Voting begins in Election 2004

Accra, Dec. 7, GNA - Voting in the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections began throughout the country at 0700 hours on Tuesday. Long queues started forming at the polling stations long before 0700.

Voting would be between 0700 hours and 1700 hours and the entire process would take place in the open view of the public, the Electoral Commission (EC) stated.

Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, EC Chairman, told the Ghana News Agency that party or agents of candidates would be allowed at polling stations to observe proceedings.

Presiding Officers in charge of polling stations would inspect the ballot papers in the presence of the agents, enter the total number, show the ballot boxes to the public to ascertain that they are empty and then place them in the open for voting.

There are four presidential candidates and about 950 parliamentary candidates vying for 230 seats.