Voting underway in NDC flag bearer elections
Voting is underway in the flag bearer race of the opposition National Democratic Congress.
Kweku Zurek reports that the Presiding Officer at the La Traditional Council, Hackman Kumi Atuah has expressed optimism that the NDC Presidential primaries will close at 5pm given the number of persons who have already voted.
According to Mr Kumi, 1,696 persons are expected to vote at the centre which has been divided into two polling stations.
“Looking at the way, they are coming, I am sure by five o’clock they should be done,” he said.
One of the seven aspirants for the NDC flag bearer slot Mr Sylvester Mensah is expected to vote at the station in the next few hours.
Voting delays at Odododiodio
Gertrude Ankah Nyavi reports that there was a delay in the start of voting in the Odododiodio.
The exercise started at 7:45 am instead of 7 am.
Eric Okyere , presiding officer in an interview with Graphic Online blamed the party constituency executives for the delay.
According to him although the EC was on time, the constituency executives delayed in making the place ready.
But he assured that the delay will not affect the outcome of the exercise.
He said 1579 delegates are expected to cast their votes.
He added the the commission is collaborating with the police and the internal security of the Party to ensure a peaceful exercise.
He advised the delegates to follow the rules and regulations of the EC.
Over 100 delegates have casted their votes as of 8:30am.
Five police officers have been stationed at the poling station.
Timothy Gobah reports from Elmina that
polls opened at KEEA constituency at exactly 7am.
As of 7:15am 28 people including the MP for the area Samuel Atta Mills had cast thier votes.
Seth J. Bokpe reports that voting started at 7.30 am at the Unity Park in Trobu where two polling units have been opened.
In total, 1531 delegates are expected to vote.
As at 7.50 am, 20 people had voted.
Agents of the various candidates keeping eagle eyes on the process ticking off numbers as Electoral Commisison officials.
“Everything is moving on well. We started at on time.
There is no problem or whatsoever” Mr Solomon Acheampong who is representing, Mr Sylvester Mensah.
Mr Charles Kwao, who is an agent for Mr John Dramani Mahama said the process was peaceful.
The only candidates without agents here is Mr Ekow Spio Garbrah and Mr Nurudeen Iddrisu.
Four police officers are at the Centre.
From the Madina Social Welfare polling station, Nana Konadu Agyeman, reports that as of 6.30 a.m., a number of voters had already gathered at the centre to cast their votes.
Though officials of the EC had already finished with the set up for voting, the 1,545 delegates from 168 branches in the Madina Constituency started casting their votes exactly at 7.17 a.m.
Prior to the commencement of the votes, a former NDC Member of Parliament for the Madina constituency, Alhaji Bukari Sorogho, advised the delegates to leave the polling station once they cast their votes to forestall any disturbances during the voting.
“There is no tension in voting and we only have to make sure that we have one person who will go and save Ghana.
“In order not to give chance to other people to come and cause confusion, everyone is advised to vote and leave the polling station and for counting purpose, one can come back and observe the counting,” he stated.
Benjamin Xornam Glover reported that at the Community eight number One polling station in the Tema Central constituency 65 voters have cast their ballot as at 8am.
A total of 910 delegates are expected to take part in the exercise. The polling station have been splitted into two to ensure a smooth voting process.
About five policemen were spotted providing security for the exercise.
Apart from candidate Nurudeen Iddrisu who has no agent at the voting centre as at the time of filing this repprt, the other six candidates have at least one agent observing the voting process.
Candidates Alban S.K. Bagbin was represented by one agent, John Dramani Mahama, three agents, Sylvester Mensah, one agent, Ekwow Spio-Garbrahm one agent, Goosie Tanoh one agent
Source: Graphic online