Minister advises the police to stand firm at polling stations

Apampatia (E/R), Aug. 31, GNA - The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has urged the police stationed at polling stations in Atiwa Constituency to stand firm and ensure that nobody broke the electoral laws.

He said the people of Ghana had full confidence in the police hence their resolve to put them there to man the stations.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo gave the advice at Apampatia on Tuesday during the Atiwa Constituency by-election.

The advice was based on allegations by a section of the public that a group of people had invaded the community, whom they suspected to be coming to vote illegally.

He advised the people to request for a change of their party observers at the polling stations if they did not have confidence in them to protect their party interests rather than trying to cause problems.

Mr Francis Asamoah, Returning Officer of the Apampatia Polling Station, explained that the said invaders of the community were electoral observers.

He said when the observers arrived at the polling station, they identified themselves and produced their accreditation cards which permitted them to enter the polling station but the people in the town refused to accept them and no explanation he gave could calm them.

Mr Asamoah then called for re-enforcement of security and some soldiers were brought in to calm down tempers explaining that the confusion did not affect voting at the polling station.

At the time Ghana News Agency visited the place at about 1300 hours, 247 people had cast their votes out of the 446 registered voters of the polling station.

Overall, the election in other polling stations was peaceful.

GNA