Is Gen Mosquito’s Over-voting Definition Accurate?

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Akadu Mensema 12 years ago

Great writers stick to a position, even if it is wrong, and summon unpopular evidence to defend it. Most of your essays on Ghanaweb stride the divide, though your legs weigh you to the side of the NDC! Thus what is wrong with ...
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Great writers stick to a position, even if it is wrong, and summon unpopular evidence to defend it. Most of your essays on Ghanaweb stride the divide, though your legs weigh you to the side of the NDC! Thus what is wrong with your essays is that they are full of pandering to hypocrisy and they also are in search of critical perspectives. NPP and NDC - Bawumia and Asiedu Nketiah - may have their definitions of over-voting, but don't you think that when the sun sets, it is the SC's definition that will carry the day's shadow. it is that simple and unalloyed!
Plain Truth, Texas 12 years ago

Kofi Atta, I would have been comfortable with your write-up if you had taken a position between the two definitions after your scholarly analysis. Assuming a voters register has 10 names. Eight (8) registered voters report at ...
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Kofi Atta, I would have been comfortable with your write-up if you had taken a position between the two definitions after your scholarly analysis. Assuming a voters register has 10 names. Eight (8) registered voters report at the polling station and are issued 8 ballot papers to cast their votes while Two (2) of the registered voters failed to turn up ( 1 sick and the other outside the country). Both absentees did not vote by proxy. At the time of counting 10 ballot papers are counted from the ballot box. Do we have an over-vote or not?
Kojo 12 years ago

I think Asiedu Nketsia also mentioned that over-voting occurs when the number of votes in the ballot box at the end of voting exceeds the number of ballot papers torn from the ballot booklet, which will be indicated by the se ...
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I think Asiedu Nketsia also mentioned that over-voting occurs when the number of votes in the ballot box at the end of voting exceeds the number of ballot papers torn from the ballot booklet, which will be indicated by the serial numbers on the ballot papers. So, in the case of your analysis, there is clearly an over-vote because if 8 people show up and are issued with 8 ballot papers, then from the ballot booklet serial numbers, it can be deduced that 8 people voted. So 10 in the ballot box is clearly an over-vote.
insight to the bone 12 years ago

very true , Ghana is over but the pandora box of hegemony ,ethnocentrism , chauvinism , tribal racism , institutional corruption and veiled ideological hate camouflaged into left wing politics has been opened. it is only a m ...
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very true , Ghana is over but the pandora box of hegemony ,ethnocentrism , chauvinism , tribal racism , institutional corruption and veiled ideological hate camouflaged into left wing politics has been opened. it is only a matter of time when the country breaks up peacefully or in war . one can not in these times bury one's head in the sand like an ostrich but should prepare for the once unthinkable . its pay day for all the evils and stubbornness of the corrupt political oligarchy of the last 60 years who have neglected their obligations to the ordinary man for their own selfish gains. today the whispers are slowly becoming thundering shouts for freedom and yes Ghana can never be the same . it changed the day atta mills was brutally murdered and this govt refused an inquest so the truth be known . long live the republic of Akan
John Anamse 12 years ago

I think you might be living in a world of Cucoland. You an idealist and cannot stand up to reason and counter intellectual arguments.

Becareful you are not alone in your world of Akanland. I will not be suprised that after ...
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I think you might be living in a world of Cucoland. You an idealist and cannot stand up to reason and counter intellectual arguments.

Becareful you are not alone in your world of Akanland. I will not be suprised that after creating you Akanland country, you will soon after start thinking of the republic of Oyokoland when you find out the your idealism is not coming to fruition in the Akanland

By the way who will be your president in Akanland. Will Bawumiah be your candidate?

You better face the reality and argue your mind when intelligent people like Kofi Atta put their intellect to work and produce such articles to educate Ghanaians
Dr. Bokor Jnr 12 years ago

I was enjoying the article till you lost me. Now i didn't get the point of the article and towards the end you kind of defended Nketia's definition. Just remember that even if wrong ballots are found in the Presidential box, ...
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I was enjoying the article till you lost me. Now i didn't get the point of the article and towards the end you kind of defended Nketia's definition. Just remember that even if wrong ballots are found in the Presidential box, they are rejected. That is one of the reasons why you hear rejected ballots.
Peter Dogbe 12 years ago

This is what EC Boss Dr. Afari-Djan said about "over-voting":

"Where the number of votes found in the ballot box outnumbers the number of persons verified to vote; the results of that polling station will be cancelled."
...
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This is what EC Boss Dr. Afari-Djan said about "over-voting":

"Where the number of votes found in the ballot box outnumbers the number of persons verified to vote; the results of that polling station will be cancelled."

You can watch EC Boss Dr. Afari-Djan on youtube video ID: WBFAuuTqW7s.

Asiedu-Nketiah is fundamentally wrong.
BGN 12 years ago

Is'nt the number of people verified to vote the same as the number of people on the register, given that the registered voter list followed the biometric registration?

Is'nt the number of people verified to vote the same as the number of people on the register, given that the registered voter list followed the biometric registration?
Peter Dogbe 12 years ago

No, no!!!!!

Note that Asiedu-Nketiah's definition was only describing 100%+ voter turn out.

The basic denominator used in checking over-voting is the number of ballots duly issued for that polling station but not the to ...
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No, no!!!!!

Note that Asiedu-Nketiah's definition was only describing 100%+ voter turn out.

The basic denominator used in checking over-voting is the number of ballots duly issued for that polling station but not the total number of voters on the register.

Consider a polling station with 10 registered voters but only 6 showed up and were duly issued with ballots.
That means a voter turn out of 60%(6 ballots).

According to Asiedu-Nketiah's definition, a total vote counts of 7, 8, 9, or 10 for this scenario should not be considered as over-voting. That we should consider it as over-voting only when there is a vote count of more than 10 for this polling station.

That's fundamentally wrong in principle in arithmetic.

When you drop only 6 ballots in a box you can't and shouldn't draw more than 6 ballots from the box even if you have 2000 people on the voters register.
Plain Truth, Texas 12 years ago

A lot of things happen between voter registration and the actual elections on the polling day. Some registered voters do not turn up to vote because of death, re-location, traveling outside the country, mere apathy, illness e ...
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A lot of things happen between voter registration and the actual elections on the polling day. Some registered voters do not turn up to vote because of death, re-location, traveling outside the country, mere apathy, illness etc. Over-voting simply occurs when the number of ballot papers in the ballot box exceeds the number of verified voters.
I registered as a voter but was outside the country at the time of the elections. I did not vote by proxy although my name remained on the register. If the ballot papers counted, at my designated polling station, tallied with the number of registered voters on the voting register this would simply be an Over-voting. Asiedu Nketiah's definition is simply bogus, baloney, malarky and does not meet any level of human reasoning. That is too illiterate. No wonder the definition comes from the self-confessed village palm wine tapper!

Dave 12 years ago

Every single time you made a post for some time now, it has been this same comments which could only originate from a mentally derailed person that you post-cut and paste, regardless of the thrust of the of the topic under di ...
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Every single time you made a post for some time now, it has been this same comments which could only originate from a mentally derailed person that you post-cut and paste, regardless of the thrust of the of the topic under discussion. If you and the other Idiot; Old Soldier have nothing to post for the benefit of all of us,you are not under any compulsion to do so. Idiot
Agama 12 years ago

What if of the 8 one put both the Presidential and Parliamentary in the same box? What if one put a spoiled ballot? It is more complicated than simple numbers.

What if of the 8 one put both the Presidential and Parliamentary in the same box? What if one put a spoiled ballot? It is more complicated than simple numbers.
venom 12 years ago

Plain truth, your analysis of what constitute over-voting is nothing different from one held by Bawumia but the difficulty is this: why is NPP not insisting on a recount but rather dwelling on administrative errors on the pin ...
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Plain truth, your analysis of what constitute over-voting is nothing different from one held by Bawumia but the difficulty is this: why is NPP not insisting on a recount but rather dwelling on administrative errors on the pink sheet? Under pressure electoral clerks are bound to make mistakes. For instance some of them might have recorded the total number ballots issued for a space provided for total number of ballots cast and this is largely the case. So there is a reason why recounting is not an option for NPP.
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 12 years ago

Plain Truth, I wish you manifested your name in your comment. First, this is not scholarly analysis because scholarly analysis should provide the theoretical basis of the analysis with relevant literature to back any such ana ...
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Plain Truth, I wish you manifested your name in your comment. First, this is not scholarly analysis because scholarly analysis should provide the theoretical basis of the analysis with relevant literature to back any such analysis and conclusions. I wrote for the consumption of the reading public and for academics or students.

Secondly, the subject was not multiple registration or voting, though they can also lead to over-voting. Finally, even if it is true that I did not take a position as you alleged, then let me make you and all those who allude to the same that, not having or taking a position on a matter is by itself a position and there is nothing wrong that.
Peter Dogbe 12 years ago

Compare EC Boss Dr. Afari-Djan's definition of "over-voting" with that of NDC's Asiedu-Nketiah:

"Where the number of votes found in the ballot box outnumbers the number of persons verified to vote; the results of that poll ...
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Compare EC Boss Dr. Afari-Djan's definition of "over-voting" with that of NDC's Asiedu-Nketiah:

"Where the number of votes found in the ballot box outnumbers the number of persons verified to vote; the results of that polling station will be cancelled." Dr. Afari-Djan

You can watch Dr. Afari-Djan on Youtube video ID: WBFAuuTqW7s.

Asiedu-Nketiah said: "Over-voting is number of ballots in the box more than number of voters on the register." He says its entirely possible for a voter to put a presidential ballot into a parliamentary and vice versa."

Note that Asiedu-Nketiah's definition was only describing 100%+ voter turn out.

The basic denominator used in checking over-voting is the number of ballots duly issued for that polling station but not the total number of voters on the register.

Consider a polling station with 10 registered voters but only 6 showed up and were duly issued with ballots.
That means a voter turn out of 60%(6 ballots).

According to Asiedu-Nketiah's definition, a total vote counts of 7, 8, 9, or 10 for this scenario should not be considered as over-voting. That we should consider it as over-voting only when there is a vote count of more than 10 for this polling station.

That's fundamentally wrong in principle in arithmetic.

When you drop only 6 ballots in a box you can't and shouldn't draw more than 6 ballots from the box even if you have 2000 people on the voters register.

Officer, methinks you are too enlightened to fall for this Asiedu-Nketiah's "its entirely possible for a voter to put a presidential ballot into a parliamentary and vice versa." lame excuse.

Note that there is always SORTING of the ballots before counting. So any parliamentary ballots that might have inadvertently found its way into the presidential box(very rare) would be easily picked out. It will never be counted as part of the presidential ballot.

The presidential ballot is way too different from the parliamentary ballot for such mistakes to occur, e.g different faces of candidates.

It would be like counting piglets as chicks.
Nyansasem 12 years ago

Why would you waste my time to read your article and tell me to come out with my own opinion or decision? Don't you think I could use my time to read something better?

This is the reason why in my teen years, my father as ...
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Why would you waste my time to read your article and tell me to come out with my own opinion or decision? Don't you think I could use my time to read something better?

This is the reason why in my teen years, my father asked to stop reading novels and start reading books to engage my brain cells.

Articles like this one is like a novel, you waste your time reading it and you don't learn anything. Taking a stand and given reasons why you wrote such article enhances, encourages and engages the brain cells to accept or reject your reasons and come up with its own reasons. See, critical thinking here!

I don't want to use any insulting word here but just read the conclusion where he is telling us that the SC judges have the EC laws and regulations and therefore should know it, and yet goes on and tell us which one of the definitions are better? Damn, does common sense not dictate then that the SC will use the definition of EC's laws?

This is why I have stopped reading articles here on Ghanaweb lately.
John Anamse 12 years ago

I am not suprised that your father stopped you from reading novels because it shows in the level of analysis in you comment on Kofi's article.

I will advise you to encourage your children to read novels as novels can help ...
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I am not suprised that your father stopped you from reading novels because it shows in the level of analysis in you comment on Kofi's article.

I will advise you to encourage your children to read novels as novels can help improve thier intellect and let them tolerate different points of view.

You stopped short of using insulting words and I commend you for that. Please avoid the temptation to insult on this platform. It is only people who do not have the capacity to think who resort to insults when a different point of view is expressed.
Nyansasem 12 years ago

You need my father's advice to stop reading novels that give you goose bumps for minutes without activating your brain cells.

Sir, I could see that your brain cells are dead because if you read my response you should have ...
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You need my father's advice to stop reading novels that give you goose bumps for minutes without activating your brain cells.

Sir, I could see that your brain cells are dead because if you read my response you should have known that I did not even finish reading the article, let alone TRY to analysis it. Therefore, you can't say anything about my "level of analysis." Do you get it now? From Archaeology to Zoology, if I had time, I could use 10 mins to analysis anything, as I did under the article " Ghanaian nurse" or T.B Joshua..." When an article is not logically sound, I refused to waste my time on it and that is what I did. And here, I respect the author because I have responded to his articles before and that is why I refuse to use "insulting words" like Stupid, nonsense to describe this very article.

And NO, I have always asked 10yrs older kids to read more BOOKS, Magazines, Journals and NEwspapers and stop reading NOVELS. Anything that will arouse their brain cells, not those Novels that give them goose bumps to feel good but fail to help them to think and write critically.

And by way, I see that you name is all over here, and yet you have said nothing about "over-voting definition." Is it because you are competing with your wife and kids on who reads more novels, just asking?
Bomfaboy 12 years ago

It's true the definition of what is over -voting rests with the SC Justices. Having said that, can't we as reasonable people, should be able to understand this? I do not see this as law. This is simply locally adding and subt ...
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It's true the definition of what is over -voting rests with the SC Justices. Having said that, can't we as reasonable people, should be able to understand this? I do not see this as law. This is simply locally adding and subtracting.
Everybody who has even Primary school education the world over, and has followed elections the world over, knows that, there has never been 100 percent voter turn out in any election the world over.
Surely if we can ever have 100 percent turn out then Asiedu Nketias definition is valid, and also confirms Bawumias definition. In that case the number of ballots issued will be equal to the number of people on the register.
Since there has never been, and will never be 100 percent voter turnout, the various scenarios put forward by Bawumia should be seen as the most logical.
On this particular election, ballots issued are of two types: 1 Legitimate... Those verified by the biometric machine and issued with the ballot. 2 Illegitimate....those issued with ballots without going through the biometric machine.
Certainly one has to be on the register, before he/she could be verified by the machine.
So there could be various scenarios for over voting.
Eric London 12 years ago

Kofi Atta, I think the EC definition of over voting is clear and SC cannot give new definition. We should be objective at all times. In your opinion how do you understand over voting? Please do not put your readers in suspens ...
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Kofi Atta, I think the EC definition of over voting is clear and SC cannot give new definition. We should be objective at all times. In your opinion how do you understand over voting? Please do not put your readers in suspense. It becomes too boring to read this article.

John Anamse 12 years ago

I perfectly agree with you that the determination of Over-Voting is more to do with Logic than with the Law. The SC can only rely on a combination of both law and logic but I think logical reasoning will be more relied on. I ...
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I perfectly agree with you that the determination of Over-Voting is more to do with Logic than with the Law. The SC can only rely on a combination of both law and logic but I think logical reasoning will be more relied on. I have not yet seen a law that defines over-voting which the judges will solely rely on

I also agree that both Bawumia and Asiedu's definitions are relevant and can be considered as over-voting. I think Kofi's article also agrees to that.

But Kofi explains further that in the case of Bawumia's definition, there will be a need to examine the ballot accounting to ensure that the apparent over-voting is not just due to a mistake that can be corrected and that that mistake does not affect the valid votes cast
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 12 years ago

Akadu, I do not want to appear to be defensive but objectivity will tell you that I do not shy away from taking positions, except that you fail to note them because in your view I am pro NDC and anti NPP. In this article I to ...
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Akadu, I do not want to appear to be defensive but objectivity will tell you that I do not shy away from taking positions, except that you fail to note them because in your view I am pro NDC and anti NPP. In this article I took the position that Ato Dadzie and Kofi Adams have no basis to make the statements attributed to them. If that is not my position, what do you call it?

Again, I have taken the position that both the definition of Asiedu Nketia and Bawumia are correct. I take this position because in my view, these are matters of fact. Notwithstanding my position, I am also of view that my position is not what the Justices may take. That is also a possibility. These are all my positions.

Those of you who say I am sitting on the fence believe that there are only two sides of the coin and I must sit on one or the other. In other words, I must side with either NDC or NPP and justify their positions even if they are untenable. I take a different view and also believe that there is a third side of the coin that is ignored by most. It is very critical that the small edge of the coin is not forgotten.

Akadu, you are wrong to say that my articles pander to hypocrisy. Being hypocrite is knowing something is wrong but defending it just because of what one will gain from it. In my articles on this petition, I have taken various positions. For example, in my last article on the auditing of the pink sheets, I took the position that NDC had no basis for their allegation and it should be treated with contempt that it deserves. In other articles, I have stated my position that annulling votes without biometric verification will be breach the constitution under the right to vote. I have also said that the no verification, no vote by the EC contravenes the constitutional right to vote and could be ruled unconstitutional. I take these positions not because I am pro NDC but because in my view they right. I would have taken the same views had NDC been the petitioners.

Do you equate taking positions to condemnation, using abusive language or what? I have never described myself as a great writer. I do not even consider myself as a writer since I have never written any book or printed materials, except posting articles on Ghanaian owned or controlled media websites.
John Anamse 12 years ago

Kofi, you have explained it all and I agree with you.

However, I also believe that one does not necessarily have to take a position before contributing to an issue or educating others. We do not always have a right or wron ...
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Kofi, you have explained it all and I agree with you.

However, I also believe that one does not necessarily have to take a position before contributing to an issue or educating others. We do not always have a right or wrong. An issue can be right or wrong depending on the circumstances.

Also there should be nothing wrong with changing your mind from one position to another if further information is made available.
Reality 12 years ago

Over voting is when the sum total of the number of votes won by all the participating candidates is more than the total ballots issued. Simple. What is really wrong with Ghana and the media? We just feel like arguing without ...
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Over voting is when the sum total of the number of votes won by all the participating candidates is more than the total ballots issued. Simple. What is really wrong with Ghana and the media? We just feel like arguing without any logic. Talking about everything in the way that will not bring peace. Even if we know the truth we just try to create controversy.
The media in Ghana should be careful and all of us who contribute to make it worse should be careful. We are really making Ghana sick.
Simply the total number of ballots issued devided by the sum of total of NDC votes plus NPP votes plus all other political parties vote should be equal to one or less than one in a polling station. If it is more than one, then there is over voting. Simple logic. Tell me if I am wrong?
If this analysis is used and somebody still challenges the over voting they may go and do recount and verification of ballots to make sure there are additional ballots. I will come again with another reality. Thank you.
OKYEMAN KIBI 12 years ago

STUPID AFARI SHOULD HAVE WAITED FOR ALL THIS ANNOMALIES TO BE RESOLVED THEN THE DECLARATION OF THE OUT COME OF THE ELECTION .NPP IS RIGHT TO GO TO COURT AS FOOLISH GYAN ORDERED NPP TO DO.AFTER THEN THAT HE FLEW TO USA FOR ALL ...
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STUPID AFARI SHOULD HAVE WAITED FOR ALL THIS ANNOMALIES TO BE RESOLVED THEN THE DECLARATION OF THE OUT COME OF THE ELECTION .NPP IS RIGHT TO GO TO COURT AS FOOLISH GYAN ORDERED NPP TO DO.AFTER THEN THAT HE FLEW TO USA FOR ALL WHAT WAS GIVEN TO HIM BY MAHAMA ,IDIOT.
Kak Dee 12 years ago

What are all this for? GHANA has it own president and today if we are to vote again he will win again. General will continue to be our General, but for those others I don't know...

What are all this for? GHANA has it own president and today if we are to vote again he will win again. General will continue to be our General, but for those others I don't know...
Lexus 12 years ago

Kofi Ata, stop being a wise ass, as smart as you obviously are. Be bold and decisive, and stop the pandering, as Akadu has alluded to.
HOW ON EARTH COULD YOU POSSIBLY VALIDATE THE DEFINITION OF "OVER-VOTING" AS TREACHEROUSLY ...
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Kofi Ata, stop being a wise ass, as smart as you obviously are. Be bold and decisive, and stop the pandering, as Akadu has alluded to.
HOW ON EARTH COULD YOU POSSIBLY VALIDATE THE DEFINITION OF "OVER-VOTING" AS TREACHEROUSLY AND TREASONABLY OPINED BY JOHNSON ASIEDU NKETIAH, even presuming a 100% [registered] voter turn-out, as 'happens' in North Korea et al.
KNOCK!! KNOCK!! Why did the EC annul the results from a couple, or so, of polling stations.

KOFI, BE DECISIVE AND DAMN THE CONSEQUENCES, EVERY NOW AND THEN. TOO BRILLIANT TO BE PANDERING.
Kakraba Cromwell 12 years ago

Dear Kofi,
I am very disappointed with this article. because it has not met your usual high standards.
I was expecting something more decisive backed with your usual concrete logic but you have failed me miserably!
is thi ...
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Dear Kofi,
I am very disappointed with this article. because it has not met your usual high standards.
I was expecting something more decisive backed with your usual concrete logic but you have failed me miserably!
is this really your piece?
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 12 years ago

Kakraba, it would have been helpful if you pointed out which sections lacked more decisive and not backed by concrete logic. Is it indecisive and illogical to conclude that if the total number of votes in a ballot box is more ...
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Kakraba, it would have been helpful if you pointed out which sections lacked more decisive and not backed by concrete logic. Is it indecisive and illogical to conclude that if the total number of votes in a ballot box is more than the total number of ballot issued at a pooling station, then examination of all the ballots in the box must be undertaken to eliminate ballots that might have been put in the ballot box by mistake before proving over-voting and a final decision either to or not to reject the total votes?

Was it indecisive and illogical to state that the case is not over until the Justices have heard all parties and made their final decision, which we now know could be reviewed? Was it indecisive and illogical to state that, it is too early to judge the performance of Asiedu Nketia for the reasons I gave? Was it indecisive and illogical to say that irrespective of my views on and understanding of over-voting as well those of others, only the Justices of the SC will have the final say and therefore only time will time?, etc.

I welcome constructive criticism but condemnation is what we should avoid.
Kakraba Cromwell 12 years ago

i did not mean to condemn your article. I expected your conclusion to be more assertive and to stand by your case.

Your articles have always made complex issues very clear and simple for the ordinary reader to appreciate.
...
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i did not mean to condemn your article. I expected your conclusion to be more assertive and to stand by your case.

Your articles have always made complex issues very clear and simple for the ordinary reader to appreciate.
Your article asks the question
"Is Gen Mosquito’s Over-voting Definition Accurate?"
Your "middle ground" stand was not very helpful to those of us who look forward to your brilliant articles.
No offence intended

Bomfaboy 12 years ago

It's true the definition of what is over -voting rests with the SC Justices. Having said that, can't we as reasonable people, should be able to understand this? I do not see this as law. This is simply locally adding and subt ...
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It's true the definition of what is over -voting rests with the SC Justices. Having said that, can't we as reasonable people, should be able to understand this? I do not see this as law. This is simply locally adding and subtracting.
Everybody who has even Primary school education the world over, and has followed elections the world over, knows that, there has never been 100 percent voter turn out in any election the world over.
Surely if we can ever have 100 percent turn out then Asiedu Nketias definition is valid, and also confirms Bawumias definition. In that case the number of ballots issued will be equal to the number of people on the register.
Since there has never been, and will never be 100 percent voter turnout, the various scenarios put forward by Bawumia should be seen as the most logical.
On this particular election, ballots issued are of two types: 1 Legitimate... Those verified by the biometric machine and issued with the ballot. 2 Illegitimate....those issued with ballots without going through the biometric machine.
Certainly one has to be on the register, before he/she could be verified by the machine.
So there could be various scenarios for over voting. 1. Ballots issued = #on register..if no spoiled or rejected ballots then ballots in the Box must equal number issued.: however, if there were spoiled or rejected ballots and still has recorded number of vapors in the box equalling the number issued, then there is over voting. This scenario can only happen in less than one percent of the pooling stations where all registered voters report to cast their vote.
2. In the remaining 99 percent of pooling stations, the number of ballots issued can never be equal to the number on the register. Therefore, if the number in the ballot box becomes equal to the number on the register, then there will be no question, there is over voting. 3, if after accounting for spoiled and rejected ballots, then the number that should be recorded as VALID ballots will be less than the number issued. If it then happens that the it becomes equal, then there is clear over voting. I am sure others can come up with other scenarios. So what the palm wine tapper is saying can be true, in the real world it does not happen. So uncle Kofi Atta, tell me why you are not wrong.
Kojo 12 years ago

Someone should correct me if I'm wrong. I thought Asiedu Nketsiah mentioned 2 scenarios under which over-voting can occur:
1. when the number votes cast exceeds the number of people eligible to to vote at that polling statio ...
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Someone should correct me if I'm wrong. I thought Asiedu Nketsiah mentioned 2 scenarios under which over-voting can occur:
1. when the number votes cast exceeds the number of people eligible to to vote at that polling station, and
2. when the number of ballot papers in the box after voting closes exceeds the number of ballot papers torn out from the ballot booklet (indicated by the serial numbers on the ballot papers).

It is my understanding that these are the definitions issued by the EC and which were used by the parties to train their agents at the polling stations. So if indeed these were EC regulations bordering the election of 2012, the Supreme Court cannot issue and other definitions, since it would amount to changing the rules of the game after the game is ended.
Lexus 12 years ago

In the La-La world of NDC, SERIAL NUMBERS are merely decorations. Therefore, 'inconsistencies', or lack thereof of, with them HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IMPACT on the election outcome. Be careful of what you are wishing for.
Asiedu ...
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In the La-La world of NDC, SERIAL NUMBERS are merely decorations. Therefore, 'inconsistencies', or lack thereof of, with them HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IMPACT on the election outcome. Be careful of what you are wishing for.
Asiedu Nketia is going to do a lot of back-tracking on Tuesday. Well, he has 5 days to prepare.
OKYEAME 12 years ago

Thank you Kojo

Thank you Kojo
John Anamse 12 years ago

The fact that Kofi does not share your point of view does not make him wrong.

The simple definition of over-voting which Bawumia also mentioned is where total votes exceed total registered voters.

In the same way, there ...
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The fact that Kofi does not share your point of view does not make him wrong.

The simple definition of over-voting which Bawumia also mentioned is where total votes exceed total registered voters.

In the same way, there could be over-voting if the total votes counted (both valid and invalid) exceed the total ballots issued. Bawumia's definition.

What Kofi has added is that there is a need to investigate this second definition in practise to ensure that it is just not been deduced from an error.

Simple and short, mistakes can be made by anybody and the mistake made may not affect the results or analysis as we have been made to believe in the last few weeks
Lexus 12 years ago

What constitutes OVERVOTING, as per the ELECTORAL LAW of the Consitution, and the subsequent pertinent ammendments thereof, is going to form the basis of what the Hon SC Judges are going to look at. As thinking humans, rather ...
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What constitutes OVERVOTING, as per the ELECTORAL LAW of the Consitution, and the subsequent pertinent ammendments thereof, is going to form the basis of what the Hon SC Judges are going to look at. As thinking humans, rather than mere robots, they are going to combine logic, and even emotions, to arrive at a verdict. What you and I[whoever you are] wishfully think are only mere speculations, and nothing else. LET'S WAIT AND SEE!
The Respondents have admitted to ERROR HERE, ERROR THERE, ERROR EVERYWHERE. The additive effect of the little white flecks in the sky, here and there, eventually leads to a cumulus, my dear friend.
Afari Gyan, and/or one of his associates, should be the ones talking about the Electoral Laws in the witness stand, and not propaganda-meister Gen Mosquito. RE THE LAWS PERTAINING TO THE ELECTIONS, ADDISON SHOULD NOT WASTE TOO MUCH MUNITION ON NKETIA, BUT RATHER RESERVE THEM FOR THE SECOND RESPONDENT, who I believe will be studiously taking lessons when ADDISON crosstets NKETIA.

BTW, WHY WERE THE ELECTION RESULTS IN SOME POLLING STATIONS ANNULED BY THE EC?
Kwadwo 12 years ago

Your position on what constitutes over voting is obvious in your piece. Just come out and say it. Your attempt to straddle the middle is laughable. You are only fooling yourself.

Your position on what constitutes over voting is obvious in your piece. Just come out and say it. Your attempt to straddle the middle is laughable. You are only fooling yourself.
concerned ghanaian 12 years ago

Kofi,
Dr Baumia's definition can only be an alternative definition, if all the ballots in the box had been signed by the Presiding Oficer and officially stamped at their rear. All ballots without the official stamp and signa ...
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Kofi,
Dr Baumia's definition can only be an alternative definition, if all the ballots in the box had been signed by the Presiding Oficer and officially stamped at their rear. All ballots without the official stamp and signature of the Presiding officer are invalid. Validated ballots in the box against the register of voters is the only way over voting can be established.
Dr Bawumia's definiton was thus inaccurate.
General Mosquito's definition is closer to the truth and when you add to this his later explanation as to what happens to validate a ballot, then I believe his definition is right.
The truth 12 years ago

Bawumia definition is that when VALIDATED BALLOTS( including damaged validated ballots) in a box are counted and they exceeds the VALIDATED BALLOTS issued, then over voting have occurred
NOTE: all ballots issued by the off ...
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Bawumia definition is that when VALIDATED BALLOTS( including damaged validated ballots) in a box are counted and they exceeds the VALIDATED BALLOTS issued, then over voting have occurred
NOTE: all ballots issued by the officers to the voters to vote are considered to be validated. Once given to a voter it is seen as valid. They count ballots in the box. They are all valid( damaged and undamaged ballots)
Kwaku Gbloenawo 12 years ago

Assuming both definitions are correct, the issue is that before the declaration of the results did the trained party agents observe that those anomalies (irregularities) occurred and avail themselves of the process of lodging ...
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Assuming both definitions are correct, the issue is that before the declaration of the results did the trained party agents observe that those anomalies (irregularities) occurred and avail themselves of the process of lodging their complaint in the prescribed form at the venue (polling station)where the irregularity took place? Mind you the complaints procedure is also part of the electoral law.
OKYEAME 12 years ago

Appointment of agents isn't backed by law

Appointment of agents isn't backed by law
Kojo 12 years ago

Hi Okyeame, if appointment of agents isn't backed by law, how come a whole series of books and regulations on the duties of polling station agents were published by the EC (some of them were even read in court during the cros ...
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Hi Okyeame, if appointment of agents isn't backed by law, how come a whole series of books and regulations on the duties of polling station agents were published by the EC (some of them were even read in court during the cross-examination of Dr. Bawumia) which were used by all political parties to train their agents? Please note that those regulations may not necessarily be enshrined in our constitution, but once the EC issues them within the confines of the constitution, and NO Ghanaian went to the court to seek to declare them unconstitutional, the regulations become operational and lawful, and all who are concerned are supposed to abide by them!
SARPONG KUMAKUMAH 12 years ago

LET ME EXPLAIN TO YOU NOW WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THIS COURT CASE. THE NPP SUPPORTERS AND CONTRIBUTORS ARE ENGAGED IN WRITING PROPAGANDA ON THE ISSUES WHILE THE NDC ARE BUSY DEALING WITH THE LAW AND THE FACTS. DONT BLAME THE NDC ...
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LET ME EXPLAIN TO YOU NOW WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THIS COURT CASE. THE NPP SUPPORTERS AND CONTRIBUTORS ARE ENGAGED IN WRITING PROPAGANDA ON THE ISSUES WHILE THE NDC ARE BUSY DEALING WITH THE LAW AND THE FACTS. DONT BLAME THE NDC IF THE NPP LOSES. THEY ARE CAUSING THEIR OWN DEFEAT.
Kwame 12 years ago

I thought it is rather the contrary.

I thought it is rather the contrary.
LONTO-BOY 12 years ago

MASSA KOFI, as pointed out in your article, both NDC and NPP are divided over the interpretation/definition of 'over-voting' as witnessed at the Supreme Court proceedings. Surely, if there's a clear, unambiguous and definitiv ...
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MASSA KOFI, as pointed out in your article, both NDC and NPP are divided over the interpretation/definition of 'over-voting' as witnessed at the Supreme Court proceedings. Surely, if there's a clear, unambiguous and definitive statutory legal interpretation of what constitute[s]'over-voting' in Ghana's Electoral law per the Constitution, then of cause, that will be the basis of Supreme Court's rule.
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 12 years ago

LONTO-BOY, to be honest, I have no idea if over-voting is defined in the 1992 Constitution. I must confess that I have not checked. I am also not sure if the various Electoral Regulations, Constitutional and Legislative Instr ...
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LONTO-BOY, to be honest, I have no idea if over-voting is defined in the 1992 Constitution. I must confess that I have not checked. I am also not sure if the various Electoral Regulations, Constitutional and Legislative Instruments regrading the organisation and administration of elections in Ghana are defined. What I am certain of, is that, whether over-voting has statutory definition or not, I believe the SC will answer it through their 'final' decision (though that could be a subject of a review). I sometimes hope and pray that NDC and NPP will bridge their differences on certain matters.
Okonko Palm 12 years ago

There is no definitive answer to what over voting is taking into consideration the various scenario at play.What is important is to start from the definition offered by the controlling body which forms the basis of the rules ...
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There is no definitive answer to what over voting is taking into consideration the various scenario at play.What is important is to start from the definition offered by the controlling body which forms the basis of the rules the presiding officers and the trained party agents understand to govern the elections.there is also the general perception of the ordinary persons understanding of what is over voting and how widely that understanding had come to mean to both the agents and voters.We can also look at the technical aspect of it and the scenarios envisaged and identified by Bawumia.

The EC's definition which formed the basis of Asiedu's definition had actually in place mechanisms for identifying and isolating over voting if the proper rules are followed.The definition of Bawumia and the scenario he envisaged had been taken care of under the rules of the ec, governing over voting and that is the base the court would have to start from.When there are checks which can identify mistakes as eloquently explained by the general secretary of the ndc to remedy errors both on the pink sheet and the ballot box.Most of these is common sense and any technical interpretation would fail in the court of law. More importantly,the understanding of polling agents and presiding officers and the general public would play a significant role when it comes to interpretation by the court.Lets remember that when a norm had come to accepted and practiced as what people believe to true,then it becomes law.This is under customary law which is part of our constitution.Having looked at the various scenarios and how the reasonable ordinary person will define over voting,I think Asiedu's definition will stand the test of scrutiny.It will also make his cross examination easier since he will be operating within a clearly defined rules of the ec.
Repugnant. 12 years ago

Thank you kindly Sir! Bawumia's version was sheer analytical speculation. He even kept saying "you were not there i wasn't there." Yet wants every one to go along with his redundant analysis. The palm wine tapper shattered Ba ...
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Thank you kindly Sir! Bawumia's version was sheer analytical speculation. He even kept saying "you were not there i wasn't there." Yet wants every one to go along with his redundant analysis. The palm wine tapper shattered Bawumia's ill fated malpractice exuberance. To Bawumia the law is just the law, therefore reason and commonsense are a criminal umbrage! The general is accurate.
Kojo 12 years ago

Thank you, Sir. This is a very simple matter and I don't know why people are so confused about it. Anybody can define over-voting the way they want, but what counts is what the EC has handed down to all participants of the el ...
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Thank you, Sir. This is a very simple matter and I don't know why people are so confused about it. Anybody can define over-voting the way they want, but what counts is what the EC has handed down to all participants of the electoral process in Ghana since the beginning of the 4th Republic. If the NPP did not like this definition, they should have gone to court long time ago to seek to change that definition. Bawumia can't ignore this definition and now coin his own.
Mahama,Wenchi 12 years ago

If you registered does not mean you voted therefore over-voting should be whether the number of ballot papers cast exceeded the number of ballot papers issued.

If you registered does not mean you voted therefore over-voting should be whether the number of ballot papers cast exceeded the number of ballot papers issued.
BGN 12 years ago

Bawumia's definition is a subset of Nketiah's general definition, so the writer is correct.

Bawumia's definition is a subset of Nketiah's general definition, so the writer is correct.
Kwame 12 years ago

interesting piece but miss the point a bit. Yes, overvoting occurs when the total number of votes exceeds the total number of registered voters in a polling station. How do we know that an overvoting has occured or what is ...
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interesting piece but miss the point a bit. Yes, overvoting occurs when the total number of votes exceeds the total number of registered voters in a polling station. How do we know that an overvoting has occured or what is the evidence that demonstrates that overvoting has occured? the answer is in the recorded infomation on the pink sheet--that is the system that the EC has design to detect overvoting. Remember that the EC cannot be present at all polling stations and although we have party representatives, the EC cannot completely relegate their responsibility to them and therefore need a system that confirms that people on the field do their work properly. Again, the confirmation that the work was done properly lies in the data on the pinksheet. Yes, we expect errors in the data collection (what in statistics is referred to as standard erors) one would expect that in nine out of 10 cases (90 percent of the time) we should get things right
Joseph Mozu 12 years ago

Your article was very objective. You hit the nail right in the head. We need excellent writers like you. Keep it up

Your article was very objective. You hit the nail right in the head. We need excellent writers like you. Keep it up
Earl jones 12 years ago

Bawumia' definition - "when the total number of votes in the ballot box/es is over and above the ballots issued at a specified polling station. "
How can that be possible except to imply that additional ballots, not issued b ...
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Bawumia' definition - "when the total number of votes in the ballot box/es is over and above the ballots issued at a specified polling station. "
How can that be possible except to imply that additional ballots, not issued by the EC, were sneaked in? But we have all the ballots in store and they can be checked by the court to verify their authenticity. Besides, why would EC issue ballots less than those registered to vote for a particular polling station? Rather, they will issue ballots in excess of registered voters for a given polling station in case some ballots are spoilt. Indeed, many ballots are usually spoilt and additional ones are usually therefore required.
Why will EC issue ballots less than those registered to vote? Indeed, turn out may not be100% but EC has no way of knowing that in advanced.
UFO 12 years ago

One can easily know which party you are leaning towards and that is the problem with your article. Is that how you will educate your children on over voting. Be fair to yourself. Partisanship has detroyed your article.

One can easily know which party you are leaning towards and that is the problem with your article. Is that how you will educate your children on over voting. Be fair to yourself. Partisanship has detroyed your article.
Justman 12 years ago

YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.TAKE A BIAS STAND IT IS BETTER. I CAN SAY YOU ARE CONFUSED. IF THE JUDGES ARE WRONG YOU EVEN KNOW AND CHALLENGE.JUDGEMENT IS COMMON SENSE. GOD PUT IT INTO EVERYBODY. THE ONLY THING P ...
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YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.TAKE A BIAS STAND IT IS BETTER. I CAN SAY YOU ARE CONFUSED. IF THE JUDGES ARE WRONG YOU EVEN KNOW AND CHALLENGE.JUDGEMENT IS COMMON SENSE. GOD PUT IT INTO EVERYBODY. THE ONLY THING PEOPLE ARE TRAINED IN COURT PROCEDURES AND KNOW THE RULES. BUT THE BOTTOM LINE EXIST EVEN A CHILD BREATHES WITHOUT BEING TAUGHT BY ANYBODY.
PIGETUM 12 years ago

According to Gen. Mosquito,where there is no entry[Blank]in the column for registered voters on the Pink Sheet of a polling station,this means the total number of voters at that polling station is UNKNOWN.If this right,then h ...
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According to Gen. Mosquito,where there is no entry[Blank]in the column for registered voters on the Pink Sheet of a polling station,this means the total number of voters at that polling station is UNKNOWN.If this right,then how can we tell by Gen. Mosquito's restricted definition of over-voting, if there is over-voting at a polling station where the total number of registered voters is UNKNOWN.Unfortunately,Gen. Mosquito has not told us how to deal with this issue.Just thinking aloud.What will be the examination score or result of a student who submits a BLANK answer sheet.I think,in the context of the exam.the knowledge of the student on the subject and hence his score can best be determined by what the examiner finds on student's answer sheet and nowhere else.
Kobena 12 years ago

Kofi,
Surely, you are not buying into Asiedu Nketia's bogus explnation of "over voting." If you have a situation where a polling staion has 758 registered voters, 540 turn up to vote on the day to vote, 10 votes are damaged ...
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Kofi,
Surely, you are not buying into Asiedu Nketia's bogus explnation of "over voting." If you have a situation where a polling staion has 758 registered voters, 540 turn up to vote on the day to vote, 10 votes are damaged and you still have 580 votes in the ballot box that are duly counted and entered into the tally, what kind of Mathematics can justify that as not being over voting?

I thought Dr Bawumia's case is that so long as those extra 50 votes have been counted and credited to whichever candidate(s), the votes at that polling station, according to EC's own regulations, should be annulled. While even Tsatsu admitted that there were cases of voting without biometric verification, Asiedu Nketia thinks nobody voted anywhere in Ghana without biometric verification. Asiedu Nketia's rather insulting answers was neither here nor there.

I can't waith to watch Dr Afari-Gyan and Asiedu Nketia answer questions from Addison.

Cry the beloved country!
Nana 12 years ago

" If after the examination and elimination of any ballots papers that should not have been in the ballot box/es are done and there are still more votes than the ballots papers issued then over-voting has taken place and the t ...
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" If after the examination and elimination of any ballots papers that should not have been in the ballot box/es are done and there are still more votes than the ballots papers issued then over-voting has taken place and the total votes must be rejected.". Ata, you cited possible parliamentary ballots finding itself mistakenly in the wrong boxes, empty ballot papers and other papers that should not have been placed in the ballot as possible reasons for the 'over voting" the point here is even if those are the culprits, should they have been counted as votes?? Remember they usually count the votes twice sometimes thrice and in all those instances by the different people who counted as we all saw, those same "chaff" were counted as votes and signed by agents?? Is it not more of the same if it's all cancelled for over voting instead of this recount theory you are suggesting that cancellation should be done only after those chaff have been removed and still more than issued ballots
AYISAM 12 years ago

Kofi on voting day a prospective and registered voter approaches first the parliamentary desk for a ballot and he or she walks to the ballot box for the parliamentary election and deposits the ballot in the open. The procedur ...
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Kofi on voting day a prospective and registered voter approaches first the parliamentary desk for a ballot and he or she walks to the ballot box for the parliamentary election and deposits the ballot in the open. The procedure is well known by all voters and the ballot boxes are situated some meters apart. There is therefore no mix up. Over voting is simply more ballots in the box than issued out. However to ascertain this properly is to remove all presidential ballots if sighted from the ballots of the parliamentary election or the presidential election before counting.
ATHOFIR 12 years ago

KOFI, YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO CAMBRIDGE FOR WRITING THIS SHODDY PIECE. HOW DID YOU GET TO CAMBRIDGE?

KOFI, YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO CAMBRIDGE FOR WRITING THIS SHODDY PIECE. HOW DID YOU GET TO CAMBRIDGE?
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 12 years ago

ATHOFIR or whatever you call yourself, are you suggesting that you concluded from the article that I went Cambridge University or a student? If I am right, where in the article did I say that I am either a graduate or student ...
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ATHOFIR or whatever you call yourself, are you suggesting that you concluded from the article that I went Cambridge University or a student? If I am right, where in the article did I say that I am either a graduate or student of Cambridge University? Or are you trying to suggest that everyone who lives in Cambridge went to Cambridge University or has some connection with the University? And yet, you had the guts to say that the article is shoddy. Are you sure it's not your reasoning or logic that is poor or shoddy?
kofi abakah 12 years ago

Probably next president should be elected by the supreme court. It will be cheaper

Probably next president should be elected by the supreme court. It will be cheaper
BRAVEBOY 12 years ago

'The witness admitted that the EC supplied the NDC with the list of polling stations for special voting but he could not tell whether the one given to him by counsel was the proper list.

The witness identified a collation ...
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'The witness admitted that the EC supplied the NDC with the list of polling stations for special voting but he could not tell whether the one given to him by counsel was the proper list.

The witness identified a collation form from the Akuapim South Constituency and indicated that he was familiar with collation forms.

However, Mr Tsikata again objected to that line of cross-examination, saying the witness could not tender a document of that nature, since the form was produced by the EC.'

ARTICLE IN GRAPHIC ON 30 MAY 2013. TITLED: Asiedu Nketia hears own voice in court; Afari Gyan enters box today

This is an extract from a Graphic article yesterday. It confirms that, counsel for the NPP tendered in an EC document and tried to use it in his cross examination. The implication is that, we need to know how he got hold of such a sensitive document. Imagine your opponent in a land dispute getting hold of your documents through a source from the Lands Office. I can imagine the same source selling them ( both parties) ballot papers to be given to party die-hards to use when voting. I believe the EC are only trying to do a good job in a bad and difficult environment. What was your view on that.
You can contact me on kwakuaadu@yahoo.co.uk

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Is Gen Mosquito’s Over-voting Definition Accurate?

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