Document #1282091
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
Several press reports state that in 7
December 1996 general elections, President Jerry Rawlings of Ghana
was re-elected with 57.2 per cent of the vote and his National
Democratic Congress (NDC) captured 130 of the 200 seats in
parliament (Facts on File World News Digest 19 Dec. 1996;
Financial Times 12 Dec. 1996; The Washington Post
12 Dec. 1996; Reuters 11 Dec. 1996; International Herald
Tribune 13 Dec. 1996).
International monitors described the
elections as free and fair (Facts on File World News
Digest 19 Dec. 1996; Financial Times 12 Dec. 1996;
Reuters 11 Dec. 1996; The Washington Post 12 Dec. 1996),
the opposition was more sceptical about the scale of John Rawlings'
victory and had some complaints about irregularities (Financial
Times 12 Dec. 1996; Facts on File World News Digest
19 Dec. 1996). Five defeated candidates reportedly the election
results in their constituencies (GBC Radio 10 Dec. 1996).
This Response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does
not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular
claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Facts on File World News
Digest. 19 December 1996. "Rawlings Reelected President."
(NEXIS)
Financial Times [London]. 12
December 1996. Antony Goldman. London Edition I. "Strength of
Rawlings Victory Surprises Ghana." (NEXIS)
GBC Radio [Accra, in English] 10
December 1996. "Five Parliamentary Candidates Challenge Declared
Election Results." (BBC Summary 11 Dec. 1996/NEXIS)
International Herald Tribune.
13 December 1996. James Rupert. "Rawlings Re-election in Ghana
Judged Fair." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 11 December 1996. BC Cycle.
"Historic Election Win for Ghana's Rawlings." (NEXIS)
The Washington Post. 12
December 1996. James Rupert. Final Edition. "Ghana's Voters Gives
President Another Term; Final Results Show Rawlings with 57%."
(NEXIS)
Attachments
Facts on File World News
Digest. 19 December 1996. "Rawlings Reelected Presidents."
(NEXIS)
Financial Times [London]. 12
December 1996. Antony Goldman. London Edition I. "Strength of
Rawlings Victory Surprises Ghana." (NEXIS)
GBC Radio [Accra, in English] 10
December 1996. "Five Parliamentary Candidates Challenge Declared
Election Results." (BBC Summary 11 Dec. 1996/NEXIS)
International Herald Tribune.
13 Decembre 1996. James Rupert. "Rawlings Re-election in Ghana
Judger Fair." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 11 December 1996. BC Cycle.
"Historic Election Win for Ghana's Rawlings." (NEXIS)
The Washington Post. 12
December 1996. James Rupert. Final Edition. "Ghana's Voters Gives
President Another Term; Final Results Show Rawlings with 57%."
(NEXIS)