.....Vote Counting In Progress...
.....Voter turnout low......
Counting of votes has begun in the Amenfi West constituency where the people went to polls to elect a Member of Parliament following the resignation of the MP for the area, Abraham Kofi Asante. Results declared in 13 out of the 75 polling stations put the ruling NPP in the lead.

The party has polled 1,652 votes as against the NDC’s 875 votes. The DPP got 35 votes.

In all, 38,953 registered voters were expected to cast their votes, but voter turnout was reportedly to be very low. JOY FM’s correspondents say the people were not enthused about the elections and went about their normal activities.

In one of the polling stations in Asankragua, only 37 out of the 172 registered voters had cast their votes just about ten minutes to the close of polls.

Voting itself was reported to be peaceful. The Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr Kwadwo Afari Gyan was disappointed at the low voter turnout but said the elections were peaceful.
He told JOY FM’s correspondents that he came across some ''machomen'' whilst visiting some polling stations. Dr Afari Gyan said he advised them that their presence was intimidating voters but they assured him that they were just there to maintain peace.
The ''machomen'' declined to mention the political party that contracted them.
Meanwhile, a press conference scheduled for 2pm this afternoon by NDC General Secretary, Dr Josiah Aryeh was called off. NDC Western Regional Chairman, Nana Alex Asamoah told reporters that Dr Aryeh called off the press conference because information to be given out was leaked to the NPP by one of the pressmen.
The NDC alleged that it had discovered four ballot boxes stashed with ballot papers and it was going to brief on how it came by them, but that did not materialise.
Meanwhile, inspite of earlier reports of vote buying and intimidation, there was a peaceful atmosphere in the area. Security personnel deployed in the town had very little work to do.
The NDC and NPP candidates were seen exchanging pleasantries at a polling station in Asankranguaa. Mr Gerald Danquah, the NDC candidate, is the kid brother of Mrs Agnes Sonful of the NPP.
In an interview with the GNA, Mrs Sonful said her expectations were high and she hoped to win massively. She described the relationship between herself and Mr Danquah as cordial.
Mr Danquah also expressed high hopes of winning the election saying that he had the support of 90 per cent of the youth in the area. The DPP’s candidate, Ebo Archer said he would establish an educational fund and train the youth in vocational and technical skills, to improve their lot if he wins the elections.

Voting Ends In Amenfi West

Voting has officially ended in the Amenfi West constituency where the people are choosing a new Member of Parliament. Voter turnout was reported to be low as the people in the area went to their farms in the morning.
Most of them were however expected to swell the polling stations after returning from their farms.
Inspite of earlier reports of vote buying and intimidation, there was a peaceful atmosphere in the area.
The more than 300 Police officers and 50 soldiers deployed in the town were seen walking about having very little to do.
The NDC and NPP candidates were seen exchanging pleasantries at a polling station in Asankranguaa. Mr Gerald Danquah, the NDC candidate, is the kid brother of Mrs Agnes Sonful of the NPP.
In an interview with the GNA, Mrs Sonful said her expectations were high and she hoped to win massively. She described the relationship between herself and Mr Danquah as cordial.
Mr Danquah also expressed high hopes of winning the election saying that he had the support of 90 per cent of the youth in the area.
The race is reported to be between the NDC and NPP but the DPP candidate, Ebo Archer said he would establish an educational fund and train the youth in vocational and technical skills, to improve their lot if he wins the elections.
The Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, in an interview with GNA said though voter turn-out was high in some of the places he had visited, other areas were receiving low patronage and expressed the hope that things would improve in course of the day.
In all, 38,953 registered voters were expected to cast their votes and select a new parliamentary candidate to replace Mr Abraham Kofi Asante, MP for the area, who resigned a few weeks ago.