By Benjamin Adamafio Commey/Elizabeth Brobbey, GNA
Accra, Dec. 17, GNA – Five hours after the opening of polls for the District and Unit Committee Elections, electorates continue to move to the Polling Stations at a snail pace.
A visit by the Ghana News Agency to Ablekuma South with a Unit Committee Election Monitoring Team to 12 polling stations within three electoral areas in the constituency showed that even though polls commenced on time, very few had cast their ballot as at 1100 hours.
At the Former Tegritol Gift, Ayigbe Town A and B and the Lord's Pentecostal Church A and B polling stations in the New Mamprobi Electoral Area, a total of 24 voters had cast their ballot as at 0920 hours.
The story no different at the Plaza Cinema A, B and C polling stations at the Korle Gonno Electoral Area.
Out of a total of 1,412 registered voters, only 22 had cast their ballot as at 1010 hours.
At the Mamprobi Ebenezer A and B polling stations, and Mamprobi Primary/JHS A, B and C polling stations in the Mamprobi Electoral Area, voter turnout seemed a bit encouraging as a number of voters had already turned up to vote or are in the process of casting their ballot.
Out of a total of 2,903 expected voters, 145 had cast their ballot as at 1015 hours.
Speaking to the GNA in an interview, Presiding Officers attributed the low turnout to inadequate education by the mandated institutions on the exercise, unfavorable timing and lack of interest by electorates.
Mr Isaac Ofori Asare, a Presiding Officer for Former Tegritol Gift Shop, Ayigbe Town B polling station, said he was not surprised because a number of voters had publicly declared their intentions not to participate in the elections.
"A number of voters have said publicly that they are not going to participate because they are feed up with receiving little or no development from the assembly members," he said.
Mr Asare, however, said he was optimistic a few more would turn up to vote before polls close at 1700 hours.
Mr Benjamin Ansah, a Presiding Officer, Mamprobi Ebenezer polling station, said the voting date did not favour a number of voters.
He said: "Most of them have gone to work and so we are hoping that maybe during their break time they will turn up and vote. I believe if it had been on a weekend the story would have been different."
Polls are expected to close at exactly 1700 hours.
GNA
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