PNC Concerned By Ballot Papers Printed For Asawase By-election

The People's National Convention (PNC)has added its voice to the National Democratic Congress over concerns about the excess number of ballots printed for the Asawase by-election.

The NDC's concern with both voters registered, and number of ballots registered, have been dismissed by the Electoral Commission. Still, the PNC's General Secretary, Scott Puamang, says it wasn't necessary for the EC to print ballots in excess of ten percent with a tradition of low voter turnout.

“From the experience that we've had in this country, we don't have 100 per cent turn out at elections so even if you go by the average, which is 70 per cent, then the total registered voters that you have—even if you were to print the number of voters—we don't have any fear of running into excess. But to go ahead and add an additional 10 per cent is worrying,” he says.

Mr. Puamang says the decision to contest this election is aimed at reviving the PNC in the area. The party got only about two percent of the vote in the last election at Asawase.

“The PNC is well organized in the constituency because we have consistent leadership and, over the period, we have had the tendency of the constituency closely associated to the party so what we are doing is to go to them and tell them their own party is back,” he says.

The PNC is fielding Ibrahim Mohammed Issaka, a sales manager for a local electronics appliance dealer, in the Asawase by-election.