Over to you Cameron Duodu.What do you say?How do you compare Ghana's democracy to that of the US and the UK when our democracy is very young and still growing?No electoral system in this world is perfect.
Over to you Cameron Duodu.What do you say?How do you compare Ghana's democracy to that of the US and the UK when our democracy is very young and still growing?No electoral system in this world is perfect.
Dr. SAS, Attorney at Law 7 years ago
It is true that Ghana is no longer experiencing the dearth and dearth of democratic rule as it did during the brutal dictatorship of Nkrumah when there was one party state, a life presidency, incarceration without trial and b ... read full comment
It is true that Ghana is no longer experiencing the dearth and dearth of democratic rule as it did during the brutal dictatorship of Nkrumah when there was one party state, a life presidency, incarceration without trial and blatant suppression of press freedom.
But to suggest that we do have a perfect score by a foreign organization and therefore everything is cool and dandy is one more evidence of indulgent fanaticism and a cultic adoration of a persona, this time not for the dictatorship of Nkrumah, but for the charisma of Charlotte Osei.
Lungu should not close his Cyclopian eyes to the injustices and unfairness within our electoral system just by citing to vapid evaluations by external groups.
We should still improve!
Prof Lungu 7 years ago
Dr. SAS, Attorney at Law,
If in fact you read the essay, you must be saying Cameron Duodo didn't quite make his case.
Thank you!
And when you, like Cameron Duodu make another mistake this time by conflating Ms. Osei's ... read full comment
Dr. SAS, Attorney at Law,
If in fact you read the essay, you must be saying Cameron Duodo didn't quite make his case.
Thank you!
And when you, like Cameron Duodu make another mistake this time by conflating Ms. Osei's qualification, expertise, and dedication to the job with her "charisma", it is you who shows that you are a mighty sorry excuse for a professional.
If we may, a Freedom House score of 12 does not imply "perfect". It merely means in comparison to another system.
Therefore, if anyone has closed their "Cyclopian eyes" even as they open their fat mouths just to talk about things not said in a paper, it is you, Dr. SAS, Attorney at Law. Though Ghana's case is far from perfect, it is you and your kind who imagine "...injustices and unfairness within our electoral system...".
You know what we said of Bawumia's hot air of "injustices and unfairness within our electoral system...".
Now, you know where yours just began with respect to same subject.
As we said, "To be continued..."
Greetings!
Dr. Otto 7 years ago
Lungu, the Ashanti boy hiding his real identity is another silly, pertisan and tribal writer like his Togolese Trokosi Ewe friend, the pig looking J.K. Bokor.
Lungu, the Ashanti boy hiding his real identity is another silly, pertisan and tribal writer like his Togolese Trokosi Ewe friend, the pig looking J.K. Bokor.
francis kwarteng 7 years ago
Brilliant. Insightful. Educative.
Looking forward to the next installment(s).
Thanks Prof Lungu.
Brilliant. Insightful. Educative.
Looking forward to the next installment(s).
Thanks Prof Lungu.
ABROKWA JAMPEM 7 years ago
To compare our democracy to that practiced in UK is just a laugh. We are trying, but we are not there yet. In a country where the electoral comissioner is not sure of what is "over voting", macho men can take away ballot boxe ... read full comment
To compare our democracy to that practiced in UK is just a laugh. We are trying, but we are not there yet. In a country where the electoral comissioner is not sure of what is "over voting", macho men can take away ballot boxes....pink sheets are not properly completed, 70% presidential aspirants resort
to judicial courts, and our identification
machines don't even work all the time! Infact
Sometimes the President, who is also
competing, comes out on radio and TV to tell people to ignore the machines if they don't
work! A lot of the malpractices accepted here will not be acceptable in the UK! Standards are so high that if U tell lies about your opponent which gives U an upper hand the results are cancelled and there is a re-run.
We are trying, but we are not there yet. I BEG TO DIFFER. We are far behind the British, Cameron is spot on! At least, for start, they print their own ballot pappers!!!!
offeh 7 years ago
Well reasoned Mr Jampem! Many advanced democracies in fact put the electoral roll online so that anyone can easily verify whether someone has been registered at two different places. Here the parties have to fight merel ... read full comment
Well reasoned Mr Jampem! Many advanced democracies in fact put the electoral roll online so that anyone can easily verify whether someone has been registered at two different places. Here the parties have to fight merely to obtain ordinary electoral registers! They see the EC as more of an obstructor than a facilitator! That s what Mr Cameron Duodu was trying to point out. The short maxim must be that the EC must dedicate itself to democracy and all other things shall follow!"We must not disappoint the followers of this party because of one or two errors!" That's how a democratically-minded EC would treat the matter. And who would lose from such an approach? t would be a win-win situation for all. The partjes would be happy and praise the EC for a very "liberal" approach. Wouldn't that be better than the current acrimonious approach?
Robert 7 years ago
The argument made by Mr Cameron Duodu was simplic9ty itself. He said the electoral laws are made to enable the people of Ghana to give expression to their democratic choices. If the laws end up by disqualifying so many of th ... read full comment
The argument made by Mr Cameron Duodu was simplic9ty itself. He said the electoral laws are made to enable the people of Ghana to give expression to their democratic choices. If the laws end up by disqualifying so many of the the parties through which this democratic choice is to be expressed, then the laws have failed.
What is so difficult to understand about this? Can the Electoral Commission hold elections without parties? Is the correct filling of forms by parties and candidates more important than the election itself?
Duodu doesn't think so and that's why he is tellng the EC: says "help the parties to fulfil the requirements of the electoral law where necessary!"
In Britain or the USA, I am sure electoral clerks would be appointed whose sole task is to assist the parties/candidates to fill the forms in correctly. The EC would not repeat not , not wait for them to make mistakes and then engage in a public tussle with them, including expensive court cases. And a so-called professor thinks he is wrong?
Mr. Duodu suggested that were an examiner to fail 60% of his candidates, then maybe he ought to look at his own teaching methods or his marking system. Thids was only an analogy and one would have thought that anyone with pretensions of scholarship -- a "professor" no less-- would be the first to understand this. If we were to refer to scripture, we would remember that someone said, "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath."
What does the law say about litigation? Litigation occurs where common sense has failed to produce a negotiated settlement.
Mr Duodu was so honest that he also criticised the parties: they only had themselves to blame he recognized. Yes -- they had themselves to blame (he wrote but the more important issue is to allow democratic choice to be made. So the EC should take account of the relative weight of the detail and help them to correct themselves. The EC aware of the EC's own raison d'etre-- namely to . facilitate democratic choice -- allow the bigger issue to be the operate one.
So because a man argues for such a "common sense" approach, he deserves abuse from the likes of Lungu? Why do some of hate the effort of reasoning so much?
Prof Lungu 7 years ago
Robert,
Maybe you did not read the essay.
We've addressed this point already.
"...If the laws end up by disqualifying so many of the the parties through which this democratic choice is to be expressed, then the laws ha ... read full comment
Robert,
Maybe you did not read the essay.
We've addressed this point already.
"...If the laws end up by disqualifying so many of the the parties through which this democratic choice is to be expressed, then the laws have failed..."?
Why can't we also say, with the other side of our mouth that the political parties that failed, are the ones that failed?
Nice try!
ABROKWA JAMPEM 7 years ago
Prof, I dusagree with U. If a party fails to, or wrongly completes its application (s)....Whatever efforts required must be used to enable the forms to be completed. During the election trial 4 yesrs ago, it was established b ... read full comment
Prof, I dusagree with U. If a party fails to, or wrongly completes its application (s)....Whatever efforts required must be used to enable the forms to be completed. During the election trial 4 yesrs ago, it was established by the judges that although some forms were not prperly completed by the EC own staff, the rejection of such forms, will disenfranchise a lot of voters. In the same way, the disqualification of any flagbearer/political party will end up denying some citizens expressing/selecting their choice.
Prof, let's be frank about things....Are we saying that if the Electoral comissioner had found faults with the forms presented by each of the political parties, then all parties/presidential candidates will be disqualified....and then what?...President Mahama will continue unopposed for another 4 years? WHAT A JOKE!!!
Prof Lungu 7 years ago
If we remember correctly, the EC has already indicated the EC gave the filers more time to fix the problem(s).
If we remember correctly, the EC has already indicated the EC gave the filers more time to fix the problem(s).
Adamfo 7 years ago
But Pro Lungu have you taken money from the EC to pursue Mr CD?
You are going about the matter the wrong way. When you attacked CD on "Say" didn't you see how you were flattened? But now you have brought the stupid non-c ... read full comment
But Pro Lungu have you taken money from the EC to pursue Mr CD?
You are going about the matter the wrong way. When you attacked CD on "Say" didn't you see how you were flattened? But now you have brought the stupid non-controversy here too!
Charlie go and chop the money and let peace reign! One lesson PR 101 teaches states that you must never make your client's But you are doing just that. They will come for their money if you are not careful! Hoho!
Prof Lungu 7 years ago
No!
No!
Kwamina 7 years ago
They have this pseudo complacency that make them think that they are the only ones who know it all. Mr. Duodu has been an editor of the daily graphic before. He should be very good at making an in depth research of whatever h ... read full comment
They have this pseudo complacency that make them think that they are the only ones who know it all. Mr. Duodu has been an editor of the daily graphic before. He should be very good at making an in depth research of whatever he is writing about before he comes out with this crap. But you know what? They are very arrogant too.
Twafo 7 years ago
So sad to observe that so many of our
literate persons have nothing to do except insult other people.God has provided you with enough resources to be able to use a computer and all you can do with the thing on a Monday mo ... read full comment
So sad to observe that so many of our
literate persons have nothing to do except insult other people.God has provided you with enough resources to be able to use a computer and all you can do with the thing on a Monday morning is to curse someone because of where he was born? Did Cameron Duodu request anyone to do anything for anyone?? Has anyone been prevented from contesting because of where the party was formed or the people who joined the party? You insult us a whole tribe who have done nothings against you just because you happen to hate one member of the tribe? Sad and diseased mind.
ABROKWA JAMPEM 7 years ago
Kwamina....U are suffering from a bad disease....I can smell it from here. It is called inferiority complex! Get some treatment immediately!.....and leave Cameron and Akyems out of your problems. If U feel inferior to someone ... read full comment
Kwamina....U are suffering from a bad disease....I can smell it from here. It is called inferiority complex! Get some treatment immediately!.....and leave Cameron and Akyems out of your problems. If U feel inferior to someone it is not that person's fault, it is Yours!
Wonehwan 7 years ago
Mr Duodu Please don't pay Lungu & Co any heed.
They live off thinkers such as yourself. Lungu may have had all these thought. But why wast until you came on the scene with your first? agree that he may have been pa ... read full comment
Mr Duodu Please don't pay Lungu & Co any heed.
They live off thinkers such as yourself. Lungu may have had all these thought. But why wast until you came on the scene with your first? agree that he may have been paid to run a campaign against Mr Duodu! This surely cannot be a mere academic exercise? Proper academic discussion does not contain insults.
Kwame 7 years ago
When pretension is call democracy... It is a fact that the constitution of Ghana allows freedom of conscience, which the British colonial masters deprived us. At independence on 6th March, 1957 the British said that they will ... read full comment
When pretension is call democracy... It is a fact that the constitution of Ghana allows freedom of conscience, which the British colonial masters deprived us. At independence on 6th March, 1957 the British said that they will not grant us independence if any member of Kwame Nkrumah's CPP minister is a Communist.
The British parliament passed the law Prevention of Communism Act that prevents any leader of the liberation movement in her territories to be a communist.
Britain also use covert and overt means to overthrow governments in countries which leader she does not like, not depending on the fact that that person and party were elected through universal adult suffrage.
The three political parties in Britain have and present the same capitalist socioeconomic policies to the electorate, thus that defeat their multiparty order.
I am not sure if representatives of political parties are present at every polling station during elections in Britain and if they check on those who voter before they are given their ballot papers. However I am aware that there is no biometric verification of the voter in Britain.
Then the matter is also about a state like Britain and others who impose parties on other nations through the force of arms and terrorism. Does that qualify Britain as a democratic state.
Prof Lungu 7 years ago
Kwame,
Thanks for the perspective on "the British".
For us also, the ranking by Freedom House of the US as even a 11 out of 12 is a bit surprising on account of a host of inhibitions (institutional, political, administrat ... read full comment
Kwame,
Thanks for the perspective on "the British".
For us also, the ranking by Freedom House of the US as even a 11 out of 12 is a bit surprising on account of a host of inhibitions (institutional, political, administrative, etc.).
Over to you Cameron Duodu.What do you say?How do you compare Ghana's democracy to that of the US and the UK when our democracy is very young and still growing?No electoral system in this world is perfect.
It is true that Ghana is no longer experiencing the dearth and dearth of democratic rule as it did during the brutal dictatorship of Nkrumah when there was one party state, a life presidency, incarceration without trial and b ...
read full comment
Dr. SAS, Attorney at Law,
If in fact you read the essay, you must be saying Cameron Duodo didn't quite make his case.
Thank you!
And when you, like Cameron Duodu make another mistake this time by conflating Ms. Osei's ...
read full comment
Lungu, the Ashanti boy hiding his real identity is another silly, pertisan and tribal writer like his Togolese Trokosi Ewe friend, the pig looking J.K. Bokor.
Brilliant. Insightful. Educative.
Looking forward to the next installment(s).
Thanks Prof Lungu.
To compare our democracy to that practiced in UK is just a laugh. We are trying, but we are not there yet. In a country where the electoral comissioner is not sure of what is "over voting", macho men can take away ballot boxe ...
read full comment
Well reasoned Mr Jampem! Many advanced democracies in fact put the electoral roll online so that anyone can easily verify whether someone has been registered at two different places. Here the parties have to fight merel ...
read full comment
The argument made by Mr Cameron Duodu was simplic9ty itself. He said the electoral laws are made to enable the people of Ghana to give expression to their democratic choices. If the laws end up by disqualifying so many of th ...
read full comment
Robert,
Maybe you did not read the essay.
We've addressed this point already.
"...If the laws end up by disqualifying so many of the the parties through which this democratic choice is to be expressed, then the laws ha ...
read full comment
Prof, I dusagree with U. If a party fails to, or wrongly completes its application (s)....Whatever efforts required must be used to enable the forms to be completed. During the election trial 4 yesrs ago, it was established b ...
read full comment
If we remember correctly, the EC has already indicated the EC gave the filers more time to fix the problem(s).
But Pro Lungu have you taken money from the EC to pursue Mr CD?
You are going about the matter the wrong way. When you attacked CD on "Say" didn't you see how you were flattened? But now you have brought the stupid non-c ...
read full comment
No!
They have this pseudo complacency that make them think that they are the only ones who know it all. Mr. Duodu has been an editor of the daily graphic before. He should be very good at making an in depth research of whatever h ...
read full comment
So sad to observe that so many of our
literate persons have nothing to do except insult other people.God has provided you with enough resources to be able to use a computer and all you can do with the thing on a Monday mo ...
read full comment
Kwamina....U are suffering from a bad disease....I can smell it from here. It is called inferiority complex! Get some treatment immediately!.....and leave Cameron and Akyems out of your problems. If U feel inferior to someone ...
read full comment
Mr Duodu Please don't pay Lungu & Co any heed.
They live off thinkers such as yourself. Lungu may have had all these thought. But why wast until you came on the scene with your first? agree that he may have been pa ...
read full comment
When pretension is call democracy... It is a fact that the constitution of Ghana allows freedom of conscience, which the British colonial masters deprived us. At independence on 6th March, 1957 the British said that they will ...
read full comment
Kwame,
Thanks for the perspective on "the British".
For us also, the ranking by Freedom House of the US as even a 11 out of 12 is a bit surprising on account of a host of inhibitions (institutional, political, administrat ...
read full comment