12 August 2008
editorial
In today's edition of ADM, we have some statistical figures concerning Election 2008 put out by the Danquah Institute. See features page. Just last week the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) also published its set of figures.
CDD, a public policy NGO and some newspapers have also over the past few months come out with their figures on the elections. Depending on whose side the figures tilt, there is either praise or condemnation.
The NCCE figures have drawn a lot of comments from various sides of the body politic, mainly because some people feel it is not the Commission's constitutional mandate to go conducting polls on the fortunes of political parties.
Be that as it may, the Commission has done it with public funds at that, and has put out its figures in the public domain. As we debate the propriety or otherwise of the Commission's actions, we must also be careful not to throw the baby away with the dirty water.
Are the figures credible? Can the parties use the figures to strategize to their advantage? Could the figures urge on the parties to eschew complacency?
We feel the figures, instead of discouraging, must rather be used as a starting point for internal reexamination of what the parties, especially the ruling NPP, think of themselves. Some in the NPP say Election 2008 is a done deal. Is it, really...?
Whether the NCCE has the right to conduct polls or not, we feel their figures should be a wake-up call for all the parties. There is no done deal until the day Dr. Afari Gyan, citing the powers conferred on him by the Constitution announces the final tally of Election 2008.
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