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01.09.2010 Politics

Soldiers, Police Scare Voters

By Daily Guide
Police officers questioning the two suspectsPolice officers questioning the two suspects
01.09.2010 LISTEN

REPORTS REACHING DAILY GUIDE indicate that several eligible voters in the Atiwa Constituency could not come out to cast their ballots yesterday due to fear. 

A by-election was held in the Atiwa Constituency of the Eastern region yesterday to select the next Member of Parliament (MP) to replace the late Kwasi Annoh Ankamah.

Sources said the massive presence of police officers and soldiers scared many residents who decided to stay in their homes to avoid getting into trouble.

DAILY GUIDE gathered that eligible voters, mostly women who did not want to have any problems with the security personnel decided not to come out.

There were no long queues in the area during the by-election.

Kwaku James, 60, said he has not seen such massive presence of armed security personnel in his entire life.

“What is the essence of this, so many soldiers and police officers? Are we going to war?” he said, noting that the presence of the security agents had scared the people.

A total of 1,130 police officers, who were drawn from various parts of the country and 700 soldiers were dispatched to ensure security in the Atiwa constituency.

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