Politics of Tuesday, 24 November 2009

Source: GNA

Ashanti Regional NDC to institute measures to check vote rigging

Juaso (Ash), Nov. 24, GNA - The Ashanti Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), is to launch a campaign dubbed, "one man one vote" to check vote rigging in the 2012 general election, Mr Alex Ativor, Regional Vice Chairman of the NDC has stated.

He said the move was to prevent widespread electoral malpractices which were common in the region during the 2008 election, saying people were involved in multiple voting at some polling stations with impunity.

Mr Ativor said the Party would between now and 2012, train its polling station agents in the region to be extra vigilant to ensure each voter voted only once. Speaking at the Asante Akim South Constituency Delegates Conference to elect executives, Mr Ativor urged party faithful to work hard to retain power in 2012.

The election, which was held in a calm atmosphere, was to elect a new assistant secretary as all other executives retained their positions unopposed. It was supervised by the District Office of the Electoral Commission. Mr Akwasi Amponsah Akosah polled 130 votes to beat his only challenger Mr Okyere Darko-Afrifa who polled 121 votes. Mr De-graft Forkuo, District Chief Executive for Asante Akim South, had earlier criticised a section of the delegates for the double standards they exhibited in the run-up to the 2008 election.

He said some of them could not come out openly to campaign for the Party and entreated them to commit themselves to the Party's activities to improve on its performance in the constituency.

Mr Doe Tamakloe, Ashanti Regional Secretary of NDC, who swore the executives into office, challenged them to inject discipline into the Party and liaise with the regional

secretariat to address challenging issues.