Gambian Parliamentarians Observe Ghana Elections

With less than 72 hours to go for the much awaited presidential and parliamentary elections in Ghana, a delegation of Gambian parliamentarians from the African Union, ECOWAS and Pan African Parliaments left Banjul on Tuesday 2nd December for Accra, Ghana.

Hon. Suku Singhateh of Lower Baddibu, Hon. Haddy Nyang-Jagne of Jeshwang and Hon. Sellu Bah of Basse all from the ECOWAS Parliament will join other parliamentarians and observers in Accra to closely follow the elections.

Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta, Majority Leader from the Pan African Parliament and Hon. Mama Kandeh from the African Union, also left Banjul the same day to Accra for the same mission.

With everything said and done, the elections slated for Sunday 7th December, is expected to be a close race. However, with President John Kuffour stepping down after two terms in office, the elections will produce a new man in office.

Media reports are however sending out indications of a favourable lead for Nana Akuffo Addo of the ruling NPP party.

According to latest reports from Accra, eight presidential candidates are lining up for the race, while a total number of 1,060 aspirants have filed in their applications to contest for the 230 seats in the Ghanaian House of Parliament.

The Gambian parliamentarians, who are expected back in the country on 12th December, were invited by ECOWAS, Pan African Parliaments and the African Union respectively to observe what has been described by many as a historic election in the political history of Ghana.

Hon. Suku Singhateh, it should be noted, returned home last week from Abuja, Nigeria, where he took part in the extraordinary session of the ECOWAS parliament.

Meanwhile, it will be recalled that Alhagie Mustapha Carayol, Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), among other staff of the Commission left Banjul on Tuesday 2nd December at the invitation of the African Union and ECOWAS to observe the presidential and parliamentary elections in Ghana.