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Voters Set Example For Democracy

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 8, 2008

Updated: 12/08/2008 12:22 am

ACCRA - Election officials began counting ballots late Sunday in one of Africa's rare democracies, where voters are painfully aware of the example they are setting on a continent better known for coups, rigged elections and one-man rule.

In courtyards throughout the capital, election officials put police tape around the tables where they began sorting ballots. The count capped a long day. The election began the night before, as hundreds of voters slept on the pavement outside their polling stations in an effort to be first. Voters spoke of carrying the burden of the continent's numerous failures as they waited to vote.

An independent coalition of election observers stationed at 1,000 polling stations nationwide reported about a dozen disturbances by the end of voting. The most serious involved a shooting targeting the convoy of a parliamentary candidate in a town west of the capital, said John Larvie, coordinator of the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers.

A lot is riding on Ghana's election, not just for the nation but also for Africa. Like its neighbors, Ghana has a history of coups and one-party rule, but since the 1990s when coup leader Jerry Rawlings agreed to hold elections, it has been on a fast track to democracy.

It has held four elections since 1992, first bringing Rawlings to power, then current President John Kufuor, who is stepping down after two terms in office.

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