VOA标准英语2009年-Ghana's President Suggests Extending Term for F

Ghana's outgoing president, John Kufuor,who steps down on Wednesday, says future heads of state should have their terms extended to five years in office instead of the current four.
　

Ghana's President John Kufuor (File)

In his final state of the nation address, President Kufuor said parliament should consider extending the term of Ghana's president to five years to give that person what he calls "reasonable room" for a newly elected leader to settle into the job.

"For the president of a struggling, developing nation with weak institutions, perhaps in the case of Ghana a five-year term, renewable once, will create the needed space for making a better impact," said Mr. Kufuor.

President Kufuor said that is especially so for a popular incumbent¹ who may lack experience at the time of taking office.

President Kufuor finishes his two, four-year terms Wednesday when he hands over power to President-elect John Atta-Mills. In his third run at the presidency², Mr. Atta-Mills withstood two rounds of voting and a special election in a single constituency Friday to defeat ruling-party rival Nana Akufo-Addo by fewer than 41,000 votes out of more than nine million ballots³ cast.

President Kufuor commended the work of Ghana's Electoral Commission during the hard-fought, much-delayed vote, but also suggested that parliament consider setting terms for its members. He said it is risky⁴ to have a referee⁵ who enjoys permanent security.

"The commission is without term limits. I therefore recommend for the consideration of this house and the nation a system which will retain the absolute independence of the commission, but also provides all its members with specific, timed tenures," he added.

President Kufuor said that would sustain public trust in the Electoral Commission while making it accountable to the people. Chairman Kwado Afair-Gyan has held the post since the commission was established 15 years ago.

Kufuor's National Patriotic⁶ Party has complained about opposition⁷ intimidation⁸ during the just-concluded vote. Chairman Gyan says the electoral commission investigated alleged⁹ fraud by both the opposition and the ruling party, but did not find sufficient evidence to invalidate the overall result.

While ruling-party candidate Akufo-Addo has conceded to Mr. Atta-Mills, he says party lawyers will go to court to pursue complaints about irregularities in the Volta district.

1 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

2 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。

3 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

5 referee   

n.裁判员．仲裁人，代表人，鉴定人

参考例句：

• The team was left raging at the referee's decision.队员们对裁判员的裁决感到非常气愤。
• The referee blew a whistle at the end of the game.裁判在比赛结束时吹响了哨子。

6 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。

7 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。

8 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

9 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为