Blacksmith sentenced for double registration

Keta (V/R), April 5, GNA - The Keta Circuit Court has sentenced a 48-year old Blacksmith Kodzo Adzakpo to three months in prison in hard labour for double registration.

The court, presided over by Mr. Mieza Anyimiah also banned him from voting during the forth-coming 2004 general elections.

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Ernest Kanyivi Tayko, told the court that a report was made to the Police that the accused had registered twice at different polling stations in Anloga in the just ended voter registration exercise.

He said in the course of investigation, it was found out that the accused on March 16 registered at Setsinu Temporary Booth with Serial Number 16101032 under the name Kodzo Adzakpo and gave his age as 48 years. On March 19, the accused again registered at Roman Catholic Primary School polling station with serial number 11471267 under the name Kpatsimo Adzakpo, this time giving his age as 55 years.

The police, therefore, arrested and charged him with the offence. The accused admitted the offence and was sentenced on his own plea. Meanwhile provisional figures from the Keta District show a fall in the voter population from 92,157 to 75,588 at the close of registration. A breakdown of the figures show that 39,958 voters had registered in the Anlo Constituency while 35,630 voters did so in the Keta Constituency.