EC TO RE-RUN SOME ELECTIONS IN ASHANTI REGION (PAGE 12, JAN 18, 2011)

The Ashanti Regional office of the Electoral Commission (EC) will re-run the District Level Elections in four electoral areas where candidates tied, making it impossible for anyone to be elected to represent the electoral area at the District Assembly.
The electoral areas where the District Level Elections would be re-run are Adukrom in the Asante Akim North District, Teacherkrom in the Ejura-Sekyedumase District, Atwere in the Amasie West District and Kensere in the Bekwai District.
A Deputy Ashanti Regional EC Officer, Mr Isaac Owusu, who briefed the Daily Graphic on the supposed ties in the four electoral areas, explained that while Messrs Ebenezer Oteng and Edward Kofi Amoo tied with 155 votes each at the Adukrom Electoral Area, their counterparts at Teacherkrom, Isaac Fabina and Alex Agyapong also tied with 142 votes each.
He said at the Atwere Electoral Area where four candidates contested for the elections, Messrs Jones Akwasi Yeboah and Stephen Fosu tied with 332 votes each, while their counterparts at the Kensere Electoral Area, Messrs E.M. Osei Mensah and Edward Frimpong also tied with 272 votes each.
Mr Owusu pointed out that they have already briefed the Chairman of the Electoral Commission about the ties in the four electoral areas and were waiting for a date for them to re-run elections in the affected areas.
He said apart from the four electoral areas, the Commission would also re-run elections in two Unit Areas where candidates tied for the fifth position.
He mentioned the Akrofoso Unit at the Ahafo Ano North District, and the Kyenkyekura Unit at the Ejura -Sekyedumase District as areas where the Commission would re-run elections for candidates who tied for the fifth position.
Explaining, he said while Messrs Issaka Bukari and Samuel Osei tied with 222 votes each at the Akrofoso Unit Area for the fifth position, their counterparts at Kyenkyekura, Messrs Zakari Abubakari and Dabilnan Paknamwa tied with 215 votes each.
He said the Commission would provide fresh ballot papers for the candidates as soon as they get the nod from the national headquarters and the date to re-run the elections.
Mr Owusu said elections would be held simultaneously in the affected Electoral and Unit areas, giving the assurance that sufficient education would be provided to make the electorates become aware of the dates of the elections to ensure massive turn out.