The extension of the voter registration period for two more days captures the top spot of the Daily Graphic and Ghanaian Times. The Graphic shows a long queue of anxious people waiting to be registered at the St. Theresa’s School at North Kaneshie in Accra. Also on the front-page of the paper is the Chinese government’s approval of $562mn towards the construction of the Bui Dam project. Also treated as a front-page story by the Times is a call to stop dumping e-waste in Ghana. The paper shows an official of the UN Environmental Programme and the Co-ordinator of the "Stop the E-waste Dumping in Ghana Campaign", Mike Anane briefing journalists at a e-waste dump site at Agbogbloshie in Accra.
"Voters Want Bribes to endorse Politicians on December 7" is how the Heritage captions its lead story. According to the Paper some ordinary people it spoke to are determined to take as much as GHC150 before casting their ballot for any political party in December.
The Chronicle says as the battle for Cape Coast seat turns nasty, the BNI has detained an NPP militant for printing what it called skirt and blouse T-shirts. The activists, Kojo Afful, was arrested at Brofoyedur, a suburb of Cape Coast for printing close to2000 T-shirts of NDC presidential candidate Prof. Atta Mills and that of NPP parliamentary candidate for Cape Coast Ato Amponsah- Dadzie.
The Accra Daily Mail reports that Professor Agyeman Badu Akosah and eight others have been short listed as possible running mate of the CPP presidential candidate. The paper quotes Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom as having dropped the hint.
The top story of the Independent is a call by MP for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, P. C Appiah-Ofori and others for Nana Akufo-Addo to go for Lepowura Alhaji Jawula as his running mate. The call is contained in separate letters addressed to Nana Addo and copied to the various hierarchies of the party.
EDITORIALS
The Daily Graphic commends the EC for extending the limited voter registration exercise. The paper believes the extension will calm the tension, rancour, violence and other challenges that have characterized the exercise. The Graphic also congratulates the EC for its decision to designate special centres for disabled persons. The paper calls on the public to take advantage of the extension to register to enable them to exercise their franchise come December. It reminds the various political parties to educate their supporters on the need to ensure order at the registration centres.
The Ghanaian Times says the leadership of the political parties would do the nation a lot of good if they would re-consider what it calls the politics of permanent campaign. The paper says it is no secret that society has become dangerously polarized that even the most harmless statement or action is dissected for its political party roots, direction or target. According to the paper, one result of the permanent campaign mode is that it is difficult for the average citizen and people at the helm of affairs to distinguish genuine concerns expressed on national issues from those made to score political points.
The Public Agenda calls on government to as a matter of urgency implement existing regulations and introduce stringent laws to curb the uncontrolled importation of e-waste. It says while the importers are making thousands of cedis from their trade, little thought is being given to the fact that most of the items are contaminated with hazardous chemicals. The paper says a recent Greenpeace research revealed that some of the e-waste arriving in Ghana contains toxic metals including lead. The Public Agenda is worried that many children engaged in collecting, dismantling and assembling the e-waste do not wear any protective equipment and are therefore exposed daily to lethal doses of hazardous chemicals like mercury and lead.
The Daily Searchlight is worried about the attacks on the integrity of the Courts by supporters of the jailed former GNPC Chief Executive, Tsatsu Tsikata. The paper believes since the administration of justice is by Courts, engaging in street demonstrations will overthrow the judicial system. The Searchlight therefore urges friends and supporters of Mr. Tsikata to assist him mount the stiffest legal appeal against his conviction.
The Enquirer says accusations and counter accusations by the NPP and NDC of manipulation in the voter registration should be a source of worry to all Ghanaians. The paper believes by this, the two parties are not being fair to Ghanaians, describing them as alarmist. The Enquirer therefore calls on the stakeholders in the December election to investigate these accusations to avert a similar incident in the December polls.
