Ablekuma West voters angry as voting delays at Shiabu 1 centre

Voters who had been queuing since late last night at the Shiabu 1 polling station in the Ablekuma West constituency in the Greater Accra Region so they could cast their ballot early, got infuriated on Monday, 7 December 2020 as polling materials did not arrive on schedule for the voting to start.

The visibly angry voters complained bitterly about why the voting materials had not arrived 30 minutes after 7 am, which is the time the polling was to have started.

One voter complained that some of them had been queuing since midnight and dawn and yet the voting had not started as of 7:34 am.

“We want them to explain to us why there is a delay but nobody is telling us anything”, he said.

Today, about 17,027,971 eligible Ghanaian voters are expected to cast their ballot, as part of the process of electing a new President and 275 new Members of Parliament for a fresh four-year mandate.

There are 12 candidates vying for the presidency.

They include President Nana Akufo-Addo of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and former President John Mahama of the biggest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The others are Akua Donkor of GFP, Dr Henry Lartey of GCPP, Dr Hassan Ayariga of APC, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings of NDP, Mr Ivor Kobina Greenstreet of CPP, Brigitte Dzogbenuku of the PPP; Mr Alfred Kwame Asiedu Walker, an independent aspirant and Reverend Christian Kwabena Andrew (Osofo Kyiri Abosom) of GUM.

The rest are Mr David Apasera of the PNC and Mr Kofi Akpaloo of the LPG.

Mr Alfred Kwame Asiedu Walker filed with Jacob Osei Yeboah as running mate, President Nana Akufo-Addo filed with Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, Christian Kwabena Andrews (Osofo Kyiri Abosom) filed with Abu Grant Lukman, Brigitte Dzogbenuku filed with Kofi Asamoah-Siaw and former President John Mahama filed with Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang.

Akua Donkor filed with Ernest Frimpong Manso, former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings filed with Peter Tennyson Asamoah, Kofi Koranteng filed with Carl Asare Morgan, Hassan Ayariga filed with Frank Yao Kuadey and Ivor Greenstreet filed with Bobobee Emmanuel Yaovi Hunnuor.

Additionally, Dr Henry Lartey filed with Andy Bampoe-Sekyi, Marricke Gane filed with Kenneth Ofosu-Barko, Akwasi Addae Odike filed with Georgina Oduro, Kwasi Busumbru filed with William Kwame Adom, Nana Agyenin Boateng filed with Nana Agyei Ntow, Percival Kofi Akpaloo filed with Margaret Obrine Sarfo and David Apasera filed with Divine Ayivor.

For the 2020 election, the EC has created 38,622 polling stations across the country.

According to the election management body, that figure is some 10,000 polling stations more than those used in the 2016 polls.

The threshold is 749 voters per polling stations.

“It is important to note, however, that more than 70% of the polling stations have 500 voters or less”, EC Chair Jean Mensa told journalists on Sunday, 6 December 2020.

“We have reduced the threshold to minimise overcrowding and long queues”, she explained, adding: “We have no doubt that voters will enjoy a hassle-free and seamless experience at all polling stations across the country”.

The EC has trained some 240,000 field officials for the election.

It is using 74,800 brand new biometric verification devices in this election.

Profile of presidential candidates

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was born on 29 March 1944. He is the incumbent President of Ghana.

He has been in office since 7 January 2017.

He previously served as Attorney General from 2001 to 2003 and as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2003 to 2007 under the Kufuor administration.

Nana Akufo-Addo first ran for president in 2008 and again in 2012 but lost both times, as the candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). He was defeated on both occasions by the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) candidates: Prof John Evans Atta Mills (2008) and John Dramani Mahama (2012).

He was elected as the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party for the third time for the 2016 general elections in which he defeated the incumbent, Mr John Dramani Mahama in the first round.

Nana Akufo-Addo won with 53.85% of the votes.

Nana Akufo-Addo is a lawyer.

His running mate is Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

John Dramani Mahama

John Dramani Mahama was born on 29 November 1958. He served as the President of Ghana from 24 July 2012 to 7 January 2017.

He previously served as Vice-President of Ghana from January 2009 to July 2012 and took office as president on 24 July 2012 following the death of his boss, Prof John Atta Mills in office.

Mr Mahama served as a Member of Parliament for Bole Bamboi from 1997 to 2009 and Minister of Communication from 1998 to 2001.

Mr Mahama is a communication expert, historian and writer.

His running mate is Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang.

Christian Kwabena Andrews (Osofo Kyiri Abosom)

Mr Christian Kwabena Andrews, popularly known as Osofo Kyiri Abosom, is a Ghanaian priest and politician.

The pastor launched the Ghana Union Movement (GUM) in March 2019.

During the event, he described himself as the new Kwame Nkrumah and declared that the "spirit of Nkrumah is back".

He hopes to be able to break the duopoly jinx of the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), which have dominated Ghanaian politics in the Fourth Republic.

Osofo Kyiri Abosom is a farmer, entrepreneur and businessman.

His running mate is Abu Grant Lukman.

Ivor Kobina Greenstreet

Mr Ivor Kobina Greenstreet was born on 31 May 1966.

In 2004, he was elected by the Convention People’s Party (CPP) as its parliamentary candidate for the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency, which he lost to Akosua Frema Osei-Opare (the current Chief of Staff in the Akufo-Addo government) of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

He was the first General Secretary to be re-elected twice for the CPP.

He was elected the flagbearer of the party in the lead-up to the 2016 election but could not win the presidency.

Mr Greenstreet is a lawyer.

His running mate is Bobobee Emmanuel Yaovi Hunnuor

Akua Donkor

Madam Akua Donkor was born in 1952.

She is the founder and leader of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP).

Akua Donkor served as assemblywoman for Herman.

She was barred from the 2012 polls by the Electoral Commission over errors on her nomination forms.

She ran for president again in the 2016 polls but was disqualified again by the EC.

She is a cocoa farmer.

Her running mate is Ernest Frimpong Manso, a journalist.

Dr Henry Herbert Lartey

Dr Henry Herbert Lartey is an accountant and entrepreneur.

He led the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) in the 2012 election but lost. He polled 38,250 votes out of the more than 10.7 million votes cast.

He replaced his father Daniel Augustus Lartey as the leader of the (GCPP).

He believes in domestication

Dr Herbert Lartey’s running mate is Andy Bampoe Sekyi.

Mr Hassan Ayariga

Mr Hassan Ayariga is an accountant and an entrepreneur.

He is the founder of the All People's Congress (APC).

He was the presidential candidate of the People's National Convention in the December 2012 presidential election. He polled 24,621 of the more than 10.7 million votes cast.

In the presidential primaries of the PNC for the 2016 general election, Mr Ayariga lost to Dr Edward Mahama, who he had beaten to become a presidential candidate in 2012.

Citing anomalies and cheating, he left the party to form a new party, the All People’s Congress (APC) in 2016.

He was disqualified from contesting in the 2016 elections over anomalies on his documents.

His running mate is Frank Yao Kuadey.

Percival Kofi Akpaloo

Mr Percival Kofi Akpaloo founded the Independent People’s Party (IPP) in 2011.

He was the leader of the party in the 2012 election but won no seats.

He was disqualified from contesting the 2016 election as the presidential candidate of the party by the Electoral Commission, a decision he unsuccessfully contested in court.

Mr Akpaloo dissolved the IPP and formed the Liberal Party of Ghana in its stead in March 2017.

He was selected by the party to stand as its presidential candidate in the 2020 election.

His running mate is Margaret Obrian Sarfo.

Mr David Asibi Ayindenaba Apasera

Mr David Apasera was born on 25 April 1962.

He is a former member of parliament for the Bolgatanga constituency of the Upper East Region from 2001 to 2004.

He was elected flagbearer of the People’s National Convention (PNC) in 2020 to contest the December polls.

This is his first attempt at the presidency.

His running mate is Divine Ayivor

Ms Bridgette Akosua Dzogbenuku

Brigitte Dzogbenuku is the founder and Executive Director of Mentoring Women Ghana (MWG), which runs programmes that inspire and empower young women and girls into making a positive difference in their communities. She won the Fortune/Goldman Sachs Women’s Leadership Award in 2008.

Prior to her work at MWG she was General Manager of Aviation Social Centre, a fitness and recreational centre in Accra, where she introduced various innovative fitness programs and events into this niche industry in Ghana. In 2011, she founded Recreational Facilities Management, which became Helm Management Services.

In this role, she managed the Barclays Bank Club House for four years, until September 2015. She has also established Ve Flavour Industries, an edible palm-oil production and packaging for-profit company that works with women in the Volta region of Ghana, contributing to their socio-economic empowerment.

She is also a certified Empowerment Trainer and also served on the Board of Enactus, Ghana.

She’s a mother-of-one.

Brigitte holds a BA in Modern Languages from the University of Ghana, Legon.

She is a former beauty queen. She won the Miss Ghana pageant more than two decades ago.

In 2016, she served as the running mate to Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom of the PPP. The party was, however, disqualified by the Electoral Commission due to errors on their nomination documents.

She was elected flagbearer to contest in this year’s election.

Her running mate is Peter Tennyson Asamoah.

Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings

Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings was the First Lady of Ghana from 4 June 1979 to 24 September 1979 and 31 December 1981 to 7 January 2001 both times under President Jerry John Rawlings.

In 2016, she became the first woman to run for President in Ghana after leaving the National Democratic Congress (NDC), a party her husband founded, to form the National Democratic Party (NDP).

She got 0.16% of the votes cast.

She is leading the party again in this year’s general elections.

Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings is a management consultant.

Her running mate is Peter Tennyson Asamoah.

Mr Alfred Kwame Aseidu Walker

Mr Alfred Kwame Asiedu Walker is the only independent candidate among the lot.

Mr Walker was disqualified from contesting the 2016 presidential election as an independent candidate by the Electoral Commission due to anomalies with his nomination papers.

He unsuccessfully contested this in court prior to the election.

In October, he successfully filed nomination papers to contest the 2020 general election as an independent candidate for the presidency.

He is an industrial designer.

His running mate is Mr Jacob Osei Yeboah, a former independent presidential candidate.