EC asked to rule on the transfer of voters' list

Aflao (V/R), March 18, GNA - A group of ten people who described themselves as peace-loving citizens of Aflao on Wednesday appealed to the Electoral Commission (EC) to declare its stand on the transfer of registered names into exercise books by some party agents.

The declaration, they contend, would ease tension and eliminate a looming clash between supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Aflao.

Making the appeal through the Ghana News Agency, the group, led by Mr Sylvanus Marconi Adadey, said the EC's position on the issue would set the matter straight.

Attempts by the GNA to contact the District Electoral Officer failed as he was said to be on the field.

The GNA's own enquiries however, established that tension was high among party agents at the polling stations over the issue. At the Ablorgame Registration Centre, an NPP agent, Douglas Awuku, had his exercise book seized by a group of men who said they were NDC agents.

Superintendent Kwabena Akuoko Oduro, Aflao District Police Commander, also told the GNA that he personally chanced upon a similar rowdy incident at the Avoeme registration centre at Aflao. He said the Police could not handle the issue, which is in the domain of the EC and added that the Police could be branded as supporting a party.

Supt. Oduro said some party agents told him that they were recording the names as their own way of checking against double registration and other fraud in the process leading to the elections in December.

Meanwhile, the registration exercise has been generally orderly at nine other centres visited by the GNA on Wednesday. Mr Leonard Amenyedor, Registration Officer at Aflagatsigorme Centre, said turnout had been encouraging so far with 174 registering on the first day and 70 as at 1300 hours on Wednesday when the GNA visited the centre. 18 Mar. 04