Accra, Dec. 7, GNA - The general atmosphere in Accra on Tuesday morning is calm and activities are slow as voting got underway. Anxious voters have formed long queues at the polling stations waiting to cast their votes.

Many first cycle schools are being used as polling stations and the pupils have been given a holiday to stay at home. The streets are quiet and the usual morning traffic jams are absent.

Areas around the Ministries, Osu and the Tema Station in Accra are without the normal brisk activities as most of the people have gone to cast their votes.

When GNA visited the Ministries Police Station around 0810 hours, Corporal Mary Damoah said there had been no reports made at the station. He expressed the hope that by noon workers would start coming to work after they had finished casting their votes.

The story was not different at the Women and Juvenile Unit of the Police Service, as that office, which is normally filled with people, was empty, except for the staff on duty.

The Ministries taxi rank was also empty and there were no food vendors around the place.

Mr Daniel Osei, a newspaper vendor, who was setting up around 0815 hours, said, "I could not wake up early today that is why I am late, it is not because of the voting. I have not voted but I will close from here at 1400 hours and go to vote."

There were three customers waiting to cash money from the Ghana Commercial Bank at the Ministries, when GNA got there at 0820 hours. The Ministries Post Office was opened but there was no customer. Street hawkers who sell around the place were absent.

Some newspaper vendors told the GNA that they registered at Ridge but they wanted to sell some papers before going to vote.

"We will leave here by 1000 hours to vote," one of the two vendors told GNA. They said sales were low but expressed the hope that by noon things would come back to normal.

At the Tema Station, there were few vehicles parked waiting for passengers.