Ho records low turn-out in District Level Elections


District Level Elections started smoothly in the Volta Regional capital, Ho, Tuesday morning but with low turnout.

The polling stations were virtually empty with no work for the Electoral Officers and agents of aspirants.

At the Ho Sports Stadium Centre, at about 0845 only Officials of the Electoral Commission and agents of the aspirants were spotted discussing the low patronage.

The Presiding Officer at the station Mr Donkor Moses told reports  as at 0900 only four people voted at the Ho High Court Centre, out of 297 registered voters, ,.

At about 0830, only 39 people out of 1,039 voted at the Ho SSNIT Flats Centre.

Mr Leonard Akoetey, Presiding Officer at the Centre, said the situation was worrying and prayed that patronage picked up later in the day.

Some agents who were lamenting about the poor turnout said some electorates said they were tired of voting and blamed the Electoral Commission and the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) for low publicity on the elections.

Meanwhile, the elections started on time with all biometric verification machines working well.

The centres also have tactile jackets for people with visual impairments.

Observers say there were no policemen at some polling stations and some stations too do not have Election Observers.

Apathy characterized the low turn-out in the on-going Local Level Elections to elect District Assembly and Unit Committee members.

Some residents at Osu Kinkawe, said they have lost interest in the district assembly elections because they have not seen any development in their areas and would therefore not participate.

“I will suggest that these elections should be tied to the presidential and parliamentary elections so that the assembly officers elected will work closely with Members of Parliament who will be elected to bring development in our areas,” Nii Amartey, an Auto mechanic said.

Voting kicked off at 0700 hours with election officials and materials ready for the process at various polling centers within Osu electoral area in the Greater Accra Region.

   
SOURCE: GNA