A day after the 7th December, 2016 polls in Ghana, the following are some of the key headlines from the various newspapers in circulation in Ghana.
The Daily Graphic carried the headline, “Prez Mahama vs Akufo-Addo, Who is Who?. According to the paper, at the time of going to press yesterday, the results of the presidential and parliamentary elections were still being sent to the collation centres with no clear picture emerging. The paper noted that the race appeared to be a keen contest between President John Dramani Mahama of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
According to the Ghanaian Times headline, “Nana, JM In Close Race… as others fail to make impact”, at the time of going to press, provisional results from 96 out of 28,992 polling stations put Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) ahead with a total of 18,376 votes, representing 52.23 percent. The President, John Dramani Mahama, the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) polled 15, 920, representing 45, 45.25 percent.
The Finder newspaper had the headline, “As results trickle in… Will It Be One Touch?” The paper observed that, as voting ended successfully and counting continues, the question on the lips of many Ghanaians is whether the final results will give one particular candidate a first round victory to curtail the anxiety in the country. According to the paper, the winner needs to secure 50% plus one of all valid votes. Supporters of the two leading political parties are expectant of victory but do not favour a run-off since that would height tension is the system.
The Lens had the headline “I voted for our vision” – Mahama”. According to the paper, President John Mahama cast his vote in the Bole Constituency in the Northern Region and later stated that “I voted in Bole, my hometown. I voted for the vision we all carry in our hearts: 21st century Ghana where absolute poverty is the three-time presidential candidate of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo”. The two are contesting five other in the seventh election of the Fourth Republic under the 1992 Constitution.
The Daily Statesman with the headline “Kufuor sure of Akufo-Addo Victory”, the Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, yesterday expressed optimism about prospects of victor for both the New Patriotic Party and himself in yesterday’s polls. He expressed that bold hope after voting in his constituency at Kyebi in the Easter Region, where he was accompanied by his wife, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, and NPP parliamentary candidate for the area, Samuel Atta Akyea.
The New Crusading Guide carried the headline: “Tsunami Hits Parliament!... As ‘Untouchable’ MPs Lose Seats, Hanna Tetteh, Mamoale, Others Fall Flat” According to the paper, some prominent members of Parliament seem to have lost their seats in the General Elections held yesterday, 7th December 2016. In provisional results available to the paper, strong Members of Parliament (MPs) like Ms Hannah Serwah Tetteh, MP for Ewutu Senyan West, Nii Armasah Namoale, MP for La Dadekotopon and Hannah Bissiw, MP for Tano South looks like the would not constitute as members of the seventh parliament under the 4th Republic
According to the Today newspaper, “Long Queues Hit Polls As observers say exercise was generally peaceful”. According to the paper, there was massive voter turnout yesterday at majority of the polling centres across the country as long winding queues of voters cast their ballots in the 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections.
