Politics of Sunday, 7 December 2008

Source: GNA

Voting Regions - Tema

Voting started smoothly in most polling stations in Tema making the process very fast. Some eligible voters including the elderly called at the polling stations as early as 0330 hours and as at 0700 hours when voting began long queues had formed.

People had gone along with chairs while some were sitting on stones waiting patiently for their turn. There was orderliness at all the five polling stations visited with agents for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) represented while the others were yet to show up. Security personnel, CODEO officials and foreign observers were also present.

Apart from the Tema Community one Police Station where the Presiding Officer, Mr Mahama Macus Mumuni, complained of not being supplied with pens, rulers and identification jackets for the electoral officials by the Electoral Commission, all the stations visited had all the materials set. Mr Mumuni said the officials were compelled to use their own pens and rulers.

He said 2,635 eligible voters were expected to vote and expressed optimism that all would have the opportunity considering the fast process. As at 07:30am 80 had already voted. Places visited were the Padmore Primary School which has three polling stations and the Twedaase Resource Centre where all the presiding officers give preference to the elderly, pregnant women and nursing mothers.

A voter Waajid Banson described the process as free faire and transparent and expressed the hope that all goes well by the close of the day.