No candidates in 311 unit areas in C/R

Cape Coast, Aug.10, GNA - No candidates filed to contest in 311 out of 1,453 unit areas in the Central Region at the close of nominations for the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assembly elections on Friday July 28.

Mr Samuel Tettey, Central Regional Electoral Officer in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Cape Coast on Wednesday said 6,270 candidates including 997 women, filed their nominations for the elections.

He said some unit areas could not attain the required 10 nominations, and the candidates would be declared unopposed. The Electoral Officer attributed the situation to lack of motivation and logistical support to unit committee members to facilitate their work.

Mr Tettey said the Electoral Commission had therefore, made proposals to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment to reduce the membership of the unit committees to ensure they performed effectively.

He said Gomoa district had the highest number of 787 candidates including 149 women, and Cape Coast Municipality with 138 candidates including 18 women had the lowest.

Giving statistics, Mr Tettey said 1,471 candidates including 197 women would contest for 460 out of the 498 electoral areas in the region.

Mfantsiman district had 146 candidates including 26 women, Agona and Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam districts have 137 candidates each, Awutu-Efutu-Senya district 121 candidates, Twifo-Hemang-Lower-Denkyira district 120 candidates, Upper Denkyira district 117 candidates. Others are Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese district 93 candidates, Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem district 92 candidates, Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa district 84 candidates, Assin North district 70 candidates and Assin South district 58 candidates.

Mr Tettey said the commission would soon mount platforms for the candidates to present their manifestoes to the electorate, from August 21 to September 9.

He appealed to the electorate to patronize the campaigns to enable them make informed choices.