Asamankese (E/R), June 5, GNA - Mr Seth Okyere, a 42-year- old teacher and the Deputy Eastern Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), on Thursday filed his nomination to contest the primary in the Lower West Akim constituency.

Presenting his nomination forms to the constituency secretary at Asamankese, Mr Okyere said it had been his plan to be the voice of his people and contribute to the development of the constituency. He called for unity in the party and pledged to support the constituency executive to embark on a successful campaign. Mr George Yamoah, Lower West Akim Constituency Vice-Chairman of NDC, appealed to the Electoral Commission (EC) to ensure that presiding officers and other officials they would employ did not compromise their neutrality.

He said post 2004 election review the NDC carried out in the constituency showed that some of the presiding officers compromised their role and conspired with one of the political parties to rig the election.

Mr Yamoah said the party had evidence from some of those who took part in those disgraceful acts that arrangements were made by the political party involved. The presiding members issued double ballot papers to some of the voters.

He said the situation where party agents were made to sit far away from the EC officers prevented them from monitoring closely those dubious deals.

Mr Yamoah alleged that in one polling station, Presbyterian "A" Polling Station, had 547 registered voters but in the presidential election New Patriotic Party (NPP) had 784 votes, NDC 227 votes, Convention People's Party (CPP) 10 votes and People's National Convention (PNC) had 1 vote with one rejected ballot vote. The total number of votes cast at the polling station on the polling day therefore came to 1,022 when registered voters for the polling station were 547.

Mr Yamoah alleged that, similar conditions could be sited at different polling stations throughout the constituency and that such practices did not auger well for the young democracy. 05 June 08