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News in 'Politics' section

S.Leone: Pres. Jonathan nudges credible polls

October 30, 2012 Nigerian Pres. Goodluck Jonathan

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has called for free, fair and credible elections in Sierra Leone, noting that this will promote peace in the country that went through a decade of civil war.

The advice of visiting President Jonathan comes just over two-weeks to presidential, parliamentary and local council elections scheduled for 17 November this year.

Liberian gov’t denies links to independent radio closure

October 26, 2012 Liberia Information Minister Lewis Brown

Popular independent Catholic Church-run Radio Veritas has been off the air for the second week, amidst accusations that the government had masterminded the silencing of a critical voice.

Information minister Lewis Brown held a news conference Thursday in Monrovia to say it was “just not fair” to accuse the government without first probing the closure of the radio.

Guinea: Forum of military chiefs discuss elections security

October 26, 2012 Yayah Jammeh, Samuel Doe,Dadis Camara - Soldiers in politics

Former Beninese Army Major General Fernand Marcel Amoussou has reminded military forces of their obligation to remain neutral and respectful of electoral processes.

Amoussou, ex-Force Commander of the UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire, was speaking at a forum this week in the Guinean capital, Conakry, gathering military chiefs and election experts from 10 West African nations.

Ghana to deploy 5,000 soldiers for December polls

October 26, 2012 Ghana Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. Peter Blay

Ghanaian authorities are trying to ensure that security is water-tight for elections slated for 7 December by deploying some 5,000 soldiers across the country.

There are over 25,000 polling stations and about 10 million voters registered for the presidential and parliamentary polls.

Gambia drops charges against 2 journalists, death threat sent via email

October 25, 2012 The two Imprisoned Gambian Journalists

Gambian authorities have dropped charges against two journalists, who were arrested on 6 September this year for seeking permission to peacefully protest the execution of nine death row in-mates on the orders of President Yayha Jammeh.

Journalists Baboucarr Ceesay, first vice president of the Gambian Press Union and Abubacarr Saidykhan, a freelancer, were charged for “conspiracy to commit felony, seditious publication and incitement to violence” following their request to peacefully demonstrate.

 

Sierra Leone: OSIWA props CSOs’ role in upcoming polls

October 25, 2012 Joe Pemagbi, OSIWA Sierra Leone Office head

The Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) is lending support to a number of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to play effective participatory roles in Sierra Leone’s 17 November presidential and general elections.

According to Joe Hindovei Pemagbi, Country Officer and Head of office Sierra Leone, bodies benefiting from OSIWA support include the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to educate voters on the electoral process.

Ghana: Party in election bribery scandal files court action

October 25, 2012 Prophet Daniel Nkansah, leader of NVP

The leader of the New Vision Party (NVP) has filed an injunction against the Electoral Commission to stop it from holding the 7 December presidential and general elections, claiming it was ‘not fit’ to hold the polls in the face of a bribery scandal.

Prophet Daniel Nkansah, the NVP candidate who admitted he bribed the two EC directors in a ‘set up’, asked the court to only allow the election if the EC sacks the officials allegedly involved in the scandal.

UN official fingers 'quality, credibility' of African elections

October 24, 2012 UN Under Sec. Gen. Carlos Lopes

United Nations Under Secretary General Carlos Lopes has observed that although elections have become more regular in Africa, their ‘quality and credibility are increasingly being called to question’.

Lopes was speaking at the three-day eighth edition of the African Governance Forum convened recently in Gaborone, Botswana.

Liberians closely eyeing US elections

October 24, 2012 US Amb. to Liberia, Deborah Malac

One country in West Africa which follows events in the United States very closely is Liberia, which has a long-standing historical links spanning close to two centuries.

Founded by freed black American slaves in the early 1800s, Liberia has maintained ties with the US since then, with an estimated 500,000 Liberians now said to be living in that country.

Cote d’Ivoire: Ouattara smokes peace pipe with Gbagbo’s kinsmen

October 24, 2012 Ivorian Pres. Alassane Ouattara

Since the end of the post-election armed conflict in April last year, pitting supporters of President Alassane Outarra and ex-President Laurent Gbagbo, the western region of Cote d’Ivoire has been plagued with violence.

Now, President Alassane Ouattara has held a meeting in Abidjan with citizens of Western Cote d’Ivoire, the region of Gbagbo, paving the way for peace and security to reign in that volatile region.