Police save electoral officers from being lynched

Kodie (Ash), Dec.28, GNA - Police had a hectic time of saving two electoral officers from being lynched at the Kodie Primary School Polling Station F200805 in the Kwabre West Constituency for their alleged involvement in electoral malpractices in the presidential run-off. They were Mr Kofi Agyei, the Presiding Officer and Miss Akosua Asantewaa, a Polling Agent responsible for stamping and validating the counterfoil ballot papers. They were immediately replaced by new electoral officers from a nearby polling station in the town.

The presiding officer was alleged to have been turning away voters who did not have their names in the voters' register while Asantewaa was also accused of thumb printing the ballot paper giving them to voters to vote. The two officials sensing danger after their dismissal from the polling station sought refuge at the nearby police station but the angry supporters besieged the place calling for their blood. The police however managed to whisk them away amidst booing and hooting from the crowd.

Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister and Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwabre West appealed to the supporters to calm down and remain vigilant to ensure a smooth and peaceful election. When the Ghana News Agency (GNA) got to the place at about 0800 hours when the incident started, 100 people had cast their vote with 200 voting after the incident out of a total ballot of 785 including 37 transfer voters.

The other areas the GNA visited in the constituency were Ntiribuoho, Afrancho, Nkukua-Buoho, Sasa, Bomso and Akrowa and in all these places voting was going on smoothly and in an orderly manner. At the Manhyia Palace Polling Station in the Kumasi Metropolis, Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, with his mother, Nana Afua Kobi Sewaah Ampem, his wife, Lady Julia Osei Tutu, Nana Akwasi Agyeman, former Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) and other royals had cast their ballots.

Miss Erica Dapaah Frimpong, the Presiding Officer said the Asantehene cast his vote majestically and left the place as he greeted the large crowd who witnessed his presence at the polling station. She said when the Asantehene got to the place at about mid day 356 voters involving 200 males and 156 females had cast their votes saying that voting started at exactly 7 am.