Voters in Upper West remain calm as results are released

Wa, Dec. 9, GNA - Voters in the Upper West Region continued to remain calm and cautiously optimistic as the results of the presidential and parliamentary elections are announced on radio and television. Since voting ended last Sunday, supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have been eager to know how their parties fared. Two days after the elections, supporters of the two political parties continue to congregate at various locations, homes and shops to watch television and discuss prospects of their parties as the results trickle in.

In Wa, the Upper West Regional capital, pockets of NDC supporters on motor bikes who attempted to jubilate when their party took an early lead in the polls on Monday were quickly stopped by military personnel on duty in the town. Apart from this, most people were focused on their work as if no major event had occurred.

No major incident likely to disturb the peace has been reported in any part of the region. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Wa on Tuesday, Mr Imoru Salifu, a resident, said he had even forgotten that there was an election. "After all we are all Ghanaians and whoever wins is alright for me", he added.

Mr Salifu attributed the pre-election fear of violence and acrimony to the media and cautioned that the Ghanaian media must do things that would promote national unity and not follow politicians. Miss Ajara Abu, a student said she was happy that the elections had ended peacefully and commended the security agencies for doing a good job, saying but for their good work at the polling stations there would have been violence in some of them.

She said tension was high and it was because of the presence of the security men at the hot spots in Wa in particular. The peace campaigns on radio, television, churches and mosques, however, helped for the peaceful elections, she added. "We all hope this situation will be replicated when the results are announced," Miss Abu said.