MartinHafer "An African Election" is about the presidential election of 2008 in Ghana. It's one of the few African nations where they've had recent PEACEFUL elections and in 2008 it's yet another chance to see if the democratic system works or is destined to failure. In this case, it's a contest between the NDC (which used to rule the country for many years) and the NPP (who currently holds the presidency).Throughout the film, there is no narration and folks on all sides of the political spectrum get their chance to speak--both the politicians, their boosters and the average Ghanian. For the most part, the democratic system seems to be working though there are some serious challenges including: the use of 'macho men' to dissuade voters, some volatile citizens and politicians who seem quick to claim cheating has occurred--even before they get the facts. However, on the positive side, I was amazed at how involved the citizens were--with a greater than 96% voter turnout* and voters arriving as early as 3am in order to vote and many waiting 10-12 hours to vote! While I liked seeing this look at politics Ghanian style, I also was a bit frustrated because little was provided as far as explaining the Ghanian political landscape. For example, you have no idea WHAT the NDC and NPP stand for and how they differ! And, although they focus on the presidency, what about the legislation? I felt that so much could have been said and the context for the film seemed to be missing. Good, but it could have been a lot better.*In the 'civilized world', voter turn out is shameful. The last time it even topped (barely) 60% in the USA was 1968. We have a lot to learn from the Ghanians!

TheDocHierarchy In 2008, Ghana returns to the polls under the weight of great national and international expectation. Military coups and suspect elections on the continent becoming commonplace, Ghana was to be the beacon of democracy that the region and its pro-democracy activists could look to. Two-term incumbent, John Kuffour, is stepping aside and his place is to be taken by either the Conserative NPP's Nana Akufo-Addo or the Liberal NDC's Professor John Atta Mills. Both politicians outline their hopes for a fair and peaceful election.Formerly the 'Gold Coast' under British colonial rule, Ghana had been the first West African country to claim independence, in 1957. Since then, it has suffered through a series of tumultuous political periods, numbering three military coups and four republics; however, from 1992 it has slowly but surely developed a cohesive political system and consistent, if not extraordinary, national growth. Nevertheless, it's people are not content. Channelling the modern complaint used by citizens of democracy the world over, the Ghanaians remain suspicious of the political pandering of their representatives, promising a great deal but always failing to act once elected. Ghanaian: 'None of the parties are offering a paradigm shift. All parties offering to do the same thing, but some offer to do it better than others'.It is the universality of the issues and complaints found in this documentary that offers hope, not just to Ghana, but to the continent as a whole. The two main parties in Ghana, the NDC and the NPP, are far from polarized - at one point we cut back and forth between party rallies to see both candidates making almost identical pledges relating to security and food production - and this is mirrored in the issues that continually crop up in interviews with ordinary Ghanaians, regardless of their political affiliations. Top of this list is a desire for peaceful elections; when the ballet boxes are counted, the locals insist on surrounding officials and count the ballets out loud. It is raw democracy, and it's very powerful.Former President Jerry Rawlings: 'I know what a pack of thieves the NPP are. You need to protect the sanctity of the ballot box as you would protect your mother, your wife, your children'.Nevertheless, Ghana does not operate as a bubble; this is still Africa. Fears of fraudulent activity and party intimidation are ever-present; a delay in the announcement of results after the first round of voting leads to both parties bringing their supporters out onto the street, provoking the army to intervene and clashes to erupt. It takes a calm and composed response from the Ghanaian Electoral Commission to re-assert the rule of law and ensure a transfer of power is eventually accomplished without major incident. Such kinks in the process grant Ghana's election a real authenticity. As an example to its neighbours on the continent, its imperfection should be a inspiration - democracy is built over a period of time, not erected out of a box. The US have shown that however strong your democratic institutions may be (and that is perhaps the only thing both parties there do agree on), elections are still complex and emotive events to manage. Yet, Ghana and its Electoral Commission know that with each successive attempt, both they and the public at large will develop a confidence and trust in the processes put in place.NDC Spokeswoman: 'I want my children not to be ashamed of being African, because Africa is always looked at as a basket case'.'An African Election' is a TBC; in a way, it will never be completed. Yet, with each subsequent free and fair election, with each runner-up or incumbent who accepts with grace the will of his people, Africa will go closer to becoming the peaceful and prosperous region it deserves to be.Concluding Thought: Former President Jerry Rawlings is one serious orator.

keidem4-829-441667 As you can accurately surmise from its title, Jarreth Merz's documentary, "An African Election," is indeed about politics, but it's also about a whole lot more.The movie focuses on the most recent presidential election in Ghana, the same year, of course, in which Barack Obama was elected president of the United States (and please, anyone tempted to make a comment about us having an "African election" in this country in 2008, keep it to your friggin' self!).The more accurate parallel to draw, however, is with the 2000 election of George W. Bush, because the Ghana race chronicled with verve here is a very tight one, and the words that come to mind most often as you watch it unfold are "chaos" and "passion." And that passion really doesn't seem to be for the candidates themselves, in a two-party race in which they seem to be interchangeable. Ideology, in fact, rarely enters into the picture in the race between Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and John Evans Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party.What Ghanians are clearly passionate about, however, is democracy itself, which is still a relatively new concept in the country and one that is cherished (as Merz pointed out in the post-film Q&A, nearly 80 percent of eligible Ghanians voted in the election.) And just how fresh and fragile democracy itself is in Ghana is reinforced by the presence of Jerry John Rawlings, a military commander who took over the country in a coup in 1981 and later founded the NDC and was twice elected as Ghana's president starting in 1992. The throngs that this African "lion" (as Mertz described him) draws on the campaign trail are as impressive as they are seemingly on the brink of combustion at any minute.The most impressive aspect of Merz's movie is his access to all the key players in what, if you like political movies as much as I do, really plays out as a thriller, with not just who will win the race but whether the election itself will succeed or descend into a violent nightmare looming questions until the very end. The passions that rule in the "strong room" (you really have to see it to believe it) are all laid out raw, and in the chaos of counting and recounting, charges and counter charges of fraud, it is very reminiscent of what happened in the U.S. in 2000 in Florida.Keith Demko http://reelfanatic.blogspot.com

mistarkus Not so much about the particular party politics as it is about the pride of Ghana. Abolishes media induced stereotypes and gives a true picture and feel of an election and life in an African country. More important than the outcome of the dramatically close election is the necessity to prove to the world and even more than that to set the foundation for Ghana pride through the upholding of the solid legitimacy of the election. We don't know how the election will turn out and that is exciting but even more so we root for a peaceful democratic election that may seem questionable based on media induced notions. It proves to the world influenced by the media, who plagues Africa with the stereotypical political corruption and anarchy, how solid, serious and legitimate the process is and how far Ghana and Africa have come. A multi stepped detailed process entailing the upholding of the constitution, the hard work of the neutral election committee and the people's heart and soul lining up to place their ballots with zeal. All to ensure Ghana elects the rightful leader and upholds democracy as well as any nation on the globe could. Riveting and intense the close election and the outcome make an unpredictable edge of your seat thriller that not only entertains but informs. We learn about party politics (not so much the individual politics of Ghana's leaders rather more general notions of partisan politics), we are exposed to an interesting gueveraesque revolutionary history with charismatic leaders that has not been overly delved into and is probably not that well known by most westerners and we get a life on the streets feel where we arm chair travel so that we briefly feel and witness the country, the people and the continent. The rapid shots were intense but a slower passed editing style is more favorable to absorb some of the scenes and more fully transport to Ghana. The access to both the top leaders and the election committee will amaze. It is probably the closest any filmmaker has gotten to both opposing party leaders at that highest level. A great documentary!