40 women did not vote due to cultural belief

Kyekyewere (C/R), June 30, GNA - More than 40 women from five communities in the Kyekyewere Electoral Area could not vote in the Upper Denkyira parliamentary by-election because rituals were not performed to pacify the Offin River to enable them to cross over to the voting Centre.
According to the beliefs of the people, it is a taboo for women in Nkegyease, Adeyepena, Bekawopa, Agoo and Abrokyir to cross the Offin River on Tuesday, unless rituals are performed to "clear the path". Mr Lawrence Owusu, Returning Officer at the Kyekyewere Methodist Primary School Centre, told the Ghana News Agency that the women could only vote if the necessary rituals were performed to enable them to cross over.
He said the situation adversely affected turnout at the Centre, which recorded 156 ballots as at 1540 hours. Total number of voters on the roll was 484.
Nana Binfor Kojo II, Chief of the area, confirmed the situation, but said nobody consulted him for the rituals to be performed and described the situation as unfortunate. 30 June 04

Kyekyewere (C/R), June 30, GNA - More than 40 women from five communities in the Kyekyewere Electoral Area could not vote in the Upper Denkyira parliamentary by-election because rituals were not performed to pacify the Offin River to enable them to cross over to the voting Centre.
According to the beliefs of the people, it is a taboo for women in Nkegyease, Adeyepena, Bekawopa, Agoo and Abrokyir to cross the Offin River on Tuesday, unless rituals are performed to "clear the path". Mr Lawrence Owusu, Returning Officer at the Kyekyewere Methodist Primary School Centre, told the Ghana News Agency that the women could only vote if the necessary rituals were performed to enable them to cross over.
He said the situation adversely affected turnout at the Centre, which recorded 156 ballots as at 1540 hours. Total number of voters on the roll was 484.
Nana Binfor Kojo II, Chief of the area, confirmed the situation, but said nobody consulted him for the rituals to be performed and described the situation as unfortunate. 30 June 04