Politics of Sunday, 7 December 2008

Source: GNA

Voting Progress - Tema

In Tema, voting started smoothly in most polling stations making the process very fast on the Election Day. Some eligible voters, including the elderly called at the polling stations as early as 3:30 am and as at 07:00 am prompt when voting began long queues had formed.

Most people had gone along with chairs while some were sitting on stones waiting patiently for their turn. There was orderliness at all the five polling stations visited with agents for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) represented while the others were yet to show up. Security personnel, CODEO officials and foreign observers were also present.

Apart from the Tema Community One Police Station where, the Presiding Officer, Mr. Mahama Macus Mumuni complained of not being supplied with pens, rulers and identification jackets for the electoral officials by the Electoral Commission, all the stations visited had all the materials ready. Mr Mumuni said the officials where compelled to use their own pens and rulers.

The Presiding Officer indicated that 2,635 eligible voters were expected to exercise their franchise and expressed optimism that all would have the opportunity considering the fast process, saying that, as at 07:30am 80 people had already voted. Places visited were the Padmore primary school which has three polling stations and the Twedaase Resource centre where all the Presiding Officers assisted the elderly, pregnant women and nursing mothers to vote early. A voter, Waajid Banson described the process as free faire and transparent praying that all would go well by the close of the day.