The Successful Ghana Election of 2008: A Convenient Myth? Ethnicity in Ghana's elections revisited

Ghana’s 2008 elections have been hailed by national and international observers as a model for Africa. This perception has prevailed despite persistent concerns about 'ethnic block voting' and electoral fraud. Electoral malpractice and vote rigging along ethnic lines in Ghana's virtual two-party system could regain a decisive importance as a 'third force' which could tip the balance in future, possibly coming to represent an even more important factor than the smaller opposition parties. Unfortunate diplomatic and technocratic biases in election monitoring, combined with a reluctance on the part of the responsible authorities to investigate, in what appears to be a long history of fraudulent 'ethnic block voting', amounts to a dangerous time bomb of unresolved conflict which could explode in future elections.elections; ethnicity; election observation; informal institutions; impunity; Ghana; Africa;

The successful Ghana election of 2008: a convenient myth?

Ghana's 2008 election has been hailed by national and international observers as a model for Africa. The perception of success has prevailed despite persistent concerns about an inflated voters' register and electoral fraud perpetrated by the two major parties, the NPP and NDC, in their strongholds in the Ashanti and Volta Regions respectively. Electoral malpractice in Ghana's virtual two-party system could acquire a decisive importance as a ‘third force’, representing an even more important factor than the smaller opposition parties. Unfortunate diplomatic and technocratic biases in election monitoring, combined with a reluctance on the part of the responsible authorities to investigate what appears to be a long history of fraudulent voting, amounts to a dangerous time bomb of unresolved conflict which could detonate in future elections

The Successful Ghana Election of 2008: A Convenient Myth? Ethnicity in Ghana's elections revisited

Ghana’s 2008 elections have been hailed by national and international observers as a model for Africa. This perception has prevailed despite persistent concerns about 'ethnic block voting' and electoral fraud. Electoral malpractice and vote rigging along ethnic lines in Ghana's virtual two-party system could regain a decisive importance as a 'third force' which could tip the balance in future, possibly coming to represent an even more important factor than the smaller opposition parties. Unfortunate diplomatic and technocratic biases in election monitoring, combined with a reluctance on the part of the responsible authorities to investigate, in what appears to be a long history of fraudulent 'ethnic block voting', amounts to a dangerous time bomb of unresolved conflict which could explode in future elections

Wahlen und Wahlbeobachtung in Nigeria, Marz-Mai 2003

Analyzes Mar.-May 2003 elections in Nigeria; focus on electoral register, organization, political campaign, vote manipulation, and results

Treatment response of lithium augmentation in geriatric compared to non-geriatric patients with treatment-resistant depression

BACKGROUND Lithium augmentation (LA) of antidepressants is an effective strategy for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Nevertheless, it is rarely used in geriatric patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate treatment response of LA in geriatric compared to non-geriatric patients. METHOD In a prospective multicenter cohort study, severity of depression was measured weekly in 167 patients with unipolar depression (nage≥65years = 22; nage<65years = 145) at baseline and over at least four weeks of LA. RESULTS Geriatric patients showed a significantly better response to LA compared to non-geriatric patients (Hazard Ratio = 1.91; p = 0.04). LIMITATIONS An important limitation of our study is the lack of a control group of LA and the missing evaluation of side effects in both groups. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study investigating the efficacy of LA for TRD in geriatric compared to non-geriatric patients. Our data suggest that LA is an effective treatment option in geriatric patients that clinicians might consider more frequently and earlier on in the course of treatment

Acute effects of lithium augmentation on the kidney in geriatric compared with non‐geriatric patients with treatment‐resistant depression

Introduction: Lithium augmentation (LA) of antidepressants is a first-line therapy option for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Nevertheless, it is rarely used in geriatric patients mostly because of the fear of kidney toxicity. The purpose of this study is to investigate estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) changes and number of acute kidney injuries (AKI) using LA in geriatric compared with non-geriatric patients. Methods: In a prospective multicenter cohort study, eGFR changes were measured in 201 patients with unipolar depression (nage≥65years = 29; nage<65years = 172) at baseline and over 2–6 weeks of LA. We used linear mixed models to investigate changes in eGFR upon LA and assessed the number of AKIs, according to the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines. Results: Both age groups showed a significant eGFR decline over the course of treatment with lower eGFR in geriatric patients. The lithium serum level (interpretable as “effect of LA”) had a significant effect on eGFR decline. Both effects (age group and lithium serum level) on eGFR decline did not influence each other, meaning the effect of LA on eGFR decline did not differ between age groups. Two AKIs were observed in the geriatric age group when serum lithium levels exceeded the therapeutic range of >0.8 mmol/L. Conclusion: This is the first study investigating eGFR change and AKI upon LA for TRD in geriatric compared with non-geriatric patients. Our data suggest that LA, as an effective treatment option in geriatric patients, should be closely monitored to avoid AKIs

Acute effects of lithium augmentation on the kidney in geriatric compared with non‐geriatric patients with treatment‐resistant depression

Introduction Lithium augmentation (LA) of antidepressants is a first‐line therapy option for treatment‐resistant depression (TRD). Nevertheless, it is rarely used in geriatric patients mostly because of the fear of kidney toxicity. The purpose of this study is to investigate estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) changes and number of acute kidney injuries (AKI) using LA in geriatric compared with non‐geriatric patients. Methods In a prospective multicenter cohort study, eGFR changes were measured in 201 patients with unipolar depression ( n age≥65years = 29; n age0.8 mmol/L. Conclusion This is the first study investigating eGFR change and AKI upon LA for TRD in geriatric compared with non‐geriatric patients. Our data suggest that LA, as an effective treatment option in geriatric patients, should be closely monitored to avoid AKIs