Voting started in most of the constituencies in the Upper East Region at 7:00 am, while just a few constituencies recorded some delays – by at least 10 minutes – as a result of the sorting of the electoral materials.
However, voters were in queues as early as 5:30 am.
Security personnel drawn from all security agencies, apart from the military, were present at all polling stations.
The Upper East Region has a total of 15 constituencies, with 1,576 polling stations and 741,288 registered voters.
The six constituencies across the Bawku Traditional Area had a good number of security officers at the various polling stations. However, the security presence in the Bawku Central Constituency is very high.
A Daily Guide source disclosed that, there are security personnel all over the constituency, at least within every 500 metres.
A total of 39 parliamentary candidates are contesting in this year’s parliamentary election in the region. Out of this number, there are just five females contesting, representing 12 percent.
In 2020, six females contested, which means the number of females contesting in the parliamentary election has reduced, by one.
In the Bongo Constituency, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presented a 55-year-old female Lecturer at the Bolgatanga Technical University, Diana Aduko Aburiya. The NPP has never won an election in this constituency since 1992.
In the Zebilla Constituency, there is an independent candidate, a 48-year-old Accountant, Patience Akparipoka Ndebugre, who is contesting two men from the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) respectively.
In the Pusiga Constituency, the NDC presented the incumbent MP, a 62-year-old Barrister, Laadi Ayii Ayamba. She has been in Parliament for over two terms and looks strong enough for the contest.
In the Garu Constituency, the NPP presented a 60-year-old businesswoman, Azumah Georgina Lardi.
The National Democratic Congress in the Tempane Constituency presented the incumbent Member of Parliament, a 51-year-old professional Nurse, Akanvariba Lydia Lamisi. She is contesting against a former New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament and a Deputy Attorney General, Joseph Dindiok Kpemka.
Madam Akanvariba Lydia Lamisi contested with Joseph Kpemka in the 2020 Parliamentary Election and won to represent the constituency.
Out of the 15 constituencies, the New Patriotic Party has just one seat, – Binduri Constituency, represented by Abdullai Abanga. The Binduri Constituency has a strange electoral history, where the constituents hardly retain a particular person.
This means every first-time Member of Parliament (MP) loses the election on his or her second attempt.
However, Abdullai Abanga believes that he has done so much for the constituency, and he is very hopeful that the constituents will retain him in Parliament.
Since 1992, the NDC has won elections in all 15 constituencies in the Upper East Region. The PNC has won in two constituencies, – Builsa South and Bolgatanga Central. The NPP has never won an election in the Bolgatanga Central and East Constituencies, as well as Garu Constituency.
By the close of the election, a new picture, in terms of parliamentary seats may emerge or the old picture remains.
From Ebo Bruce-Quansah, Upper East