General News of Friday, 21 November 2008

Source: GNA

4,857 voters applied to transfer

..to Effutu and Awutu-Senya

Winneba (C/R), Nov. 21, GNA - About four thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven (4,857) voters, mostly students from the University of Education, Winneba, have applied to the Effutu Electoral Commissioner to transfer their votes to the Effutu and Awutu-Senya constituencies for the December elections.

Mr Seth Panwum, Returning Officer of the Winneba Municipal Electoral Office, which is also responsible for the Awutu-Senya, said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Winneba. He could however not give out figures for each district, since according to him they were now sorting out on whether to accept the request of the applicants.

According to him the students in their explanation to the electoral officers claimed that during the voting day they would still be on campus.

He said the exercise was successful except an incidence that occurred on November 13, where some people from the Awutu-Senya constituency came to the EC office in Winneba to transfer their votes and were nearly prevented by some people who had come to monitor the exercise.

He said during the clash between the people and him, he was pushed to the ground got his medicated eye glasses damaged. Mr Panwum said the timely arrival of the police, forced the people to disperse, allowing the exercise to continue peacefully. When the GNA contacted the Municipal Police Commander, ASP Jordan Quaye he confirmed the report, but said no arrest was made. ASP Quaye, who is also the Effutu Municipal Electoral Security Taskforce chairman, advised the people in the Municipality to desist from electoral violence and offences because his outfit is firmly on the ground to maintain law and order.