Politics of Thursday, 25 November 2004

Source: GNA

Electorate asked to keep voter's ID cards in safekeeping

Mamponteng (Ash), Nov. 25, GNA - Eligible voters, who have lost their voters' identity cards and have requested for replacement have been urged to keep their receipts safely.

The Reverend Osei Bonsu Nsiah, Kwabre District Electoral Officer, who gave this advice, said this was very crucial because in the event of not finding their ID cards on the Election Day, they could present the receipt to vote.

He said this at the District Inter-Party Advisory Committee (DIPAC) meeting at Mamponteng on Wednesday.

The meeting, the second in a series enabled the Committee to discuss pertinent issues concerning Election 2004. He said since it was an offence to remove or deface campaign posters, party activists should not paste posters anywhere to create confusion.

Rev Nsiah said the Electoral Commission (EC) was committed to free and fair elections and, therefore, called on the political parties to give it the necessary support and co-operation during and after the elections.

He said poll books and electoral checklist and other materials would be made available to solve problems that would arise on the Election Day.

The Electoral Officer said there were 13 registered blind people in the Kwabre District. There are seven of them in Kwabre East Constituency and six in Kwabre West constituency. Rev Nsiah said the District Electoral Office had received 75 requests for transfers in Kwabre East Constituency and 20 requests in Kwabre West.

He said there was the need for various political party officials, who would be visiting polling centres to respect the Electoral Law and accord the Presiding Officers the needed recognition to ensure peace and tranquillity at the Centres on Election Day. He appealed to chiefs, assembly members and unit committee members to assist the EC to provide canopies for its 44 temporary booths in the two constituencies.