Police fail to provide adequate security for by-election

The Greater Accra Regional Directorate of the Electoral Commission (EC) on Tuesday expressed disappointment at the Police Service for failing to provide adequate security for the local government by-elections in the region.

The EC noted that most of the police personnel detailed for the exercise failed to report while others were late.

A GNA story reports the Acting Regional Director, Ms Laurentia Kpatakpa as saying that out of the 17 officers detailed for the Kpeshie District only four had reported by 1330 hours.

She said this poor response by the police reflected throughout the other districts except Osu Clottey where all the 10 men detailed reported and she commended the officers for their loyalty and commitment to duty.

Meanwhile turnout at elections was very low, compared to the December 2000 elections.

The Chief's Palace Electoral Area at Osu Clottey recorded the highest number of voters, 150 out of 850 registered voters as at 1300 hours, while Kojo Sardine Trotro area recorded the lowest of 29 voters out of 882 as at 1330 hours.

There were vacancies in eight electoral areas in six districts with 18 candidates. Other areas visited included Adiembra Primary Schools and Roman Catholic JSS in the Kpeshie district, and St Barnabas Anglican Primary and Chief's Palace electoral areas in Osu Clottey district.

The polling staffs told the GNA that most of the electorate claimed ignorance of the exercise and blamed the EC for ineffective publicity.