Accra, Dec. 28, GNA - Voters in the Central and Upper West

Regions would go to the polls on Tuesday, December 28, in the

District Level elections. Only voters in the two regions are casting their ballots on

Tuesday, to elect District Assembly and Unit Committee members,

because of the rescheduling of the polls in the eight other regions in

the country, because ballot papers are not ready. A statement signed by K. Sarfo Kantanka, Deputy Chairman, in

charge of Operations at the EC, on Monday said: "This arrangement

has become necessary in view of the fact that printing of ballot

papers for some regions could not be completed on time." In the Upper West Region, 669 Candidates made up of 621

males and 48 females are contesting the District Level elections,

whi1e a total of 1,889 candidates made up of 1, 662 males and 227

females are contesting the Unit Level elections. In the Central Region, a total of 1,664 candidates, made up of

1,544 males and 120 female are contesting the District Assembly

Elections, while 4,403 candidates, made up of 3,846 males and 557

females are contesting the Unit Committee elections. Under the new arrangements, the Ashanti, Greater Accra, Volta,

Northern, Brong Ahafo and Upper East regions would vote on

Wednesday, December 29, 2010, while the Eastern and Western

Regions would hold the elections on Thursday, December 30. The Electoral Commission asked candidates and the electorate to

take note of the new arrangements and take the necessary steps to

exercise their franchise on the scheduled dates. "The Commission regrets any inconvenience the rescheduling

may cause and calls for the co-operation of all stakeholders, as it

takes the necessary steps to ensure that the elections are conducted

smoothly and peacefully to the benefit of all Ghanaians." Voters over the three days will choose District Assembly and

Unit Committee members in elections that would constitute the

political leadership at the grassroots level. The elections are being held on a non-partisan basis, as specified

in the 1992 Constitution. A total of 17,315 candidates are vying to be District Assembly

members, according to statistics from the EC. The statistics shows that, 15,939 males (92.05 per cent) and

1,376 females (7.95 per cent) are competing in the elections. On the Unit Committee Elections, a total of 45,762 candidates

made up of 41,110 males (89.83 per cent) and 4,652 females (10.17

per cent) are contesting the elections. The elections would be between 0700 hours and 1700 hours,

with the entire process taking place in the open view of the public. Agents of candidates would be allowed at polling stations to

observe proceedings. The National Electoral Security Task Force (NESTF) says more

than 30,000 security personnel would be deployed to police the

elections. "The security deployment is to ensure the maintenance of law

and order, protection of life and property and to deal professionally

and firmly with any breaches of the peace and any implications

before, during and after the polls," Mr Mohammed Alhassan, Deputy Inspector General of Police, said

last Monday at the inauguration of the task force, in Accra. "The NESTF is also mandated to adopt strategic and appropriate

security measures to ensure orderliness and safety of electoral

officials, electoral materials and the electorate," he said. NESTF is multi-disciplinary task force comprising the Ghana

Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Fire Service, Ghana

Prison Service, Ghana Immigration Service and other security

operatives.