The election of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Tema East Constituency came to an abrupt end owing to the behaviour of some angry party members who destroyed the property of the Electoral Commission (EC).
According to some party members, the organisers were biased towards delegates from a particular area.
The confusion started immediately after they cast their ballot for members who were contesting for the Women’s Organizer and Youth Organiser positions.
They delegates protested against the unfair treatment of their favourite candidates.
Some party supporters destroyed ballot boxes and voting booths, compelling the EC and security personnel to bring the election to an abrupt end.
Information gathered by DAILY GUIDE indicates that the constituency was divided into two parts, namely Tema Newtown and Community One.
Officials of the EC, per agreement with the party, started with members from Community 1.
However, in the course of the election, some candidates expressed unhappiness with the treatment of some delegates from Tema Newtown who thronged the venue in their numbers to cast their ballot.
There were shouts of ‘No vote, No vote’ by party supporters and sympathizers who cited discrimination in the voting process.
Speaking to the media, the Tema Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Nana Oduro Numapau said “they claimed we were only mentioning names of delegates from some candidates’ strongholds, but I do not see anything untoward in the process because we are here to ensure that every delegate votes before we leave here. Even if it’s 12:00 am, we still have to be here for them to cast their vote.”
According to Nana Oduru, he cannot be blamed for the delay in the voting process.
He attributed the development to miscommunication, saying “I heard they used their hands to hit one of the ballot boxes but I don’t think anything is missing.”
The Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the NDC, Kobina Ade Coker, who supervised the elections in the Tema East Constituency, announced the suspension of polls due to the behaviour of some party members.
According to him, the regional executives would hold a meeting to address the problems for the process to continue.
The ballot boxes were subsequently transported to the Community 1 District Police headquarters before angry members left the ‘Our Lady of Mercy School (OLAMS).
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