Accra, Sept. 29, GNA - The Electoral Commission (EC) on Friday issued an operational directives to all District Electoral Officers to complete the process of certification of the results of the September 26 District Level Elections by Tuesday, October 3.

In an interview with Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr Albert Kofi Arhin, EC Director of Elections, noted that the directive was to ensure that EC's, timetable conformed to the official inauguration of the Assemblies as proposed by the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment.

He explained that the Commission's accredited representatives both at the electoral and district levels had officially announced the results and declared the various winners at the local levels, which ended the first phase of the electoral process.

Mr Arhin said the Commission was now waiting for the final Certificate of Writs - list of winners from the 136 districts for onward submission to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment.

He said the Commission through the District Offices have received some few petitions and challenges, "we are dealing with each case according to the electoral laws and appeal to all aggrieved individuals and groups to cooperate and exercise restraints whiles the process of arbitration goes on".

Meanwhile Mr Muhammed Adoquaye, Greater Accra Regional Director of EC has appealed to all electoral officials - Presiding Officers, Polling Assistants and other Officers to exercise restraint while their allowances were being processed.

Some of the aggrieved officials told the GNA that the Commission assured them of prompt payment after the exercise on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 and wondered what might have gone amiss that they had not been paid three days after the exercise. 29 Sept. 06