Agona Swedru, Nov 21, GNA - Mr David Adenze Kanga, Deputy Electoral Commissioner in charge of Finance and Administration has exhorted parliamentary Candidates to appoint healthy, physical fit and educated polling agents to enable them endure the heat and hazard of the December 7, elections. He noted that there was the need also for the candidates to select agents who were knowledgeable, vigilant and tolerance to ensure free and fair polls. Mr Kanga said these at a day's forum organized by the Electoral Commission (EC) for Parliamentary candidates from eight constituencies of the Central Region at Agona Swedru. The Constituencies are Agona West and East, Gomoa West and East, Effutu, Awutu-Senya, Asikuma-Odoben- Brakwa and Ajumako-Eyan-Essiam. It was on the theme, "safeguarding the integrity of the ballot" and financed by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Mr Kanga urged the candidates to each appoint an agent who was committed and could work in a team and not create confusion at the polling station. Mr Kanga said the forum was to sensitize the parliamentary candidates on how to appoint polling agent and preparation for the election process to ensure peaceful elections. The Deputy Commissioner said the EC had printed a hand book for parliamentary candidates to study in order to become abreast with electoral laws. He pointed out that political parties should appoint hard working and truthful agents to protect the interest of their candidates, to avert controversy and complaining of rigging of election. More

Mr Kanga told the parliamentary candidates that crowding of polling agents around election officers was an offence and could be described as intimidation and harassment of the electoral process. He stressed that the ballot papers used at the end of the voting should tally with the remaining papers which were not used. Mr Kanga assured the candidates that no one could cheat or manhandle the election results and urged them to be extra vigilant to erase rigging from their minds. Mr Samuel Tetteh, Central Regional Director of EC said a total of 79 candidates filed their papers as parliamentary candidates for various political parties contesting this year's elections. He noted that EC was working within the guidelines and every action the Commission took was being backed by law, especially transfer of vote.

Mr Tetteh expressed concern about the issue of the students who were prevented by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at University of Cape Coast (UCC) from transferring their votes. He explained that the University authorities officially made a request to EC to effect the transfer of the students and there was the need to create a desk at the campus before the work could be done. The Regional Director said the NDC has no right to stop or complain about the transfer of students from UCC, saying the same thing was done at the University of Ghana (UG), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and others, so EC action did not contravene the law. 21 Nov. 08