'An African Election' is the new, fascinating documentary about the Ghana Presidential election of 2008. From watching this film, one realizes that Ghana is one of the most progressive, democratic nations in all of Africa in contrast to such troubled places as Zimbabwe, which has been wracked by despotism and authoritarian rule. If you believe our own presidential elections in the US are contentious, take a look at Ghana where the vote is split almost right down the middle. Even more impressive is the enthusiasm the populace has for the election process, with each side campaigning with great abandon, often in a carnival-like atmosphere, for each of their candidates.
The Ghana 2008 election, like the US, mainly came down to a contest between the two main political parties, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition, the National Democratic Congress (NDC). NDC took over the country in 1992 through a military coup and was headed by Jerry Rawlings from 1992 to 2000, now an elder statesman who's seen politicking for the NDC candidate, Professor John Evans Atta Mills. The NPP was in power from 2000 to 2008 and have now put a new candidate up, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to maintain the party's position in power.
The NDC is the more left-leaning party with Jerry Rawlings articulating his vision of a world now separated between the haves and have-nots. Afufo-Addo appears to represent the NPP as the more conservative group, portraying the NDC as "incompetent." Truth be told, both parties appear to have similar platforms: end poverty and bring Ghana 'into the modern age'.
The 2008 election turns out to be a true thriller when neither party acquires a 50 percent majority and a run-off election must be held. Leading up to the run-off, incidents of violence and unrest are shown, as the passions between the two groups explode. But for the most part, much of the conflict doesn't turn physical—there is much trash talk, with threats to 'take down' the entire country, which never materialize. One of the NDC campaign managers in particular is seen issuing 'threats', after his party's fortunes are reversed temporarily, during the initial vote. But when the tide is turned in his party's favor, of course all calls for recrimination, become a thing of the past.
The run-off is finally decided after the Election Commission declares that due to irregularities in the voting in a remote, rural province, the vote in that area has to be done over again. Since the majority in that constituency favor Professor Mills, when the results of the do-ever are compiled, the NDC is declared a decisive winner. Perhaps the true hero of the 2008 election is the head of the Ghana Election Commission who manages to remain cool in the face of all the hot-heads who can't control their passions during the shifting fortunes of the two parties during the election process. While the voting is done by hand, the Commission does admirable work in collating the results and fairly assessing the true outcome.
While 'An African Election' is a superb chronicle of a historical event, the documentary disturbingly questions the 'relevance' and impact of politics in general. A telling interview with an ordinary farmer, who mournfully complains that neither party will have an effect on his day to day life, which is mired in poverty, only goes to show that elections are of much more benefit to the politicians, than any of their beleaguered constituency.
The Ghana 2008 election, like the US, mainly came down to a contest between the two main political parties, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition, the National Democratic Congress (NDC). NDC took over the country in 1992 through a military coup and was headed by Jerry Rawlings from 1992 to 2000, now an elder statesman who's seen politicking for the NDC candidate, Professor John Evans Atta Mills. The NPP was in power from 2000 to 2008 and have now put a new candidate up, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to maintain the party's position in power.
The NDC is the more left-leaning party with Jerry Rawlings articulating his vision of a world now separated between the haves and have-nots. Afufo-Addo appears to represent the NPP as the more conservative group, portraying the NDC as "incompetent." Truth be told, both parties appear to have similar platforms: end poverty and bring Ghana 'into the modern age'.
The 2008 election turns out to be a true thriller when neither party acquires a 50 percent majority and a run-off election must be held. Leading up to the run-off, incidents of violence and unrest are shown, as the passions between the two groups explode. But for the most part, much of the conflict doesn't turn physical—there is much trash talk, with threats to 'take down' the entire country, which never materialize. One of the NDC campaign managers in particular is seen issuing 'threats', after his party's fortunes are reversed temporarily, during the initial vote. But when the tide is turned in his party's favor, of course all calls for recrimination, become a thing of the past.
The run-off is finally decided after the Election Commission declares that due to irregularities in the voting in a remote, rural province, the vote in that area has to be done over again. Since the majority in that constituency favor Professor Mills, when the results of the do-ever are compiled, the NDC is declared a decisive winner. Perhaps the true hero of the 2008 election is the head of the Ghana Election Commission who manages to remain cool in the face of all the hot-heads who can't control their passions during the shifting fortunes of the two parties during the election process. While the voting is done by hand, the Commission does admirable work in collating the results and fairly assessing the true outcome.
While 'An African Election' is a superb chronicle of a historical event, the documentary disturbingly questions the 'relevance' and impact of politics in general. A telling interview with an ordinary farmer, who mournfully complains that neither party will have an effect on his day to day life, which is mired in poverty, only goes to show that elections are of much more benefit to the politicians, than any of their beleaguered constituency.