August 31, 2010

Voting has started in the Atiwa Constituency of the Eastern Region to elect a Member of Parliament to represent the area whose MP died on July 1 2010.

The PNC’s Kalsoum Abdul Kareem, occupies the top of the ballot paper, New Vision Party’s Apraku Padmore second with Emmanuel Atta Twum of the NDC and the NPP’s Kwasi Amoako Atta occupying the third and fourth position respectively.

The Electoral Commission says it will ensure a free, transparent and fair election in spite of the tension brewing between the two main parties NDC and NPP, following allegations by both sides that there are schemes to rig the polls.

With reference to security, the Public Affairs Director of the EC, Christian Owusu Parry told Citi News several meetings have been held with the Eastern Regional Police Command who have assured that there would be ample men to ensure maximum security for the day’s polls.

He said as part of the arrangements, each Parliamentary candidate has to be represented by one agent at each polling station and was hopeful that there would be maximum security at all 113 polling stations to protect voters.

“I think that the matter of security at polling stations is something that is reserved for the police. And the police have assured us that there would be adequate security to be deployed to the polls so the question about macho men going around to intimidate voters will not rise at all” he said.

Source:citifmonline.com