Special voting takes off smoothly in Tema

Tema, Dec. 4, GNA - The Special voting for Security Officers and Journalists took off smoothly in the Tema Municipality with voting materials arriving at polling centres on time.

A visit to the polling centres by the Ghana News Agency showed that patronage was very high as eligible voters stood in the queues waiting patiently for their turn to exercise their franchise.

Representatives of all the political parties were present, while observers were also moving round the centres.

At the Tema West Constituency, where voting took place at the Community Two Police Station, Mr Kyei Benson, Presiding Officer said 257 voters had voted as at 0945 hours.

Three hundred and ninety voters had voted as at noon at the Community One Police Station in the Tema East Constituency, Mr Eric Opei-Kumi, Returning Officer, said.

All the Presiding Officers described the patronage as very encouraging and expressed the hope to meet the target by the close of the polls. Meanwhile, three incumbent New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs face stiff competition as three influential members of their party in the constituencies are contesting as independent candidates.

While Mr Ramseyer Agyemang-Prempeh, an Educationist, challenges Mr Ishmael Ashietey of the Tema East, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidoo of Tema West is also wrestling with Madam Ayele Bonnie Ajavon, another Educationist and Mr Samuel Kwame Amable, an Administrator is threatening to take seat from Mr Emmanuel K. K. Teye at Ashaiman.

Mrs Emelia Kai Adjei, National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate of the Tema East would also not have it easy, as another influential member of her party, Mr Albert Antwi-Nuamah had stood solo for being treated unfairly.

The Tema Municipality has five constituencies namely Tema East, Team West, Ashaiman, Kpone/Katamanso and Adenta with 362 polling centres; 377,412 eligible voters and 28 contestants including five women and eight independent candidates.