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21102 – Africa Research Bulletin Internal Developments The opposition “has started to heat “It’s essential that political figures demanded it be scrapped, announced he things up by announcing that the elec- favour dialogue and negotiation and would not contest the second round. tion will not be transparent, that we will refrain from all incitement to violence, Sao Tome, a former Portuguese colony steal victory,” the president said. to hatred or the stigmatisation of certain that is reliant on foreign aid for 90% of communities,” said the statement, which On August 12th a joint statement from its budget, has formerly been held up as was also signed by the special represen- the embassies of France, Germany, Italy, a model of democracy compared to tative of the UN Secretary General for Spain and the United States urged the neighbours like Chad and Equatorial Central Africa and the delegations of the authorities to ensure respect for freedom Guinea with rulers who have held power European Union (EU) and the Interna- of expression and association, as well as for decades. tional Organisation of La Francophonie fair access to the media. (OIF). (© AFP 12,13/8 2016) Bongo to stand The nation has a tradition of premiers p. 21068B and presidents from opposing camps governing together peacefully, although the set-up has led to turf wars in the SAO TOME E PRINCIPE past. Election Run-Off The president has an arbitrating role in Ghana’s presidential election will now be government but no executive powers, The former premier is the only candi- held on December 7th, after parliament leaving the prime minister in the domi- date. voted against an amendment to push the nant position. vote forward by one month, the electoral Sao Tome’s former Prime Minister commission said on July 22nd. Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada is seen Evaristo Carvalho won a presidential as the main winner of the run-off result Lawmakers rejected a bill seeking to run-off in which he ran unopposed after now that both of Sao Tome’s top jobs change the date for the polls from Decem- the incumbent declared a boycott, are set to be held by his centre-right ber 7th to the first Monday of November according to provisional results released for every election year. Independent Democratic Action (ADI) on August 8th. party. The electoral body said the change in date would not affect its “commitment to Carvalho, the 74-year-old ruling party Pinto da Costa became the first post- deliver free, fair, transparent and credible candidate, won 82% of the total 51,173 independence ruler in 1975 and estab- elections in 2016”. ballots cast on August 7th, according to lished a Marxist-Leninist state. His poli- figures released by the tiny West African National Democratic Congress (NDC) cies devastated the economy of what had leader President John Dramani Mahama archipelago’s electoral commission. been, at the start of the 20th century, the is seeking a second, five-year term against world’s leading cocoa producer. Many of the 111,222 registered voters Nana Akufo-Addo, of the main opposition appeared to have stayed away, possibly New Patriotic Party (NPP). A clamp down on the opposition sent to express support for incumbent presi- many dissidents into exile, including The Supreme Court jailed a radio presen- dent Manuel Pinto da Costa and third- Trovoada’s father Manuel, after rela- ter and his two panellists on July 28th for placed candidate Maria das Neves – both threatening to kill judges who ordered tions between the two men soured. of whom alleged fraud in the first round. names to be removed from the voters’ Manuel Trovoada returned after Sao register ahead of the elections. Carvalho was initially declared winner Tome became a multiparty democracy Judge Sophia Akuffo sentenced Salifu of the first-round vote on July 17th with in 1991 and was twice elected president. Maase alias “Mugabe” of Accra-based more than 50% of the ballots – but his (© AFP 8/8 2016; RDP Africa website 7/8) station Montie FM and two pro-govern- tally was revised down to 49.8%, ment panellists, Allistair Nelson and God- Following the election, Trovoada said prompting the run-off. Da Costa won win Ako-Gunn, to four months’ jail and a on national television that his country 24.8% of the vote, and Neves won fine of Cedis 10,000 (US$2,500). had entered an era of stronger gover- 24.3%. They ran as independents The judge said they had attacked the nance. although they are both members of the court’s integrity by threatening on air not Movement for the Liberation of Sao “This is a new moment .. . the end to accept its ruling on the electoral register Tome e Principe – Social Democrat of cohabitation,” he said, referring to and to kill the judges. Party (MLSTM-PSD). Turnout was the often-fractious tradition of power- Some 56,000 names were deleted from the 64.31%. sharing. electoral register after individuals used national health insurance cards as proof But Pinto da Costa, who had con- “The conditions are now ripe for greater of identity. demned the process as fraudulent and cohesion in government and for better Ghana’s political opposition had com- plained that many names were fraudulent, as holders of health insurance cards do not necessarily have to be Ghanaian First round Second round citizens. Candidate Party Votes % Votes % The owners and directors of Montie FM were also fined C30,000 by the court. Evaristo Carvalho Independent Democratic 34,522 49.88 41,820 “Mugabe” is known in Ghana for Action provocative comments on his show, which Manuel Pinto da Costa Independent 17,188 24.84 is invariably supportive of the ruling Maria das Neves Independent 16,828 24.31 party. Attorneys for the accused, who Manuel do Rosario Independent 478 0.69 have pleaded freedom of speech, appealed Helder Barros Independent 194 0.28 for mercy and vowed to seek a presidential Invalid/blank votes 2,314 9,406 pardon. (© AFP 22,28/7 2016) Total 71,524 100 51,226 Meanwhile, President Mahama vowed Registered voters/turnout 111,222 64.31 46.06 that there would be no ban on social media before, during and after the elec- tion. (Joy FM 14/8) (Tela Non 15/8) AB C © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series – Wiley
Published: Sep 1, 2016
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