...Counting Of Votes Begins......

....Voters Names Disappear From Register
Counting of votes in the Navrongo Central by-election is underway. The atmosphere in the constituency during the voting was calm. There were a few cases of people who could not find their names in the voter’s register although they had their ID cards, but Electoral Officers resolved the issues.

JOY FM’s reporter in Navrongo Central says results declared at a few polling stations (at 1800hrs) put the NPP in a comfortable lead. However since results are yet to be declared in a lot more polling stations, everything is calm and all the political parties have kept their fingers crossed.

Earlier in the day, the ruling party was accused of vote buying, intimidation and distribution of various items to woo voters. PNC Leader, Dr. Edward Mahama alleged that he saw the Deputy Education Minister, Rashid Bawa distributing exercise books to solicit for votes.

The PNC candidate, Gabriel Scott Pwamang also told Joy FM that the NPP activists are in addition to the commissioning of new projects also distributing aluminum roofing sheets and other items.

NDC General Secretary Dr. Josiah Aryeh also says his party has video footage of NPP activists openly bribing the voters.

But a statement signed by Information Minister, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey condemned the PNC Leader, Edward Mahama’s allegations that the NPP armed its agents with AK-47 rifles to terrorise people during the by-election.

''Investigations into the allegation show that it is completely false and has no substance to it. Neither has there been any proof that the ruling party has distributed 600 mobile phones to people in the constituency as Dr Mahama alleged,'' the statement added.

Some presiding officers at the Navrongo Central Constituency bye-election are having things tough with sections of the electorate who could not find their names on the voters register.

Voters' Names "Disappear" From Register

Some of the prospective voters carried their Voter ID cards but could neither trace their names on the electoral register nor the reference register. Others whose voter identity cards are missing but found their names in the register were allowed to vote provided party agents and some others could identify them. The Presiding Officer at Namolo Primary 'B', Mr Bawa Azuma told reporters that a People's National Convention (PNC) party agent confronted him as to why a voter was allowed to vote without an ID card.

He said the police and one Alhaji Abdulai Bawa had to intervene to solve the problem. Others who could not find their names in the register were refusing to leave the scene until they were allowed to exercise their franchise. At Pungu Primary 'B' Mr Kwayire Francis, the Presiding Officer told newsmen that as early as 0500 hours there were long queues to cast their ballot. A Commissioner of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Theresa Cole who was observing the polls expressed satisfaction about smooth manner the polls started.