The men and women of the security services have proven to Ghanaians that they are law abiding, as they turned out in their numbers to cast their ballot peacefully, at yesterday’s special voting exercise.
The Chronicle can confidently report that the atmosphere at some few polling stations was calm and serene.
At the Kaneshie police station, where voting was taking place at two polling centres, the voters, who were mostly police officers and a few civilians, calmly walked to the EC officials to get their ballot paper, vote and leave the premises after voting.
Most of the voters strictly adhered to the Covid-19 health protocols that were put in place. The voters first went to where water and soap had been made available to wash their hands, before going to get their ballot papers from the EC officials.
This calmness displayed by the voters was attested to by Mr Joseph Quartey, the Electoral Commission’s Returning officer, who was manning the polling station.
Mr Quartey said he was enthused at the manner in which the security personnel comported themselves. He said he was also very happy at the turnout, as at the time The Chronicle visited the centre.
A total number of 539 people were expected to cast their ballot at polling centre A, while 538 were expected to cast theirs at polling centre B. While 275 had cast their ballot at centre A, 278 did same at centre B. Mr Quartey said the turnout was very impressive.
He said the only issue they had was when about three eligible voters who showed up couldn’t find their names on the special voters list and were either directed to the appropriate polling station or asked to wait and vote on December 7.
The Parliamentary candidates for both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) also admitted that the process was peaceful.
Madam Dakoa Newman, the NPP’s candidate for Okaikoi South who was at the polling station as early as 6:00am to monitor the process indicated that it was smooth.
She said there were no major complaints, aside those who couldn’t find their names on the list of the special voters list.“No major issues. So far so good; It’s been smooth.”
On attendance, the candidate indicated that she was satisfied with the turnout so far.
“It’s very encouraging. There was a long queue when I go here. It’s now that the line is going down, because a lot of people have already cast their ballot. We are optimistic. We are here till 5pm when the voting closes.”
She advised the youth to stay away from violent acts and also not to allow themselves to be used to perpetuate violence.
“Violence is not the way to go. No matter what happens at the polls there are ways to resolve it amicably. I will plead with them not to allow anyone to use them to perpetuate violence on December 7.We are all Ghanaians and we want a peaceful election.”
She pleaded with Ghanaians to vote for the NPP so that the party can continue with the good works.
Mr Abraham KoteiNeequaye of the NDC also asserted that the voters comported themselves very well.
“Everything is fine. We are all voting. The police and all the security personnel who came here have behaved themselves and that is what we all expect. The turnout is very good and we hope more people will come out and vote”.
From Bolgatanga, William NlanjerborJalulah reports that a total of 5,950 voters were expected to cast their votes in 15 constituencies in the Upper East Region in the special voting exercise on Tuesday, December 1, in the Upper East Region.
The Upper East Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), William ObengAdarkwa, who disclosed this to this reporter in an interview before press time, said his outfit had adequately prepared to carry out the special voting exercise.
After touring almost all the 15 voting centers in the region to monitor the process, the Director said the process was generally peacefully. He also said there were no complaints of system malfunction.
When The Chronicle visited polling stations A and B in the Bolgatanga Central Constituency, the process was being carried out smoothly amidst the observation of Covid-19 protocols.
At the time this reporter visited the two centers, only agents of the governing New Patriotic Party and the opposition National Democratic Congress were present to observe the elections.
Isaac Akwetey also reports from Koforidua that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate (PC) for New Juaben South in the Eastern Region, Mr. Michael OkyereBaafi, has called on media practitioners across the country to be circumspect with their reportage before, during and after the presidential and parliamentary elections.
According to the NPP PC, who is also the Free Zones Board Chief Executive Officer (CEO), it would be imperative to consolidate the peace and unity atmosphere blowing over the country, which the media has the role to play.
OkyereBaafi urged journalists to uphold the principles of journalism in high esteem in order to ease misinterpretation and misinformation which could plunge the country into chaos and state of insecurity.
“We want to keep the peace we are enjoying hence journalists should be very careful on the message they will send outside in order not to create any misunderstanding,” he declared.
He explained that, anything short of being circumspect would have the tendency to undermine the peace and unity whilst its corresponding negative associations would be detrimental to the country.
The NPP PC for New Juaben South made the pronouncement in an interview on the Special Voting, describing the exercise as a peaceful and heaped praises on the Electoral Commission (EC) for an excellent job.
He, however, expressed grave concern over the fact that some of the electorates participating in the special voting were not able to vote because their names were not on the register.
Meanwhile, a total of 507 eligible voters were expected to cast their ballots in the special voting exercise ongoing at KoforiduaEfiduase in the New Juabeng North constituency of the Eastern Region.
The process, whichwas going on smoothly when reporters visited KoforiduaEffiduase MTTU polling centre, had all COVID-19 protocols in place with strict adherence by voters at the centre.
All Electoral Commission (EC) officials at the centre had their face masks on, and ensured that all voters equally had their face masks on.
Voters on arrival at the centre were first asked to wash their hands and their temperatures checked before going through the voting process.
The Presiding Officer, Mr. Joseph KwasiOwusu said the process started on time without any challenges and was hopeful it would continue throughout the day.A total of 297 voters had voted out of 507 as at the time reporters visited the centre.
Correspondent Samuel Agbewodealso reports from the Volta Regional capital, Ho, that the special voting exercise started at exactly 7am and went on without any let or hindrance. The special voting saw one thousand four hundred and seventy-two security personnel, the media and officers of the Electoral Commission (EC) voting.
The security personnel – the military, police, prisons, immigration, Fire Service and the customs division of the Ghana Revenue Authority were seen in a long queue in a peaceful and orderly manner.
The two major political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) were also visible and coordinating with each other as polling station agents for their respective parties.
Mr. Joe Amevor, a polling station agent for the NDC and Mr. Michael Sitsofe a polling Station Agent for the NPP all expressed satisfaction about the peaceful voting exercise.
The Ho Municipal Electoral Officer, Nana Oduro Apew told the media that there would not be any difficulty in relation to the voting exercise.
The post Police, others turnout to vote peacefully on “Special voting day” appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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