African Union observers praise the Ghana election

Record ID: 76161

  • Title: African Union observers praise the Ghana election
  • Date: 7th December 2016
  • Summary: ACCRA, GHANA (DECEMBER 7, 2016) (REUTERS) STICKER ON CAR DOOR READING (English): 'AFRICAN UNION ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSION' AFRICAN UNION (AU) OBSERVERS WALKING NEAR CAR (SOUNDBITE) (English) AFRICAN UNION OBSERVER, H. E HIFIKEPUNYE POHAMBA, SAYING: "I went to another polling station this morning and I found that one of the polling stations I went to opened an hour and a half later. Although I was informed it was supposed to open at seven o'clock, it opened at eight-thirty. Now, the others stations that we visited, we were impressed that there was an order, people were very, very peaceful, and we have never seen anything that compels us to believe that things were not going well." AU OBSERVERS STANDING AS WOMAN PUTS VOTE BALLOT IN BOX (SOUNDBITE) (English) AFRICAN UNION OBSERVER, H. E HIFIKEPUNYE POHAMBA, SAYING: "We are in a way satisfied with what we have seen because it's very much in line with the guidelines of elections put up by the AU. And we hope the situation will remain as we saw it, not only here in Accra, but in the whole country. So this is my observation of the situation." H. E HIFIKEPUNYE POHAMBA'S AU BADGE (SOUNDBITE) (English) AFRICAN UNION OBSERVER, H. E HIFIKEPUNYE POHAMBA, SAYING: "And that all is going well throughout the country, and we appreciated to see the people so peaceful, so this is all that I can see at the moment." OBSERVERS WATCHING
  • Embargoed: 22nd December 2016 20:58
  • Keywords: Accra Ghana election voting Mahama Akufo-Addo
  • Location: ACCRA, GHANA
  • City: ACCRA, GHANA
  • Country: Ghana
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015BVZUIV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:++EDITORS NOTE: QUALITY AS INCOMING++
    African Union teams who monitored election booths across Ghana said on Wednesday (December 7) they were satisfied with the handling of the vote, and praised the public for their peaceful behaviour.
    Voting closed at 1700 local time (1700GMT) with observer H. E. Hifikepunye Phamba saying he witnessed only a few logistical problems.
    "We are in a way satisfied with what we have seen because it's very much in line with the guidelines of elections put up by the AU. And we hope the situation will remain as we saw it, not only here in Accra, but in the whole country. So this is my observation of the situation," said Mr Pohamba.
    The election looks set to be a tight race as President John Mahama seeks a second and final term against the backdrop of a West African economy that has slowed since he took power.
    He is facing off against opposition leader and head of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Akufo-Addo.
    Ghana is a beacon of democracy in West Africa with a history of peaceful elections. The government of the day has lost power twice since 2000.
    Some 15.7 million people are registered to vote and election officials say turnout could reach a record 80 percent. Some voters queued overnight to cast their ballots.
    Ghana uses a biometric voting system and has multiple voting lists but there are few signs of major logistical problems.
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