Apathy grips voting in Ayawaso East

Accra, Sept. 1, GNA - Voting in the Ayawaso East Constituency Assembly Elections in the Greater Accra Region witnessed a low turnout in most of the polling stations visited by the Ghana News Agency (GNA).

A visit to some of the polling stations showed that voting had not started as at 0700 hours. They included Nuriya School, Kuba Mosque, Nima Highway, Old Alaska Cinema and Godson International School Centres.

Mr Ernest Simons, an election official in an interview with the GNA said the late start of the polls was due to the inability of the Presiding Officers to collect their logistics on time.

Mr Simons said the Ayawaso East has 33 polling stations, and expressed optimism that with the presence of the security personnel, there would be peaceful election.

He said seven candidates are contesting the District Assembly Election while five are vying for the Unit Committee positions.

As at 0920 hours, only six electorates had voted at the Godson International School, 16 at the St Kizito Catholic Church with 18 at Duniya Centre.

Mr Saeed Mohammed Sani, Presiding Officer, Godson International Centre said though the polling station had been divided into 'A' and 'B' only the register for 'A' had arrived but could not assign any reason for the delay in the coming of the other register.

Some of the electorate expressed worry about the delay because they could not wait for long as they had other pressing engagements to attend to.

'The Presiding Officer said my name is not in the register and asked me to wait for the another register but I cannot wait any longer, am going to work, this will not bring money to me,' Abba Ninsin, a voter said.

'No wonder the patronage is low, imaging you arrive at the polling station and you are told your name is in the next register which is yet to arrive, would you expect me to wait, the district elections will continue to witness low attendance if these prevailing issues continues', she lamented.

GNA