Sunyani, Dec 8, GNA - Two presiding officers at Atebubu in Brong Ahafo were arrested on Sunday before the election got started when it was detected that 1,525 presidential ballot papers had got missing at their polling stations.

Police Superintendent Charles Domanbay, Brong Ahafo Regional crime officer told the GNA that police had information that 825 and 700 Presidential ballot papers were missing from the Anglican Junior High School and Ateco demonstration polling stations respectively. He said the presiding officers, Madam Mary Ophelia and Cynthia Sarfo who were in charge of the election materials had gone for the materials from the district EC office in Atebubu, but when they were opened at the polling stations the ballot papers were missing and this was reported to the police. The Regional Crime Officer said the women were then picked for interrogation but had been granted police enquiry bail while the case was investigated.

In another development two men who attempted to disrupt the election process at Subinso Number Two polling station in Wenchi have been arrested by the Wenchi Municipal Election Task Force. Awuah Francis, 25, and Osmani Issah, 23, have been placed in police custody whilst the police are searching for an accomplice who escaped. The crime officer said the two would be arraigned before court on Tuesday.

In a related development a military patrol team led by Warrant Officer Class One John Opoku has arrested Warrant Officer Class Two Sosu of the Military Academy Training School in Accra at Dadiesoaba in Asutifi South constituency for an electoral offence. Supt. Domanbay said they were yet to get details of the case. Mr. James Arthur Yeboah, Deputy Regional Director of EC, later told the GNA the Commission was facing "some obstacles" in declaring the results of both the Presidential and Parliamentary elections at Pru and Asutifi South constituencies. He said some political parties had adopted delay tactics to prevent the announcement of the results in the two areas.