Regional News of Friday, 2 April 2004

Source: GNA

Fisherman jailed for double voter registration

Sekondi, April 2 GNA - A Magistrate's Court at Sekondi on Thursday sentenced Kobina Essuon, an 18 year old fisherman, resident at Shama, to six months imprisonment in hard labour for double registration during the just ended voter registration exercise. He pleaded guilty to the charge.

Prosecuting, Police Sergeant Andam Okyere told the court that around 1700 hrs on March 29, this year, Essuon registered as a voter at the Roman Catholic registration centre at Shama.

He said 30 minutes later, he went to the Fort I centre and registered for the second time but was challenged after he had done so. Sergeant Okyere said when the Shama Sub-Metropolitan Electoral Officer, Mr. Yaw Amoako-Gyasie, came to centre in the course of the argument he ordered an investigation into the matter.

He said it came to light that Essuon had already registered at the Roman Catholic Registration Centre and that the information on the registration form was the same as what he gave at the Fort 1 Centre. The prosecutor said when Essuon was searched a voters registration slip bearing his name issued after his first registration was found on him.