Lower Manya District may not run District Level Elections on December 28

Tension is mounting in the Lower Manya District of the Eastern Region over uncertainty of whether the District Level Election scheduled for December 28 would be held, following the closure of ECs district office. This current development came up as a result of parliament’s decision to re-align some six electoral areas within Akuse to the Dangbe West District, much to the displeasure of some residents in the Lower Manya District.

The matter has further angered many residents in the area who claim would do everything to stop government from going ahead with what some refer to as an unconstitutional act of demarcating the regions.

Speaking in separate interviews with some youth at Odumase, they allege that these changes are being masterminded by certain individuals within government, including a former MP for Shai Osudoku and a few highly placed individuals in government.

They say the act would further disenfranchise electorates within the Lower Manya District, a situation they would not take kindly to. Some of the youth also expressed preparedness to among other things (they refused to mention), go on a massive anti-government protest against the re-alignment of those six electoral areas to the Dangbe West District.

Further checks at the District Assembly reveled that the Assembly currently has little control in finding a lasting solution to the situation. In an interview with the Acting Presiding Member, David Walter Hormenu he said that majority of the youth in the area are opposed to the decision by parliament on the supposed re-alignment.

He added that the situation looks somewhat calm on the outside, but has serious undercurrents which posse security threat, and needs immediate attention form the Central Government.

The Eastern Regional Director of Electoral Commission, Paul Boateng in a response said his office is unable to process documents belonging to the Lower Manya District intended for the December 28 elections, as a result of the closure of the office. He added that the headquarters in Accra shall be informed anytime the office is opened up, for work to continue.

It is barely two weeks to the District Level Elections, yet EC officials at both the District and Regional levels are uncertain on the whereabouts of the keys to the said District Office.

Story: Benjamin Henaku, Odumase.

Contact: David Walter Hormenu for further details on

*024 486 6401*