Northern Region gears up for December 7 polls

Tamale, Dec. 4, GNA - A total of 1,097,597 registered voters are expected to cast their votes in the Northern Region on Sunday in this year's presidential and parliamentary elections. The region has 2,043 polling stations in the 26 constituencies and 18 districts. The Tamale Metropolis has three constituencies and 242 polling stations.

Out of the 143 parliamentary candidates, 13 women from eight constituencies will vie. They are Otiko Afisah Djaba (NPP) for Bole/Bamboi; Amidu Aramata (DPP) for Damongo/Daboya; Doris A. Seidu (NPP), Hawawu Dramani (DFP) and Jabali Namana (PNC) for Chereponi; Rita Tani Iddi (NPP) for Gushiegu and Hajia Salifu Boforo (NDC) for Savelugu.

The rest are, Emelia Afua Awuni (PNC) for Tamale North; Ivy Amedior (DPP) and Baby Madi (PNC) for Tamale Central and Ibrahim Mariam (DPP) for Tamale South; Azaratu Iddrisu (CPP) for Walewale and Hajia Alima Mahama (NPP) for Nalerigu. Speaking with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Tamale on Thursday, Mr Sylvester Kanyi, the Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, said the Commission was on course as all the necessary election materials had been dispatched to the various districts.

The Commission, he said, had trained recruited election officials and the polling agents of the various political parties. Mr Kanyi said the EC had also made arrangements to tighten security at problem areas of the districts.

Meanwhile, the Northern Regional Police Commander Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Ofosu Mensah Gyeabour has given the assurance of the readiness of the security agencies to ensure a peaceful and orderly conduct of the polls.