Central Region: Calm election day with low turnout in some areas

The Central Region has experienced a calm and quiet election day, with low enthusiasm and low voter turnout reported in several areas, as per Shirley Asiedu-Addo's coverage.

Approximately 1,752,165 voters are expected to cast their ballots in the region, marking an 11 per cent increase from the 1,568,342 voters recorded in the 2020 election. A total of 65 candidates are vying for the 23 parliamentary seats in the region.

At the polling stations visited by Graphic Online, queues were generally modest and short, resulting in less stressful voting experiences. Voters were able to complete the process quickly, with an average time of about two minutes to cast their ballots.

Presiding officers across various constituencies praised the conduct of all involved – security personnel, political party agents, and voters – for their cooperation and calm demeanor throughout the day.

Voters also commended the efficiency of the biometric verification devices (BVDs), noting that the smooth operation of the machines helped reduce waiting time and made the voting process more efficient. This contributed to shorter queues and a more streamlined election experience.

The Vice-Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, cast her ballot  in the morning at the M/A JHS A at Komenda.

Afternoon rounds

Our afternoon rounds indicated that some polling stations had relatively low voter turnout.

Cape Coast North

The Presiding Officer at the Education Flat at Third Ridge, Beatrice Amoah, said 200 out of 415 had voted.

She said she was hoping that a lot more people would turn up.

At the Education Flat at Third Ridge Polling Station B, 189 voters out of 414 had cast their votes as of  2:45 p.m.

The Presiding Officer, Dennis Asiamah Yeboah, said he was hopeful that between 250 and 300 would cast their votes before the close of elections.

Also, at the Mary Queen of Peace Primary School Polling Station, 157 out 390 had cast their votes as of 2:50 p.m.

Anita Adeonu, an electoral officer at the polling, said turn was low but was expectant that a lot more would cast their votes before the close of the exercise.

Some of the electorates the Graphic Online spoke to said they were taking care of business that would bring them their daily income than rush and vote for leaders who would not have them at heart.

"They won’t come and do anything for me. Let me sell my things and get something to eat," one of them said.

Assin Central

From Assin Central Joana Kumi reports that the Presiding Officer at the Railway JHS Fosu 1 in the Assin Central constituency, Bernard B. Forson, said as of 2:15 p.m., 163 out of the 391 registered voters had cast their ballots.

The atmosphere, he said, had been calm and orderly, with no reported incidents or disruptions.

Again, the Presiding Officer at the Catholic Primary, Foso Odumasi 1, Isaac Lanyo, said as of 1:57 p.m, 204 out of 555 registered voters had successfully cast their votes.

The Presiding Officer at Catholic Primary, Fosu Odumasi 2 Polling Station, Joshua Lawson, indicated that as of 12:55 PM, 194 out of 503 registered voters had participated in the election at his polling station. 

Cape Coast South  

From the Cape Coast South Constituency, Francisca Eshun reports that the constituency recorded relatively high turnouts in some of the polling stations.

The Presiding Officer at the YCMA Polling Station, Christian Kpeli, said 345 voters had cast their votes out of the expected 639 voters as of 2:09 pm.

At the Yawuda Gomu Polling Station, the Presiding Officer, Godfred Bishops, said 245 voters had cast their votes and they were expecting 304 to turn up before the close of polls.

The Presiding officer at the National Investment Bank Polling Station, Albert Wilson-Ewusi, said 336 out of 720 voters had cast their votes as of 2.36 p.m.