Africa Is a Country

A Ghanaian Election

A Ghanaian Election

By
Sean Jacobs

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FC_6PDuJRXs#!&w=500&h=307&rel=0]

I am looking out for the documentary film, “An African Election” by the director Jarreth Merz. The film covers the dramatic events surrounding Ghana’s 2008 presidential elections. The election was only the second time–since Ghana ended military rule in 1992–that power would change hands through an election. Following a run-off, the two top candidates–the ruling party’s Nana Akufo-Addo and his challenger John Atta-Mills (who incidentally campaigned like Barack Obama was his running mate)–were tied for the lead. Results had to be delayed because of disputes over balloting and counting procedures. Some observers feared violence. Of course we now know how it all ended (Atta-Mills became Ghana’s new president). But judging from the trailer above we do get a sense of the high stakes.

The film made the cut at the Sundance Film Festival next month (it’s in competition), so there’s some hope it may get a limited release (the fate of documentary films with a non-US focus and that’s not fronted by celebrities) at an independent theater near you (if you live in a major metropolitan center)  or on a cable channel or onto online viewing platforms like Netflix or Hulu.–Sean Jacobs

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