National Coordinator of the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) Albert Kofi Arhin has condemned the mask-wearing security officers at polling centres at the just ended Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election and attributed the low turn-out to their presence at the polling centres.
Speaking on Happy FM’s ‘Epa Hoa Daben’ political show, he quizzed, ‘’What are men in hoods doing at polling centres?
No wonder, there was low voter turn-out’’, he continued.
‘’It is true that we witnessed these things during Chereponi and Talensi by-elections some time back but now is the time for stakeholders to draw a road map that will lead to the conduction of peaceful elections”, he added.
He also observed that there was lack of coordination between the state security agencies.
“The Police were saying they didn’t know the hooded security men in police cars. That is a lack of coordination”, he stated.
He also said that these signs should serve as a warning to the nation because petty electoral misunderstandings can degenerate into violence and culminate into the loss of lives.
He, however, disagreed with Ex-president Mahama’s statement that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will not “joke” in 2020 and will match the New Patriotic Party (NPP) boot for boot.
According to the data provided by the Electoral Commission, total registered voters from the 137 polling stations are 88,710 while the total votes cast were 17,589 making a percentage of 19.83% total turn-out.
By: Bridget Mensah
