The Chronicle echoes the need for the Electoral Commission, EC, to take a second look at the transfer of votes. It says ever since the country returned to multi-party democracy in 1992, confusion has always surrounded the transfer of votes from one particular constituency to the other. To the paper, the problem got to its peak in Cape Coast on Monday when supporters of the NDC and residents of the town reportedly assaulted students of the Cape Coast University who had gone to transfer their votes to the municipality. According to the Chronicle it will be wrong for the EC to pretend that it is not aware that political parties are abusing the system in their attempts to win power. It urges all political parties not to use violence but report all cases of abuse of transfer to the EC.
The Crusading Guide commends the Institute of Economic Affairs, IEA, for its role in the development of democracy in Ghana . To the paper, creating a platform for personalities seeking to lead the nation will make the electioneering campaign an issue based one. Whilst commending the IEA, the Crusading Guide cautions political parties who look for avenues to condemn to stop such acts. The paper reminds Ghanaians, that no marks were awarded for both debates, so the issue of who won and who lost does not have a place in the exercise.
The Accra Daily Mail welcomes calls from various quarters to the media to be professional and avoid sensationalism during the election. The paper hopes the media will take the advises in good faith and not see them as a fault-finding and finger-pointing exercise. Even as the paper finds it good to spotlight the media, it believes the same call must go to politicians too, who are often the source and cause of political and social tensions. The media, it notes, does not set the agenda.
The Daily Graphic finds it refreshing, that pragmatic steps are being taken by the GETFUND to stop the practice of pupils in some parts of the country from attending classes under trees. The paper says in the last count in 2004, about 2,000 schools were found to have existed under trees. The Graphic commends the GETFUND for its support to these schools to reduce the stress on teachers who teach under such conditions. According to the paper, Ghana is touted as one of the few countries close to meeting some of the MDGs and since access to primary education is one of the measurable goals, it is only proper for the government to end the spectacle of “under-tree schools”.
"What could kill Health Insurance" is how the Ghanaian Times captions its editorial. It says a communiqué issued at the end of the 50th annual general conference of the Ghana Medical Association alleged that the National Insurance Council owes, many health facilities legitimate claims for many months. According to the paper, the outstanding claims run into millions of Ghana Cedis. This state of indebtedness, the Times cautions, represents a real threat to health facilities and their ability to deliver quality health care. The Times poses some questions. First, if the patients are not paying their premiums and if the two and-a –half percent insurance levy is not being deducted and paid into the scheme.
