Voting In Progress - Accra

Sheikh Ibrahim Cudjoe Quaye, incumbent Member of Parliament for Ayawaso Central, called for the extension of voting time if voters have not cast their ballot by 1700 hours. He made the suggestion when he arrived at the Ayawaso Central Mosque polling station A, accompanied by his wife to cast their vote at 1057 hours.

Sheikh Quaye, who was clad in white dress, pointed to himself while casting the parliamentary vote amidst cheers and shouts from the crowd. He expressed disappointment that voting at his poling station started late. Voting started at about 0950 hours at the polling station A and B even though people came to queue as early as 0500 hours. Sheikh Quaye blamed the delay on some presiding members who did to pick the voting materials early to the polling station and noted: "I had to go to the Electoral Commission's office before they got someone to bring in the boxes."

He, however, expressed satisfaction at the enthusiasm that people showed towards the voting exercise.

"I am very grateful to the electorate and I hope that they would continue to be calm and vote in peace." Madam Rosemund Appiah, Presiding Officer at the polling station, said voting was further delayed at the polling station because the boxes were not sealed when they were brought. She said, it took some time to get the police to seal the boxes before voting started. One lady who turned up to vote was turned away even though she had a voter's ID card.

According to the military officer at the station the lady's name was not found in the register and it seemed the ID card had been tampered with.

The lady who stood speechless left after a few minutes. She did not respond to any further queries from the police or the media because she claimed the only language she spoke was Grushie. Also among the crowd was a gentleman who had plastered his mouth. The polling station had recorded 74 voters at polling station B as at 1040 hours.