Voting Progress Accra

At 0712 hours, when the GNA got to the Mallam Presby Church polling station, all was calm and voters were anxiously waiting to cast their votes.

Before the voting started, about 600 voters were already in the long and winding queue, which did not have only persons but gallons to queue for some voters. The Presiding Officer for the centre, Mr Philip Yawson told GNA that voting started at exactly 0700 hours. He said 1,823 were expected to vote. Polling agents for the NDC, CPP and NPP were present including one immigration officer on duty. Mr Yawson expressed satisfaction with the process so far and expressed the hope that the atmosphere would remain peaceful. A first time voter, Ms Sarah Asiedu told GNA: " I am happy to have the opportunity to vote for the first time ". "I am very anxious to vote and don't mind joining the queue for that long".

At the New Life School polling station 'A', also at Mallam, with polling station number 3604A, 16 out of the expected 1,556 voters had cast their ballots as at 0730 hours. Mr Gabriel Ajavon, Presiding Officer said voting began at 0700 hours without any problem. Two immigration officers were present including polling agents for the NDC, CPP and NPP. Mr Ajavon said about 400 voters had queued as at 0500 when he first reported to the centre. Dorcas Agyei, also a first time voter said "It has been peaceful so far. I am eager to also contribute in deciding our political leaders". The situation was not different at the New Gbawe D/C primary school centre with polling station number C013216 where voting started at 0700 hours.

A total of 47 out of the expected 1,900 voters had cast their ballots as at 0750 hours. The Presiding Officer for the centre, Anku Mensah Komla Jerry said voting at the centre was progressing well and expressed hope it would remain the same.

Only the NPP and NDC polling agents were around with some personnel of the Immigration and National Fire Service. A voter, Mrs Victoria Attah-Petters, told GNA that voters started queuing as early as 0200 hours and there were about 500 of them around before the voting started.

The Weija Rehabilitation Centre with polling station number C013206 however started five minutes late, because two out of the four polling assistants had not reported at the centre. Mr Johnson Ford Appiah Fordjour, Presiding Officer, said the absence of the polling assistants had therefore slowed down the process, since the two assistants would have to combine two duties. Sixty-seven out of the expected 1,365 voters had cast their ballot as at 0815 hours when GNA visited.