Polling agents in Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District attend workshop

A workshop to sensitize 200 polling agents for the December 7, Presidential and Parliamentary elections has ended at six centres in Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District.

They are Breman Asikuma, Kuntanase, Odoben, Brakwa, Jamra and Anhwiam.

Participants were taken through the electoral process, duties of a polling agent and electoral offences.

Mr Gabriel Dowuona Hammond, Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District Electoral Officer said the Electoral Commission (EC) attached great importance to the work of polling agents, because they acted as watchdogs of the election process and when they worked effectively could enhance the credibility of an election by detecting impersonation, multiple voting and other electoral offences.

He said polling agents enhanced the acceptability of election results by certifying results of various polling stations.

Mr Samuel Q. Ofori, Deputy Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District Returning Officer and a facilitator speaking on “do's and don'ts for a polling agent, said they were expected to assist the Presiding Officer to establish the true identity of a prospective voter whose identity was in doubt and not to give orders to electoral staff or in any way interfere with or disrupt their work. Mr Ofori said a polling agent, together with electoral officials and security personnel, formed a team charged with the responsibility to ensure the election was conducted at the polling station in accordance with the rules and regulations.