Politics of Tuesday, 26 September 2006

Source: GNA

Eighteen-year-old attempts double voting

Bawku (U/E), Sept. 26, GNA - Imoro Sanni Musah, an eighteen-year-old boy, who attempted to vote twice in the Possum Electoral Area in the Bawku municipality of the Upper East Region during the district level and unit committee elections has been arrested by the police.

Musah, however, escaped from the policeman's grip with the help of some members of a mob who pulled him away from the policeman while he was being escorted to the Police Station.

Briefing the Ghana News Agency on the incident, Police Sergeant Richard Boadi, said one of the contestants called at the polling station to alert them to be vigilant as some persons were voting twice. He said as soon as he left Musah arrived and presented his ID card to the Presiding Officer to cast his vote.

His name was cross-checked and found in the register and was asked to see the polling assistant for a ballot paper, where the assistant realised that an indelible ink was already on his left thump she alerted the presiding officer.

He said Musah confessed that he had voted at the Seidu Imoro Cinema Hall polling station when he was interrogated and was subsequently arrested.

He said whilst he was escorting Musah to the Police Station a mob surrounded him and pulled the suspect away from his grip. In spite of the incident, the general conduct of the election was peaceful and orderly. At most of the centres visited, the presiding officers said materials were available and voters' turnout was quite impressive.