Police avert clash at registration centre

Hohoe, Aug.5, GNA - A quick response by the Hohoe police on Monday averted a clash between perceived supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the Evangelical Presbyterian School Registration Centre at Ahado in the Hohoe Municipality.

Mr Wilberforce Drai, Registration Officer at the Centre, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA), that the confusion arose when a supporter who was said to belong to the NDC challenged the eligibility of an applicant, who was being educated on how to fill a questionnaire. He said this resulted in a heated argument which was worsened when the Electoral Commission's photographer, snapped shots of the confusion to the displeasure of those who were there and the police had to be called in to restored order. Mr Drai said the NPP's campaign van parked close to the registration centre again ignited the confusion but the police promptly dealt with that also.

He said the centre has so far registered about 1,054 mostly adults and a few who just turned 18 years while others awaited their turn in a long queue by 0900 on Tuesday. At the Saint Teresa's Primary centre, aside the winding queues, there were only seven registration forms left when the GNA visited at about 0845 hours.

Ms Francisca Sorsoe, registration officer said 725 people have been registered. Mr David Acheampong, Hohoe Municipal Director of the Electoral Commission told the GNA that more forms have been dispatched to the Municipality and urged prospective applicants to exercise restraint. He said the heavy adult turnout for the registration could be due to the high demand of voter identification card as authentic means of identification especially at the banks and for other transactions.