Armed Forces, the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Prisons Service and the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS).
The rest are the Chief Director of the Greater Accra Regional Co-ordinating Council, the regional directors of the Electoral Commission (EC), the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the Information Services Department (ISD).
DCOP Oppong-Boanuh said the task force would ensure that at every given moment there was peace and that the security of the elections was guaranteed.
He said an educational campaign was crucial in the work of the task force, hence its decision to engage representatives of political parties to deliberate on issues of concern to all the stakeholders.
He said the task force was a non-partisan body and would, therefore, be fair, firm and transparent in all its deliberations with the stakeholders.
DCOP Oppong-Boanuh said the task force had identified all the flash points from different perspectives and had mapped up appropriate strategies to deal with them.
“We can assure all the electorate in the region that there will be adequate security before, during and after the elections. All cases that will be reported to us will be speedily investigated and any person found culpable will be dealt with,” he stated.
He advised against making phone calls to radio stations with unverified information which could inflame passions.
DCOP Oppong-Boanuh said anyone with information on any electoral malpractice should call the task force for it to deal with the problem.
He said it was important that people did not take the law into their own hands, since that was not the way to resolve disputes.
He called on Ghanaians to support the task force by providing relevant information to it for speedy investigations.
On whether private security personnel would be enrolled to support in the work of the security agencies, DCOP Oppong-Boanuh said private security firms did not have any role to play in the elections.
He said private security personnel would, however, continue with their normal guard duties at residences and institutions where they were already providing services.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Greater Accra Regional Elections Security Task Force has assured all political parties and the electorate that it will be fair, firm and transparent in its work before, during and after the December elections.
It said the regional task force would hold a series of fora with the political parties to address their concerns and also collaborate with them to ensure peaceful elections.
The Accra Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) James Oppong-Boanuh, who is also the chairman of the task force, gave the assurance yesterday when the task force held its second meeting to discuss its strategies and how it would work with all stakeholders in this year’s elections.
Other members of the task force are the Tema Regional Police Commander, DCOP John Kudalor; the regional crime officers for Accra and Tema, representatives from the Ghana Immigration Service, the Ghana Armed Forces, the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Prisons Service and the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS).
The rest are the Chief Director of the Greater Accra Regional Co-ordinating Council, the regional directors of the Electoral Commission (EC), the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the Information Services Department (ISD).
DCOP Oppong-Boanuh said the task force would ensure that at every given moment there was peace and that the security of the elections was guaranteed.
He said an educational campaign was crucial in the work of the task force, hence its decision to engage representatives of political parties to deliberate on issues of concern to all the stakeholders.
He said the task force was a non-partisan body and would, therefore, be fair, firm and transparent in all its deliberations with the stakeholders.
DCOP Oppong-Boanuh said the task force had identified all the flash points from different perspectives and had mapped up appropriate strategies to deal with them.
“We can assure all the electorate in the region that there will be adequate security before, during and after the elections. All cases that will be reported to us will be speedily investigated and any person found culpable will be dealt with,” he stated.
He advised against making phone calls to radio stations with unverified information which could inflame passions.
DCOP Oppong-Boanuh said anyone with information on any electoral malpractice should call the task force for it to deal with the problem.
He said it was important that people did not take the law into their own hands, since that was not the way to resolve disputes.
He called on Ghanaians to support the task force by providing relevant information to it for speedy investigations.
On whether private security personnel would be enrolled to support in the work of the security agencies, DCOP Oppong-Boanuh said private security firms did not have any role to play in the elections.
He said private security personnel would, however, continue with their normal guard duties at residences and institutions where they were already providing services.
Fleeing cocaine suspect injured* 2 others in custody.
Front Page: Saturday, September 20, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A 31-year-old man, David Danso, who allegedly attempted to smuggle a substance suspected to be cocaine outside the country jumped from the first floor of the Departure Hall of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to escape arrest.
The suspect, who was fleeing from operatives of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) after he had been invited by them, received multiple fractures on his left thigh as a result of the heavy fall on the ground floor of the main airport building.
He is currently on admission at the 37 Military Hospital receiving treatment and the doctors say he will be there for the next 10 weeks.
Two other suspects, Daniel Mensah, 23, and Frank Amoako, 37, who were arrested later are in custody pending further investigations.
The three suspects have together expelled a total of 199 pellets of the drug.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of NACOB, Mr Francis Opoku Amoah, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that about 10:30 p.m. on August 30, 2008, Danso, who was resident in London, was the last person to go through departure formalities to board a London-bound flight.
Mr Amoah said while Danso was on his way to board the aircraft, operatives of NACOB invited him for random checks but he quickly turned and took to his heels.
According to the NACOB PRO, after meandering his way through Immigration Control, Danso jumped onto the ground floor.
Mr Amoah said Danso was rushed to the 37 Military Hospital where he was admitted for treatment.
While on admission, he said, the suspect expelled 64 pellets of the substance.
He said upon interrogation, Danso claimed that a United States of America-based friend of his, Alhaji Musah, had sent him £1,500 to enable him to meet his financial obligations in Ghana before returning to London.
Mr Amoah said Danso, however, claimed that Alhaji Musah gave him that amount on condition that he took some drugs to London on his behalf.
On Mensah, the PRO said the suspect was arrested at the airport about 7.00 p.m. on September 6, 2008 while going through departure formalities for Holland.
Mr Amoah said the suspect confessed to swallowing 65 pellets of the drug which had been given to him by someone he identified only as Emma at Madina for a fee of 3,500 euros.
He said the suspect had since expelled all the 65 pellets.
According to Mr Amoah, Amoako was arrested on September 10, 2008 while going through departure formalities for Germany, where he was based.
He said Amoako confessed to swallowing 50 pellets but expelled 70 pellets after he had been detained.
The PRO said Amoako claimed that he was to deliver the drugs to someone he identified only as Shivry in Berlin for a fee of 3,500 euros.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A 31-year-old man, David Danso, who allegedly attempted to smuggle a substance suspected to be cocaine outside the country jumped from the first floor of the Departure Hall of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to escape arrest.
The suspect, who was fleeing from operatives of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) after he had been invited by them, received multiple fractures on his left thigh as a result of the heavy fall on the ground floor of the main airport building.
He is currently on admission at the 37 Military Hospital receiving treatment and the doctors say he will be there for the next 10 weeks.
Two other suspects, Daniel Mensah, 23, and Frank Amoako, 37, who were arrested later are in custody pending further investigations.
The three suspects have together expelled a total of 199 pellets of the drug.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of NACOB, Mr Francis Opoku Amoah, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that about 10:30 p.m. on August 30, 2008, Danso, who was resident in London, was the last person to go through departure formalities to board a London-bound flight.
Mr Amoah said while Danso was on his way to board the aircraft, operatives of NACOB invited him for random checks but he quickly turned and took to his heels.
According to the NACOB PRO, after meandering his way through Immigration Control, Danso jumped onto the ground floor.
Mr Amoah said Danso was rushed to the 37 Military Hospital where he was admitted for treatment.
While on admission, he said, the suspect expelled 64 pellets of the substance.
He said upon interrogation, Danso claimed that a United States of America-based friend of his, Alhaji Musah, had sent him £1,500 to enable him to meet his financial obligations in Ghana before returning to London.
Mr Amoah said Danso, however, claimed that Alhaji Musah gave him that amount on condition that he took some drugs to London on his behalf.
On Mensah, the PRO said the suspect was arrested at the airport about 7.00 p.m. on September 6, 2008 while going through departure formalities for Holland.
Mr Amoah said the suspect confessed to swallowing 65 pellets of the drug which had been given to him by someone he identified only as Emma at Madina for a fee of 3,500 euros.
He said the suspect had since expelled all the 65 pellets.
According to Mr Amoah, Amoako was arrested on September 10, 2008 while going through departure formalities for Germany, where he was based.
He said Amoako confessed to swallowing 50 pellets but expelled 70 pellets after he had been detained.
The PRO said Amoako claimed that he was to deliver the drugs to someone he identified only as Shivry in Berlin for a fee of 3,500 euros.
Modernisation work on Police Hospital begins
Page 72: Thursday, September 18, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia
WORK on the £22 million Police Hospital redevelopment project has started in earnest.
The government-sponsored project, which is expected to be completed in January, 2011, is being undertaken by the International Hospitals Group (IHG).
When completed, the hospital would comprise a Medical Block to house an Accident and Emergency Unit, an Imaging Department with MRI and CT operating theatre, an Intensive Care Unit, Central Sterile Stores, an Outpatients Department, a Dental Suite, a Dispensary and a three-storey 250-bed capacity wards, VIP units and a mortuary.
Infrastructure such as a ramp to link up departments and facilities for the physically challenged would also be provided.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr P. K. Acheampong, accompanied by members of the Headquarters Management and Advisory Board (HEMAB), visited the site to apprise themselves of work on the ground.
The resident engineer of the project, Mr Mord Jehu-Appiah, who conducted the HEMAB members and newsmen round the site, said the hospital would be fortified against earthquakes.
He said in view of the location, the hospital would be protected with cavity walls to make it sound-proof from the sounds of aeroplanes taking off or landing and any other noise that might disturb patient care.
Mr Jehu-Appiah observed, however, that there was a major problem with the main sewage from the Flagstaff House and surrounding areas to the discharge point.
He, therefore, appealed to the IGP to draw the attention of the authorities to the problem so that it could be addressed before any disaster struck the nation’s capital.
For his part, Mr Acheampong said he was highly impressed with the amount of work done so far.
He noted that what was being referred to as the Police Hospital was in fact properties seized and being used as a hospital.
He said the current facility would be integrated into the new hospital when work was completed.
Mr Acheampong urged the contractors to work hard to complete the project ahead of schedule.
Story: Albert K. Salia
WORK on the £22 million Police Hospital redevelopment project has started in earnest.
The government-sponsored project, which is expected to be completed in January, 2011, is being undertaken by the International Hospitals Group (IHG).
When completed, the hospital would comprise a Medical Block to house an Accident and Emergency Unit, an Imaging Department with MRI and CT operating theatre, an Intensive Care Unit, Central Sterile Stores, an Outpatients Department, a Dental Suite, a Dispensary and a three-storey 250-bed capacity wards, VIP units and a mortuary.
Infrastructure such as a ramp to link up departments and facilities for the physically challenged would also be provided.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr P. K. Acheampong, accompanied by members of the Headquarters Management and Advisory Board (HEMAB), visited the site to apprise themselves of work on the ground.
The resident engineer of the project, Mr Mord Jehu-Appiah, who conducted the HEMAB members and newsmen round the site, said the hospital would be fortified against earthquakes.
He said in view of the location, the hospital would be protected with cavity walls to make it sound-proof from the sounds of aeroplanes taking off or landing and any other noise that might disturb patient care.
Mr Jehu-Appiah observed, however, that there was a major problem with the main sewage from the Flagstaff House and surrounding areas to the discharge point.
He, therefore, appealed to the IGP to draw the attention of the authorities to the problem so that it could be addressed before any disaster struck the nation’s capital.
For his part, Mr Acheampong said he was highly impressed with the amount of work done so far.
He noted that what was being referred to as the Police Hospital was in fact properties seized and being used as a hospital.
He said the current facility would be integrated into the new hospital when work was completed.
Mr Acheampong urged the contractors to work hard to complete the project ahead of schedule.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Speak up against politics of falsehood - Prah
Page 17: September 16, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Supreme Knight of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall, Sir Knight Eddie Prah, has called on its members to speak up against the politics of falsehood and violence that sections of the society are perpetuating.
“It is possible that some of the people who are issuing threats, using abusive language and spreading falsehood about political opponents on radio and in the print media are our friends, family members, church members, work colleagues, or even Marshallan brothers and sisters,” he noted.
Sir Kt. Prah, therefore, urged members of the Marshallan fraternity, a catholic friendly society, not to keep silent while people perpetuate actions that could create problems for all Ghanaians.
In his monthly message to the Marshallan fraternity for the month of September 2008, Sir Kt. Prah urged members to opt for peace in whatever way possible during the period of political campaign.
He said members had a duty and responsibility to conduct themselves in ways that expressed love for their political opponents.
He entreated members and the society at large, to get involved in issue-based discussions that threw light on which political grouping one ought to associate with.
“Let us attend political rallies if we feel so inclined. Let us even join in the many discussions on radio and in the print media if we contribute to the quality of debate and win members for our preferred party,” he said.
He, however, advised that in doing all those, Ghanaians should also remember that an election was not a do and die affair and neither “was electioneering campaign a preparation for war”.
Sir Kt. Prah reminded Ghanaians of a communiqué issued by the Knights of Marshall in January, this year, which appealed to all political parties in the country to be civil in their campaign messages, avoid infractions of the electoral laws and refrain from the use of language that would likely inflame passions and disturb the peace of the country.
“In the same communiqué, the Noble Order cautioned both the print and electronic media to think Ghana first in their reportage of events leading to the December elections. Similarly, the communiqué urged the Electoral Commission to ensure that it conducts free and fair elections,” he recalled.
According to him, if the interest shown in the recent voters’ registration exercise was anything to go by, then Ghanaians were in for very interesting times in the next few months.
Sir Kt. Prah, therefore, enjoined all Marshallans including those in foreign countries, to pray unceasingly during “these critical moments preceding the national elections in Ghana for the Lord to look with favour on his people, tame the hearts of trouble makers and protect us from all dangers”.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Supreme Knight of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall, Sir Knight Eddie Prah, has called on its members to speak up against the politics of falsehood and violence that sections of the society are perpetuating.
“It is possible that some of the people who are issuing threats, using abusive language and spreading falsehood about political opponents on radio and in the print media are our friends, family members, church members, work colleagues, or even Marshallan brothers and sisters,” he noted.
Sir Kt. Prah, therefore, urged members of the Marshallan fraternity, a catholic friendly society, not to keep silent while people perpetuate actions that could create problems for all Ghanaians.
In his monthly message to the Marshallan fraternity for the month of September 2008, Sir Kt. Prah urged members to opt for peace in whatever way possible during the period of political campaign.
He said members had a duty and responsibility to conduct themselves in ways that expressed love for their political opponents.
He entreated members and the society at large, to get involved in issue-based discussions that threw light on which political grouping one ought to associate with.
“Let us attend political rallies if we feel so inclined. Let us even join in the many discussions on radio and in the print media if we contribute to the quality of debate and win members for our preferred party,” he said.
He, however, advised that in doing all those, Ghanaians should also remember that an election was not a do and die affair and neither “was electioneering campaign a preparation for war”.
Sir Kt. Prah reminded Ghanaians of a communiqué issued by the Knights of Marshall in January, this year, which appealed to all political parties in the country to be civil in their campaign messages, avoid infractions of the electoral laws and refrain from the use of language that would likely inflame passions and disturb the peace of the country.
“In the same communiqué, the Noble Order cautioned both the print and electronic media to think Ghana first in their reportage of events leading to the December elections. Similarly, the communiqué urged the Electoral Commission to ensure that it conducts free and fair elections,” he recalled.
According to him, if the interest shown in the recent voters’ registration exercise was anything to go by, then Ghanaians were in for very interesting times in the next few months.
Sir Kt. Prah, therefore, enjoined all Marshallans including those in foreign countries, to pray unceasingly during “these critical moments preceding the national elections in Ghana for the Lord to look with favour on his people, tame the hearts of trouble makers and protect us from all dangers”.
Blueprint for election Task Force released
Page 3: September 16, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia
WITH 12 weeks to Election 2008, the National Elections Security Task Force has made public the blueprint by which it hopes to ensure credible and violence-free polls.
The strategy, contained in a document titled, “Know Your Responsibilities as a Security Officer”, specifies the activities of the members of the task force on election day, their role in curbing election infraction and how they are to relate to the various players, including the media.
It said security officials to be deployed to maintain the peace on voting day were to ensure the safety of all election materials by guarding and escorting them, ensuring orderliness of voting queues and taking steps to prevent violence before, during and after the elections.
The National Election Security Task Force is made up of personnel from the Police Service, the Immigration Service, the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), the Fire Service and the Prisons Service.
They are required to take measures to prevent any activity which has the potential of disturbing the process, carry out lawful instructions from the presiding or returning officers of the Electoral Commission in relation to the elections and stand at the end of the queues at 5.00 p.m. prompt on election day to ensure that no person joined them after that time.
Additionally, the security personnel are forbidden from accepting gifts, presents, favours, gratitude or promises that could be interpreted as seeking to influence them in the performance of their official responsibilities. They are not to leave the polling stations during voting and before counting and declaration of results and are to ensure the security of the ballot boxes to designated sites after the voting exercise.
The brochure admonishes security personnel not to “take part in the actual administration of the elections, do not check the ID cards of voters, do not take part in the counting of votes, do not harass or intimidate any candidate or voter and not to be partisan”.
Touching on their relationship with the media, the brochure said security personnel were to refer media personnel to the public affairs directorate/unit or the command headquarters. They were also admonished not to intimidate the media but be polite to them. But they were not to give out information that could or might jeopardise the conduct of the elections.
On election day, security personnel are required to be punctual and alert on duty, treat everyone fairly, be open and honest, be team players, use minimum force when necessary and provide responsible, effective and high quality services with honesty and integrity.
The electoral offences outlined in the document included giving one’s voter ID card to another person to vote, forging, counterfeiting or fraudulently destroying a ballot paper or the official mark on a ballot paper, supplying a ballot paper to any person without authority, selling or offering to sell a ballot paper to any person, as well as purchasing or offering to purchase a ballot paper from any person.
Other offences are intentionally putting anything other than the ballot paper into the ballot box, possessing a ballot paper which has an official mark without authorisation, opening, taking, destroying or interfering with a ballot box, ballot paper in use or intended to be used for the purposes of an election, printing a ballot paper or anything capable of being used as a ballot paper at an election, making a mark on a ballot paper issued to somebody with the intention of it being counted as the vote of that person and voting at an election at which one is not entitled to vote.
The rest are voting more than once at an election, interfering with the work of a presiding officer, removing posters lawfully posted in connection with the election, compelling somebody to vote in a particular way, impeding or preventing a voter from freely exercising his/her right to vote, assisting a political party or candidate to gain unfair advantage over others and making or publishing by written or spoken word or by song a false statement about the personal character of a candidate or the conduct of a political party.
Story: Albert K. Salia
WITH 12 weeks to Election 2008, the National Elections Security Task Force has made public the blueprint by which it hopes to ensure credible and violence-free polls.
The strategy, contained in a document titled, “Know Your Responsibilities as a Security Officer”, specifies the activities of the members of the task force on election day, their role in curbing election infraction and how they are to relate to the various players, including the media.
It said security officials to be deployed to maintain the peace on voting day were to ensure the safety of all election materials by guarding and escorting them, ensuring orderliness of voting queues and taking steps to prevent violence before, during and after the elections.
The National Election Security Task Force is made up of personnel from the Police Service, the Immigration Service, the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), the Fire Service and the Prisons Service.
They are required to take measures to prevent any activity which has the potential of disturbing the process, carry out lawful instructions from the presiding or returning officers of the Electoral Commission in relation to the elections and stand at the end of the queues at 5.00 p.m. prompt on election day to ensure that no person joined them after that time.
Additionally, the security personnel are forbidden from accepting gifts, presents, favours, gratitude or promises that could be interpreted as seeking to influence them in the performance of their official responsibilities. They are not to leave the polling stations during voting and before counting and declaration of results and are to ensure the security of the ballot boxes to designated sites after the voting exercise.
The brochure admonishes security personnel not to “take part in the actual administration of the elections, do not check the ID cards of voters, do not take part in the counting of votes, do not harass or intimidate any candidate or voter and not to be partisan”.
Touching on their relationship with the media, the brochure said security personnel were to refer media personnel to the public affairs directorate/unit or the command headquarters. They were also admonished not to intimidate the media but be polite to them. But they were not to give out information that could or might jeopardise the conduct of the elections.
On election day, security personnel are required to be punctual and alert on duty, treat everyone fairly, be open and honest, be team players, use minimum force when necessary and provide responsible, effective and high quality services with honesty and integrity.
The electoral offences outlined in the document included giving one’s voter ID card to another person to vote, forging, counterfeiting or fraudulently destroying a ballot paper or the official mark on a ballot paper, supplying a ballot paper to any person without authority, selling or offering to sell a ballot paper to any person, as well as purchasing or offering to purchase a ballot paper from any person.
Other offences are intentionally putting anything other than the ballot paper into the ballot box, possessing a ballot paper which has an official mark without authorisation, opening, taking, destroying or interfering with a ballot box, ballot paper in use or intended to be used for the purposes of an election, printing a ballot paper or anything capable of being used as a ballot paper at an election, making a mark on a ballot paper issued to somebody with the intention of it being counted as the vote of that person and voting at an election at which one is not entitled to vote.
The rest are voting more than once at an election, interfering with the work of a presiding officer, removing posters lawfully posted in connection with the election, compelling somebody to vote in a particular way, impeding or preventing a voter from freely exercising his/her right to vote, assisting a political party or candidate to gain unfair advantage over others and making or publishing by written or spoken word or by song a false statement about the personal character of a candidate or the conduct of a political party.
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