voa标准英语2008-Ghana Elections, Second Round Sunday

Presidential candidates in Ghana wrapped-up their campaigning Friday ahead of Sunday's run-off election to succeed out-going President John Kufuor.
　

Ghana's opposition1 party candidate John Atta Mills (l) and Ruling party presidential candidate Nana Akufo-Addo in Accra, 09 Dec 2008

Ghana has closed its borders with Togo, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso in preparation for Sunday's vote.

Ruling-party candidate Nana Akufo-Addo ended his campaign with rallies in the capital, Accra. Opposition candidate John Atta-Mills toured Ghana's western region, and his party also held a final rally in the central region. Both men are hoping to energize² their electoral base while reaching out to voters who chose other candidates in a first round of balloting³ earlier this month that saw turn-out topping 70 percent.

Atta-Mills lost to ruling party candidate Akufo-Addo in that vote. But because neither man received the support of more than 50 percent of the electorate⁴, they go head-to-head Sunday to decide who will lead their nation of more than 23 million people.

The ruling New Patriotic⁵ Party lost its legislative⁶ majority in the first round, dropping 21 seats to finish with 107 of the 228 seats. The opposition National Democratic Congress party picked up 20 seats to finish with 114 seats.

Akufo-Addo: Cautious Economic Growth
　

Nana Akufo-Addo casts vote in his hometown of Kyebi, as wife Rebecca Akufo-Addo looks on 07 Dec 2008

Akufo-Addo is promising⁷ to continue the cautious, economic growth policies of President Kufuor. The 64-year-old former attorney-general and foreign minister established Ghana's Committee on Human and People's Rights and helped repeal⁸ laws restricting freedom of expression.

The parliamentarian and lawyer is the son of former Ghanaian President Edward Akufo-Addo and comes from a royal family in Ghana's eastern region. He was educated in England and has practiced law in both England and France.

Akufo-Addo said average annual economic growth of more than five percent and progress in improving Ghana's health care and infrastructure⁹ during the Kufuor administration should help convince voters to give the ruling party another term in office.

Atta-Mills: Time for Change

Opposition candidate Atta-Mills said it is time for a change after what he calls eight years of "miserable¹⁰ failure." The 64-year-old tax law professor was vice¹¹ president to Ghana's former leader, Jerry Rawlings, who came to power in a coup¹² 27 years ago. Mr. Rawlings introduced some economic and political reforms before handing over to President Kufuor eight years ago.
　

Supporters of opposition candidate John Atta Mills in Accra, 09 Dec 2008

This is Atta-Mills' third attempt at the presidency¹³, having lost twice to President Kufuor. Atta-Mills is from Ghana's central region. He studied law at London's School of Oriental and African Studies and at Stanford Law School in California as a Fulbright scholar.

The former national tax commissioner¹⁴ introduced Ghana's value-added tax. His election manifesto¹⁵ is highly-critical of the ruling party, saying a generation of Ghanaians are facing a future of despair, immorality¹⁶ and crime.

Oil in Ghana's Future

Whoever wins is likely to enjoy a considerable new source of revenue following the discovery of off-shore oil fields that could produce as much as 150,000 barrels a day by 2010. That is likely to ease the impact of higher food and fuel prices in an economy that is already Africa's second largest producer of gold and the world's second biggest exporter of cocoa.

Early balloting was held this week for those who will be working Sunday including members of the military, police, fire brigades and prison services.

While the opposition NDC complained of some irregularities in the December 7 balloting, observers found the vote largely free and fair. Those observers returning for the second round include delegations¹⁷ from the Economic Community of West Africa States, the Pan-African Parliament, the Coalition¹⁸ of Domestic Election Observers, the European Union, and the U.S.-based Carter Center.

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 energize   

vt.给予(某人或某物)精力、能量

参考例句：

• It is used to energize the city.它的作用是为城市供给能量。
• This is a great way to energize yourself and give yourself more power!这种方法非常棒，可以激活你的能量，让你有更多的活力！

3 balloting   

v.（使）投票表决( ballot的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Clark took a commanding leading in the early balloting. 在最初投票时，克拉克遥遥领先。 来自辞典例句
• The balloting had stagnated, he couldn't win. 投票工作陷于停顿，他不能得胜。 来自辞典例句

4 electorate   

n.全体选民；选区

参考例句：

• The government was responsible to the electorate.政府对全体选民负责。
• He has the backing of almost a quarter of the electorate.他得到了几乎1/4选民的支持。

5 patriotic   

adj.爱国的，有爱国心的

参考例句：

• His speech was full of patriotic sentiments.他的演说充满了爱国之情。
• The old man is a patriotic overseas Chinese.这位老人是一位爱国华侨。

6 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

7 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

8 repeal   

n.废止，撤消；v.废止，撤消

参考例句：

• He plans to repeal a number of current policies.他计划废除一些当前的政策。
• He has made out a strong case for the repeal of the law.他提出强有力的理由，赞成废除该法令。

9 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

10 miserable   

adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的

参考例句：

• It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他，这是可耻的。
• Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。

11 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

12 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

13 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

14 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

15 manifesto   

n.宣言，声明

参考例句：

• I was involved in the preparation of Labour's manifesto.我参与了工党宣言的起草工作。
• His manifesto promised measures to protect them.他在宣言里保证要为他们采取保护措施。

16 immorality   

n. 不道德, 无道义

参考例句：

• All the churchmen have preached against immorality. 所有牧师都讲道反对不道德的行为。
• Where the European sees immorality and lawlessness, strict law rules in reality. 在欧洲人视为不道德和无规则的地方，事实上都盛行着一种严格的规则。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源

17 delegations   

n.代表团( delegation的名词复数 )；委托，委派

参考例句：

• In the past 15 years, China has sent 280 women delegations abroad. 十五年来，中国共派280批妇女代表团出访。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• The Sun Ray decision follows the federal pattern of tolerating broad delegations but insisting on safeguards. “阳光”案的判决仿效联邦容许广泛授权的做法，但又坚持保护措施。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法

18 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。