Suhum, Aug. 10, GNA - Mr Kwadwo Afram-Asiedu, Eastern Regional Minister, has appealed to the Electoral Commission to extend the 10-day voters registration exercise which ends on Sunday, August 10. He made the appeal after visiting two workstations in Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar District where there were long queues but shortage of registration materials.

Mr Isaac Annor-Otu, Presiding Officer of Suhum Community Centre, told Mr Afram-Asiedu who was accompanied by Mr Kofi Mensah, Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar District Chief Executive and DCOP George Anko-Bil, Eastern Regional Police Commander that they detected the shortage at about 1200 hours and notified the district electoral officer but as at 1400 hours the materials had not arrived. He said the centre had five electoral areas and 21 polling stations and had since July 31 when the exercise begun registered 1,200 voters.

At the Nankese Cocoa shed no registration took place throughout the day due to shortage of registration materials. Mr Ray Donkor, Presiding Officer at the centre said since morning they had not registered any voter because they had no registration materials and had informed the district electoral officer about the situation.

He said the centre, which had two electoral areas and nine polling stations had registered 446 people. Mr Afram-Asiedu said although the Region had smoothly conducted the exercise, compared to situations in other parts of the country, shortage of the materials gave credence to the need for extension of the exercise.

He also visited Effiduase and Asokore registration centres in New Juaben North Constituency, Adweso and Debrah-krom in New Juaben South Constituency both in New Juaben Municipality.