Regional News of Saturday, 12 July 2003

Source: GNA

Assemblyman appeals for creation of another polling station

Agona Swedru, July 11, GNA - Mr Samuel Kofi Sam, Assemblyman for Wawase/Amponsah Electoral Area, a suburb of Agona Swedru has appealed to the Electoral Commission (EC) to create additional polling station at Amponsah to reduce the problems of voting during an election period. He said the creation of the polling station would go long way to facilitate the electorates to cast their votes without hindrance in the 2004 presidential and parliamentary elections.

Mr Sam made the appeal when Mr Serebour Quaicoe, Agona District Electoral Officer visited villages under Wawase polling station as part of his tour in the district .

The Assemblyman noted that about 15 villages surrounding Wawase polling station and there was the need to create a separate polling centre to enable them exercise their franchise.

Mr Sam said the electorates walked about 15 kilo meters to cast their votes, adding that most of these electorates are behind the Akora River and they find it difficult to cross during raining season. He said the people in the electoral area lack so many amenities such as toilets, potable water, roads and others and appealed to the Agona District Assembly to help them in the provision of these facilities to raise their standards of living.

Mr Sam called on the people of Wawase to foster unity so that development can take place in the area, saying that without unity and peace there would be no progress .

The Assemblyman announced that the Agona District Assembly has approved 20 million cedis bole hole facility for the people of Bortse and its surrounding villages to prevent them from getting water bone diseases.

Mr Quaicoe, on his part assured the people that proposal has been submitted to the Commission in Accra for consideration and creation of the new polling station at Amponsah to avert future problems. The Electoral Officer took the opportunity to explain to the people the importance for one to exercise his or her franchise during an election, adding that this will help the country's young democracy to grow.