NPP says electoral process in Volta Region compromised

Accra, Dec. 28, GNA - The New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Sunday claimed its polling agents and supporters in the Volta Region were unable to monitor the voting process and cast their ballots, and declared "our democracy is under assault". According to the NPP, its accredited polling agents in some constituencies in the region, including South Dayi, Keta, North and South Tongu, Anlo, Ave Avenor, Ho West, Central and East, and Ketu South were being refused access to polling stations to monitor the electoral process.

Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Campaign Coordinator of the NPP, told newsmen in Accra that several of their polling agents and supporters were also chased out violently, with many suffering various degrees of injuries as a result and some taking shelter in police stations. He claimed that at the few polling stations where the party had agents, they were being surrounded by people threatening further violence at the close of voting, saying, "This situation is totally unacceptable". "In these circumstances where our agents have been unable to monitor the voting process, they will not be able to endorse any declared results. He said the party had informed the EC in the morning about the situation in the affected areas in the Region, but the Commission had done nothing about their complaints, rendering the results in those

places "compromised". "The Police in the Volta Region have much to answer for already and will have more to answer for if any further injury should befall our innocent citizens going about their lawful activity," said Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey. He called on the party's supporters to defy intimidation and exercise their franchise, while urging the security services to do more to protect the integrity of the election.