Sunyani residents not happy with the high rejected ballots

Sunyani (B/A), Dec. 11, GNA - Some residents of Sunyani have expressed disappointment over the number of rejected ballot papers in the just ended presidential and parliamentary elections. Residents in a random interview conducted by the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday have therefore appealed to the Electoral Commission, National Commission for Civic Education and other stakeholders to intensify public education on voting process to avoid a recurrence in the run-off on December 28, 2008.

Mrs Eunice Asare, a yam seller, said government wastes huge resources in every run-off election and appealed to eligible voters to eschew apathy and exercise their civic responsibility.

Mr Ransford Agyemang, a storekeeper, noted that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) could not obtain their targeted 50 per cent plus one votes for the presidential slot partly because there were several rejected ballots. He said the number of election officials at the various polling stations were not adequate.

Meanwhile, Mr Alfred Ofori Annye, NPP Youth Organiser in Brong-Ahafo has appealed to disgruntled members of the party, particularly the youth to turn up and cast their votes in the run-off. He told the GNA that the party could not obtain the required votes needed to win the Presidency "because some of our members, especially in Ashanti and Eastern regions, failed to exercise their franchise. "The party has not forgotten and recognises the hard and dedicated work of members and supporters," Mr Annye said. He explained that the party's fortunes depended on the grassroots and implored the Tertiary Education Students Confederacy (TESCON) and the 'foot' soldiers to strengthen their campaign drive to woo more people to vote for the party. Mr Annye noted that the election had reached a very crucial stage for the NPP and appealed to supporters to avoid acts that could trigger violence and also to embrace defectors to the party for a total victory.

Mr Ofori Pawiah, Sunyani Municipal, Director of the Electoral Commission has commended the electorate in the municipality for their comportment that enabled the elections to be free, fair and successful in the area.

He said there were no incident before, during and after the elections and urged the people to sustain the spirit in the run off. Mr Pawiah said the Commission was prepared for the run-off. Dr Franklin Kwesi Biney, a civil rights activist said Ghana had triumphed in the real test of its electoral and democratic process. He noted that the results of the elections had shown clearly that "the citizenry are wide awake and can no longer be taken for granted". Dr Biney said: "Most students refused to turn up to vote because they were taking examinations but I believe that this time round they will come out in their numbers to elect a President of their choice for the nation", he said.