Sekondi, Dec. 6, GNA - A total of 1,555 candidates would contest the District Assembly Elections, scheduled for 28 December 2010, in the Western Region.

Mr. Steve Opoko-Mensah, Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), who announced this through GNA on in Sekondi Monday, said out of the number, only 86 women would take part in the polls. He said that Sefwi Akontombra, which has 15 electoral areas, has 44 male candidates without any female aspirant and Wassa Amenfi East, which has 28 electoral areas, has 81 male aspirants with no woman candidate. Mr Opoko-Mensah said that in Prestea-Huni Valley 11 females would contest the polls, the highest in the Region.

He expressed disappointment over low participation of women in the forthcoming elections despite intensive public announcements by the Commission.

Mr. Opoku-Mensah said the EC would mount community durbars to give equal platform for the aspirants to market themselves to the electorate. He called on candidates to go about their campaign in a more civilized manner devoid of insults, bickering, bitterness and rancour.