All set for Talensi by-election today; 39,523 Voters decide fate of eight candidates
Thirty-nine thousand five hundred and twenty-three (39,523) eligible voters in the Talensi constituency of the Upper East Region are voting today in the Talensi by-election at 74 polling stations.
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Voting is expected to begin at 7:00 a.m. and end at 5:00 p.m. barring any hitches, as all the necessary electoral materials have been despatched for the election.
The Upper East Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr James Arthur-Yeboah, has, therefore, entreated various stakeholders to cooperate with the EC for a successful election, which is being keenly contested by eight candidates.
Commissioners
According to Mr Arthur-Yeboah, all the seven commissioners including the Chairperson of the EC, Mrs Charlotte Osei, are expected to converge on Talensi to monitor the electoral processes.International observers are also expected to monitor.
Security
Touching on security, the Public Relations Officer of the Regional Police Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police, MrThomas Agbanyo said security had been beefed up.
He said initially there were two armoured vehicles provided to be on stand-by but an additional two had been added to help curb any riotous situation.
He said the EC officials would also be provided with security until all the electoral processes were completed.
Mr Agbanyo said two police personnel would be stationed at each polling station while there would be three patrol teams.
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He explained that one patrol team would be stationed along the road between Winkogo and Pwalugu while the second patrol would take charge of the Winkogo and Tongo road.
The third patrol team, he said, would monitor events on the Sheaga-Gbane road.
Mr Agbanyo stated that there would also be 25 policemen on stand-by to move in at anytime to resolve any emergency situation that could mar the election.
According to him, the police personnel had been adequately briefed, while operational orders had been drawn already to ensure a successful election.
Candidates
The candidates, according to the order they would appear on the ballot paper are Joseph Toatoba, Progressive People's Party (PPP), Dennis Atiah Tambil, Independent People's Party (IPP), James Mambora Doubil, New Vision Party (NVP), Benson Tongo Baba, National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Dr Wumbeogo Michael Namalteng, People's National Convention (PNC).
The rest are Yaro Bameezina Philip, Ghana Freedom Party (GFP),Isaac Kungarzore, United Progressive Party (UPP) and Wuni Thomas Pearson Duanab, New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Run-up
The run-up to the Talensi by-election was characterised by accusations and counter accusations of vote buying by the various parties in the race as they went about criss-crossing each other in their vigorous campaign to canvass for votes.
Political bigwigs in all the eight contesting parties, notably President John Mahama and his Vice, Mr Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, the 2016 Flag bearer of the NPP, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumiah also descended on the Talensi district to round off campaigns for their respective candidates last Sunday.
Background
The Talensi by-election has become necessary following the enskinment and subsequent resignation of the incumbent Member of Parliament for Talensi, Mr Robert Nachinab Doameng Mosore, who has been installed as the Paramount Chief of the Tongo Traditional Area.