Soldiers mar elections

NSAWAM, Ghana, --- Armed soldiers and policemen numbering about 10 on Thursday beat up six people who were resting under a tree after casting their votes.

They are Mr Alfred Kwaku, Mr Ohene Yaw, Mr Aggah Kwabena, Mr John Kwasi, Mr Yaw Asante and Mr Samuel Nyapo, all from Pokrom Nsaba in the Akwapim South Constituency of the Eastern Region.

Mr Asante, who was bleeding profusely, was rushed to the Nsawam Government Hospital, about eight kilometres away from Pokrom. Nana Toa Djan II, Chief of the town, told the Ghana News Agency that after peacefully casting their votes, the victims were resting under a tree at a distance of about 200 metres away from the polling station when 10 armed soldiers and policemen emerged.

Nana Toa said the armed soldiers and policemen asked the victims why they were sitting under the tree but before they could answer, the soldiers pounced on them and beat them up.

The armed military and police personnel also rushed to the chief's palace but when another police personnel challenged them to show their identity, they fled in an unregistered Pick-up, the chief said.

At the district office of the Electoral Commission, the District Officer, Mr Obeng Adarkwa, said the voting public was scared by the presence of the armed personnel who were patrolling some of the stations at Nsawam, hence the poor turnout.

He described the development as shameful to democracy. The Nsawam District Police Commander, when contacted, denied having any knowledge of the presence of the armed personnel in the Akwapim District.

Another electoral violence erupted at Dzatsui New Town but the chief of the town mediated and managed to bring the situation under control. Generally, voter turnout in the Akwapim South Constituency was not as encouraging as that of the December 7 polls.