EC fixes January 4 for outstanding elections

Accra, Dec. 31, GNA - The Electoral Commission (EC) on Friday said Tuesday, January 4, 2011 has been fixed for the conduct of all outstanding District and Unit Committee Elections throughout the country. "We wish to inform the public that voters in electoral areas and uni= ts where elections remain outstanding after close of polls on Friday, December 31, 2010 will be given the opportunity to vote on Tuesday, January 4, 2011,= " Mr Christian Owusu-Parry, EC Acting Director of Public Affairs said in a statement to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra.

It directed all candidates and voters in the affected electoral areas and units to take note of the new date and prepare to participate accordingly. The EC expressed gratitude to all contestants, electorate and the public for their co-operation in an election bedevilled with electoral operational hiccups leading to the conduct of the polls from December 28 to December 31.

Meanwhile the EC Chairman, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, has tasked the media especially the Frequency Modulation (FM) stations to intensify education on the on-going District and Unit Committee Elections. He urged the press to acquaint themselves of the new dates for the District Assembly and Unit Committee elections to educate the people to turn-out massively to vote.

In an interview with the GNA in Accra, Dr Afari-Gyan expressed concern about the pronouncements of some leading politicians and media practitioner= s on the electoral operational challenges. "Local government structure is the support base of our democratic development and our actions must not undermine it," Dr Afari-Gyan said.