General News of Tuesday, 26 September 2006

Source: GNA

Voting smooth, but Electorate in Accra exhibit apathy

Accra, Sept. 26, GNA - Voting in Tuesday's District Level Elections is going on smoothly but the electorate are exhibiting apathy towards the poll as many residents have failed to participate in the polls, which opened at 0700 hours.

A tour of polling stations within the Kpeshie, Okaikoi, Ablekuma, Ashiedu Keteke, Ayawaso, Ga West and Osu Clottey Districts of the Greater Accra Region by Ghana News Agency Elections Monitoring team revealed very poor participation of the electorate compared to the 2004 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections. The district level elections are conducted on non-partisan basis.

Mr Moses Doku, a Polling Assistant, said the poor participation was due to the postponement of the polls from September 12. The situation created uncertainty in the minds of the voting public, he said, and urged the EC to be consistent especially on fixing of election dates.

Mr Ruben Sowah Klu, a Returning Officer, commended the EC for its organizational effectiveness as materials and other logistics were delivered on time.

He, however, urged the EC to consider other publicity methods for promoting future elections.

"EC's advertisement for the District and Unit level elections was disjointed and failed to address electoral fatigue, which was paramount before the elections," he said.