But for the timely intervention of personnel of the Ghana Police Service, a mob would have lynched a young man who was reported to have entered the Aningazanga JHS Polling Station with a large number of already thumb-printed ballot papers.
It is not clear how he had the ballot papers, neither did journalists get the opportunity to verify if the ballot papers were authentic or just samples.
Some eyewitnesses told journalists that the young man is a known supporter of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), but the NPP has denied knowing the said man. The police has however taken over the case for investigation.
At another polling station, Adabase Polling Station, also in Bolgatanga Central, an elderly woman was whisked away on a motorbike after a mob had attempted to beat her up, for allegedly giving out unspecified amounts to voters just close to the polling station.
Aside from the above and a few misunderstandings in the Bolgatanga East and Chiana-Paga Constituencies, the Upper East had a smooth election process as at 3:00pm.
All parliamentary candidates across the region cast their votes before 12:00 noon, and they all expressed optimism of winning their constituencies.
Former Deputy Attorney General and former Member of Parliament (MP) for Tempane, Joseph Kpemka, disclosed that he is very sure of winning the seat again, because the incidents that led to his defeat in 2020 have been addressed, and has worked with a united NPP front throughout the campaign.
The MP for Bolgatanga East Constituency, Dr. Dominic Ayine, in an interview with some journalists, pointed accusing finger at the NPP’s candidate, Silas Amoah of moving some vehicles without registration plates across the constituency, saying he suspect the movement is not for something good.
Meanwhile, the NPP candidate, Silas Amoah, has acknowledged that in the early hours of Saturday, December 7, he ‘disguised’ the vehicles for security reasons, because his house had been attacked by some gunmen on the night of Friday, December 6.
“I had to disguise myself and my vehicles today, because I do not know who these gunmen are and why they attacked my house. I have however improved my personal security and fixed back by number plates,” he disclosed.
Dr. Clement Apaak, MP for Builsa South, accused the NPP of engaging in vote buying, even on voting day.
The Upper East Region has a total of 741,288 registered voters, spread across a total of 15 constituencies, with a total of 1,576 polling stations.
FROM: Ebo Bruce-Quansah