The government is suspicious of a takeover, fearing it would further undermine its influence over the company. The December 1996 presidential and parliamentary elections under Ghana s 1992 constitution allowed Ghanaians their first opportunity since independence to elect their representatives in genuine elections. A broad civic education campaign and international assistance with registration and other electoral procedures preceded voting. However, the elections were also marked by the ruling party s extensive use of state media and patronage to support incumbents. Rawlings five percent reelection victory, which extended his sixteen-year rule, was also assured by opposition disunity.
Legislators can introduce bills, but none has ever done so.
Traditional courts often handle minor cases according to local customs that fail to meet constitutional standards. Scarce judicial resources leave many people imprisoned for long periods under harsh conditions without trial. In April 1999 four civilians accused of conspiring with a former army officer to overthrow President Rawlings in 1994 were sentenced to death for treason. The army officer had been captured in Sierra Leone in March. Ghanaians enjoy open political debate reflected in a robust private print media, but press freedom suffered a setback in 1999, despite constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression.