Accra, Oct. 22, GNA - Political parties contesting Election 2004 on Friday cast lots to determine their positions on the ballot paper with the People's National Convention (PNC), whose symbol the Grand Coalition would use, coming at the top.
The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) would be at second and third positions respectively. The Convention People's Party (CPP) would be at the fourth position.
The Grand Coalition comprises the PNC, the Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere (EGLE) and Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP). The positions on the parliamentary ballot paper are: PNC, NPP, NDC, CPP, EGLE, GCPP, Democratic People's Party (DPP) and the National Reform Party (NRP).
Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission, who conducted the balloting, explained that independent parliamentary candidates would follow in an alphabetical order after the political parties.
He said the ballot papers to be used in voting at both the presidential and parliamentary elections would bear the photographs and symbols of the candidates.
Mr Jake Obestebi Lamptey, Campaign Manager of "Kufuor For Castle 2004", led the NPP delegation, which included Mr Harona Esseku, National Chairman, Mr Kwadwo Afari, Press Secretary, Mr Stephen Ntim and John Boadu, both National Executive Members.
The NDC balloting team was under the leadership of Mr Bede Zeedeng, Deputy General Secretary, and included Alhaji Kwabena Isaliq, Mr William Aggrey, Hajia Hina Nelson and Mr Ebo Anna, all Executive Members. Professor Nii Noi Dowuona, CPP General-Secretary and Mr Gabriel Pwamang, PNC General Secretary, led teams for their respective parties. The Position of the seven parties that contested the presidential elections in 2000 were: GCPP, NDC, CPP, PNC, UGM, NRP and NPP. Three political parties, which contested the 1996 presidential elections, were listed according to this order: NDC, NPP and PNC.
In the 1992 and 1996 General Elections, the candidates were arranged on the notice of poll and ballot papers according to the time of filing of nominations.
The EC used the balloting system in Election 2000.