Voters in the Ho Central Constituency are enjoying free ride to their polling stations to exercise their franchise in the ongoing presidential and parliamentary elections.
The ride, which is being provided by commercial tricycle operators, popularly know ‘Mahama Camboo,’ according to information gathered by Volta Online, is at the behest of a benevolent businessman in the Volta regional capital.
Some of the operators told Volta Online, they were provided fuel an additon to a GHc50.00 to transport any resident going to vote within the municiaplity.
The tricyles which have been embossed with ‘free taxi to polling station’ inscription on the windscreens were assigned assigned to various suburbs.
Meanwhile, about 102,626 are expected to vote in 248 polling stations within the Constituency, which has five parliamentary candidates on the ballot. They include, incumbent Benjamin Kpodo of the NDC and current MCE, Prosper Pi-Bansah of the NPP.
So far, the voting process has gone smoothly without any hitch at the various polling centres visited.
Though many of the voters were in their nose masks in compliance with the COVID-19 protocols, there was very little adherence to the social distancing protocols.
Voting has commenced across 2,239 polling stations in all 18 Constituencies of the Volta region as Ghanaians go to the polls today, Monday December 7, 2020 to elect a president and 275 parliamentarians.
About 924,116 eligible voters are expected to cast their ballot in the presidential and parliamentary election in the region, which has been the stronghold of the opposition NDC.
Volta Online checks at some constituencies showed the exercise took off smoothly with high turnout of voters.
In the Ho Central constituency where about 102,626 are expected to vote in 248 polling stations, some voters arrived at the centres as early as 4:00am so they can cast their vote early and get back home.
Though many of the voters were in their nose masks in compliance with the COVID-19 protocols, there was very little adherence to the social distancing protocols.
Vivian Dzoboku reports from the Agortime-Ziope Constituency;
There are queues in most polling centres in the Agortime-Ziope Constituency few hours after voting started.
Voting started at about 7:00am at most of the centres with a few starting minutes after due to delay in getting materials to some centres and setting up.
At Assembly Hall Kpetoe 1&2 polling stations there are 546 and 466 number of registered voters in the register respectfully.
Assembly Hall Kpetoe 1 started voting at 7:21am due to delay in getting voting materials to the polling station while Assembly Hall Kpetoe 2 started 7:03am.
There has so far been no challenges encountered. However, one person had undergone facial recognition at Assembly Hall Kpetoe 1 as at 8:00am.
Madam Lucy Agbitor a voter noted she was the first person to get to the polling station at 4:30am and she is glad to be the first to cast her vote without any challenge.
Voters at the Ho Lorry stations
Voters at the Ho Lorry stations
Ho STC terminus voting centre
Ho STC terminus voting centre
Voters at the Ho Lorry stations
Ho STC terminus voting centre
Voting ongoing at Ho Bankoe R.C voting centre
Voting ongoing at Keta Municipal Assembly voting centre
Voters going through the process at Peki
Voters going through the process at Peki
Voters going through the process at Peki
From the Keta and Anlo constituencies, Kwadwo Duodu reports;
There are queues in almost all the polling centres in the Keta and Anloga constituencies over an hour to the opening of polls. Voting started at about 7:00am at most of the centres with a few starting minutes after, due to delay in getting materials to the centre.
At Abutiakofe electoral area, in the Keta constituency the Keta Assembly, Polling Station-A has 451 voters on the roll while B has 452 on the roll.
The process has been smooth with no incidents so far.
Arron Teku, the Presiding Officer for Station B who spoke said, the process is smooth and they hope it remains so till voting closes.
A voter who gave his name as Felix says, had he known the process will be this smooth, she wouldn’t have woken up early to join the queue at 6:00am, like he did.
Rita Nedjoh reports from the South Dayi constituency where are three parliamentary candidates in the election. They are, Ernest Patrick Mallet DCE for the area and the NPP candidate, incumbent MP, Rockson Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor for the NDC and Felix Lartey of the PPP.
According to her, the process is peaceful and the queue is moving fast at the various polling stations visited. The presiding officers noted that the queue is now reducing but they are expecting long queues after 12pm. All the covid19 safety protocols are being observed.
The Department of Social Welfare in the Keta Municipal Assembly has donated items to some Persons with Disabilities in the municipality.
About 25 people were given industrial sewing machines, refrigerators, wheelchairs as well as cash respectively worth thousands of Ghana cedis.
The donations according to Mrs. Borklo Faustina, the Social Welfare Director in the municipality, is to help equip the beneficiaries as well as provide some support to them.
Hon. Prudence Banini, a representative of the Municipal Assembly and member of the committee in charge of the disabled, urged the beneficiaries to use the equipment purposefully.
He said the government, working with the Social Welfare department, is committed to offering maximum support to every disabled in the municipality.
The leader and founder of the New Vision Party(NVP), Prophet Daniel Nkansah, has declared support for President Nana Akuffo Addo and the New Patriotic Party (NPP)
In a press release sighted by voltaonlinegh.com, it stated that” the national, regional and constituency executives and the leadership of the New Vision Party has on December 5, 2020 resolved to support his Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo and his team in the upcoming presidential election”.
According to the statement signed by founder of the party, Prophet Daniel Nkansah, the President and his party has done a good job in his term of office as the president of Ghana and however deserve another term to complete his good work.
He cited free SHS, one district one factory among others and especially the construction of the national cathedral as achievements of the Governing NPP which warrant their decision
He also noted that, due to the revelation the Lord has revealed to him, he is certain that the President Nana Addo will win the December 7, 2020 elections hands down.
“With no doubt and by the revelation the Lord has given to us that the president is going to win the coming election hands down”. He stated.
The statement has therefore called on all supporters and sympathizers of the party to support and vote for President Nana Akuffo Addo and his supportive parliamentary candidates across the country to win the December 7 poll.
Prophet Nkansah has also called on all Christian’s and his entire church members to campaign to family and friends about the NPP and also go out on Monday December 7, 2020 to vote massively for the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo and the New Patriotic Party to win the 2020 election for a second term.
The 2020 general election is due in the next 24 hours, and from my past election coverage experiences, here is my reporter’s check list for covering the December 7 polls.
Prelude
As a reporter, always bear in mind that;
– Every election in Ghana is governed by law and this year’s is governed by the Public Elections Regulation 2020, Constitutional Instrument, C.I. 127. This guides the processes and procedures for the conduct of the election, from registration, exhibition, filing of nominations, voting and declaration of results, among others. The roles of each of the key players, Electoral Commission and its officials, candidates and electorates are spelt out in this document. It is therefore important as a reporter to acquaint yourself with this regulation.
– Also, elections are always tensed moments, hence as a reporter, you ought to be ALERT and SAFETY CONSCIOUS on the bit. Remember, no story is worth your life.
Now, before you step out for your election reporting duty on December 7, 2020;
Make time to acquaint yourself with some basic details of the constituency you’re covering i.e. voter population and the candidates in the election.
Get your working tools, note pad, pen(s), recorder, I.D card in a carrier bag. If you’ll rely solely on your phone, then get a power bank along.
On Election Day
Dress smart in an attire that would aid free and easy moment. A pair of trousers and a top (be mindful of the colours) with a low heel footwear is ideal.
Aside your media house identity, always have the Electoral Commission Accreditation with you when stepping out to the voting centres. Because, without it you may not get any assistance from the election officials. If you do not have the E.C accreditation, do not force your way on the officials, especially if they look uncooperative.
When you arrive at a voting centre, ask of the presiding officer/EC official in charge and introduce yourself to him/her before you go ahead with your job. Do not exhibit your ‘TOO KNOWN’ self and go about your work without the necessary clearance from the official in-charge.
Enquire about the name of the polling station, number of voters on that particular register and any other details you need to know about the process from the official in-charge.
Look out for party agents, security personnel (not just those in police uniform), other observers as well as the voters and engage them on the process if possible.
As a reporter, be skeptical with any information you receive from third parties and always endeavour to verify from officials concerned and other reliable sources, before reporting. Endevour to separate facts from opinions in your reportage.
Where there is a tension at a voting centre, step back and observe from a distance, record if possible, later speak to the protagonists involved and run their concerns with the appropriate authority for a response. Always know your safety is paramount and you can only live to tell the story.
At the close of polls, return to the polling station to witness the sorting and counting process. Take note of the voter turnout, valid votes cast, rejected ballots and the results of the various candidates in the elections.
Note that, until the collation and declaration of the final results for a particular Constituency by the Returning Officer, results from the polling stations are PROVISIONAL and should be reported as such.
After observing the counting process at some polling centres, you can proceed to the Constituency collation Centre (usually located within the district capital) to monitor the collation of results from the various polling stations and report on it.
When filing your reports, do so out of the midst of people if possible, also be mindful of your language, i.e. choice of words and do not put anything out that you are not so sure of.
Above all, be PROFESSIONAL and make use of your COMMON SENSE. Remember, you’re a reporter on the day and not a voter, so do your work devoid of emotions.
Finally, covering election is a very tedious exercise and you need to psyche yourself up for the long haul. Make arrangement for your food, water and any other necessities you might need to sustain yourself throughout the period.
I wish all media practitioners, the very best as we once again rise up to the occasion to deepen Ghana’s democratic dispensation.
Source: Lambert Coffie Atsivor
Journalist in the Volta Region and Co-founder of Volta Online News Portal
As Ghana prepare towards her General elections in four days, the Volta College in Ho has organised a peace Walk to preach peace in the Regional Capital ahead of the Monday, December 7, exercise.
The Peace Walk campaign was organized under the theme “PEACE IS ALL WE NEED DURING AND AFTER THE ELECTION. OUR LIVES MATTERS ,WE THE YOUTH WANT PEACE ,GHANA NEEDS PEACE, VOLTA NEEDS PEACE”
The walk started from Nfodjo Park through the principal streets of Ho with hundreds of youths holding placards with inscriptions depicting their stands of the need for peace from all citizens as well as other stakeholders before, during and after this year’s Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
Inscriptions such as “vote in peace not in pieces, Let’s vote for Ghana and not political parties, We need peace not War among others were among the numerous placards mounted for the walk
Some Volta College youths with their placards
Speaking at the event, the President of Volta College, Mr. Ameko Richmond, advised the youths to be very vigilant come December 7 and vote Peacefully.
He noted that money should not be the base to determine anyone’s choice when exercising his/her civic right and further cautioned the youths not to allow themselves to be influenced with money by any politician to vote for them.
Volta College is a group which seeks to unite all citizen of the Volta Region from all walks of lives, to support one another and to promote healthy relationships among its citizens
Brigitte Dzogbenuku, the Presidential Candidate of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), has assured Ghanaians that her government will to give some of the executive powers to the people when voted into office.
The promise came at Nkwanta in the Nkwanta South Constituency of the Oti region when her team toured Volta and Oti regions to urge the people to give the PPP the mandate come December 7, 2020 when the country goes to the polls.
She said it is time to ensure that the people had more power to contribute effectively to the development and aspirations of the country adding that the executive power of the state is too much for the priceless and abundant resources the country possesses; a situation which leads to abuse of both the executive power and the resources at the detriment of the people.
She explained that, it is for this reason that the PPP believes that the people must be made to vote for their own Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chiefs Executives (MMDCEs) who are the custodians of executive power at the local level.
The PPP wants to ensure that the 2.5 percent District Assembly Common Fund allocation (DACF) be increased to 5 percent because it is inadequate to stimulate development at the local level when a portion of it is also allocated to parliamentarians. she lamented
According to her, issue of corruption will no longer be a problem as the PPP administration will ensure accountability and transparency in all facets of the governance system
Madam Dzogbenuku further called on citizen to vote massively for the PPP which is number 10 on the ballot stressing that the PPP stands for peace, hence “if the people of Ghana wants peace, PPP guarantees them peace and freedom to thrive in whatever endeavor they undertake.”
The Chiefs and people of Dayikope in the Nkwata South Constituency of the Oti Region have honoured the government spokesperson on governance and legal affairs, Herbert Krapa, a Development Chief with the title Dunenyofia I.
The brief ceremony took place after Mr. Krapa and the leadership of the NPP in the Oti region took the party’s message of hope and prosperity to the village ahead of the December 7, 2020 elections.
The people said the gesture was in appreciation of Mr. Krapa’s visit to the community, which is the first time a government official at the national level has visited them.
They said not only did Mr. Krapa visit, but also fraternized with them including singing and dancing in a way they never experienced nor expected. To them, it was a sign that something good is on its way.
The community is one of many communities that have been voting massively for the opposition NDC since 1992, yet “have little to show for it” according to them.
They noted that the NDC has always deceived them for their votes, but abandoned them after winning the elections.
They lamented that despite several appeals all these years, they still do not have power and telephone network connection.
They assured their new development chief that, they will vote massively for the first time for Nana Addo and the NPP parliamentary candidate, Sherifa Sekyere-Tijani.
Mr. Krapa expressed immense appreciation for the honour done him saying “I will never forget this day.”
He added that, when God willing the NPP is retained in Office, he will ensure some of the youth get employed.
On the electricity and telephone network situation, he indicated that he will lobby seriously to support the NPP parliamentary candidate to resolve it, so his new town can have electricity and be connected to the rest of the world.
The Chief, Togbi Atavi and his elders thanked Mr. Krapa and his team for their generosity. They said they’ll be expecting their son to visit them after the elections to celebrate the NPP’s victory with them.
Mr. Krapa and his team focused their campaign in the ewe communities in the constituency where their message was received fairly well.
Some of the communities they toured include Breweniase, Fankyeneko, Abuburuwa, Abrahamkope, Obanda Ando, Obanda, Dayikope and Pankukope
The Executive Director of Child Rights International (CRI), Mr Bright Appiah, has called on politicians to avoid using children as their campaign tool in securing votes from the electorate.
According to him, campaigns for votes ought to be done in a civil manner devoid of any tactics that could make the vulnerable groups more vulnerable so it would be very irresponsible and demeaning for any political party to involve children in their campaign activities.
“Political parties must always act in the best interest of children and act more responsibly in order to lay a better foundation for children to appreciate the electoral processes of Ghana and uphold it tenets,” he added.
In a statement issued by CRI and signed by him, Mr Appiah said that although some people may argue that lots of policies are designed for children and that using them would amount to no abuse, “it is not right”.
“The fact that policies are made for children does not mean they should be used as vehicles to win votes.”
Explaining further, he said the essence of child participation is for children to have a full understanding of the course and act with better appreciation of the content.
He noted that most cases, children are coerced or staged for adverts for political purposes even though politicians “are fully aware that in our electoral design, children do not have the right to vote, [and are], therefore, not needed in the process.”
Mr. Appiah said it was an obligation for every government or political party to include in its manifesto the designed policies for children should the party get elected.
“That does not mean political parties can use children as their campaign tool to attract votes from the electorate,” he said.
Abuses
Mr. Appiah said there had been times in the past where politicians had abused the rights of children by using them to campaign.
“We have seen this on television and campaign platforms, where children were made to come and attest to how good or bad a certain policy from a political party is. This is not right at all,” he said.
He however stated that, most of these campaigns using children to attract votes were done at the blind side of some parents.
“Most parents, especially the deprived ones, do not know and understand the implications of allowing their children to be used by political parties in campaigning so they allow it to happen,” he said.
Apart from the stigma attached to campaigning for a political party, Mr Appiah said children might be exposed to needless danger by politicians from the opposing side.
He therefore, urged parents to refrain from giving their children to politicians as their campaign tool.
Special voting has begun with massive turnout at the Electoral Commission polling station A and B in the Ho central constituency in the Volta region.
A total of 1, 472 registered voters are expected to cast their ballots for the presidential and parliamentary election.
As at 9:00 am, total of 254 voters have cast their ballot in the Ho central constituency and out of the number, 153 voters formed part of a total of 737 registered voters from polling center A while 101 voters out of 735 registered voters cast their ballot at polling station B.
Voters waiting for their turns at Poling Station A
The presiding officers for polling station A and B, Mr. Simon Nayo and Mr. Kosi Kosipa respectively noted that, the process so far has been smooth without any challenges and all the Covid-19 protocols are being observed.
They however noted that voting started at exactly 7:00am and the turnout is encouraging adding that they are not anticipating any challenges until voting ends as the electoral process, so far, is peaceful and smooth.
Also in the Agortime-Ziope Constituency, Voting started at exactly 7:00am and as at 2:15pm, a total number of 188 out of the expected 218 voters had cast their votes, according to Mr. Ephraim Dzah, the presiding officer.
Mr. Dzah noted that, the process has been smooth so far as they have not encountered any challenges.
Meanwhile a total of 7,327 registered voters in the Volta Region comprising Security Personnel, Journalists, some Electoral Commission officials and some Electorates with special duties on the election day are expected to cast their votes at 28 special voting centers across the entire region today ahead of the general election on December 7.
