ELECTIONS

On Monday 7^th December 2020, the Akwatia Constituency in the Eastern Region of Ghana undertook the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections. A total of Forty-Nine Thousand and Nineteen (49,019) voters are expected to cast their ballots in the constituency spread across 116 Polling Stations.

According to the District Electoral Commissioner; Mrs. Francisca Sarfo, all measures had been put in place to ensure a peaceful election. Also, all centres had been furnished with the necessary items that would ensure that COVID protocols have been enhanced and further ensure a smooth and peaceful election. She also announced that after counting had been done at the various stations, the District Returning Officer and the team would collate the results at the GCD Walker Club House in Akwatia.

The Election in its entirety was very peaceful and well organized. All the centres visited had put in measures to enforce the adherence of COVID-19 protocols by the polling station COVID-19 ambassadors and the Presiding Officers. Every polling station also had a security officer to ensure law and order at the stations. Ballot boxes, screens, and all other electoral items arrived on time at almost all polling stations and was arranged in time. Party agents and observers from the NCCE, CODEO, Catholic Church and other institutions were stationed at the various polling stations within the constituency.

After the close of polls at the various centres, the counting process began at the various polling stations. Voters and the general public gathered at the various polling stations to witness the counting of ballots. The counting process was very smooth across all one hundred and sixteen (116) polling stations with a few hitches at the Council Hall Polling Station in Akwatia. The election task force together with the military officers quickly moved in to put the situation under control.

The Presiding Officers and Verification Officers of the various polling stations moved their signed declaration of polls to the collation centre where the aggregation of results was done. According to Mrs. Francisca Sarfo, the commission was very impressed with the conduct of all the electoral officials, party agents, observers, voters and the general public.

After the collation, the results were announced to all observers and party agents at the collation centre. For the Presidential Elections, the NPP attained 21,758 votes, NDC – 16,181 votes, GUM – 209 votes, CPP – 15 votes, GFP – 11 votes, GCPP – 10 votes, APC – 14 votes, LPG – 8 votes, PNC -2 votes, PPP – 7 votes, NDP – 10 votes and Independent Candidate attained 13 votes. The voter turnout for the Presidential elections was 39,217 votes whiles rejected ballots were 979.

For the Parliamentary Elections, Ernest Yaw Kumi of the NPP attained 18,742 votes whiles Henry Boakye Yiadom of the NDC attained 19,899 votes. The voter turnout for the Parliamentary elections was 39, 182 votes whiles rejected ballots were 541.

The Returning Officer for the Akwatia Constituency Electoral Commission; Mr. Yakubu Mohammed declared the results and declared Mr. Henry Boakye Yiadom as the Member of Parliament Elect for Akwatia Constituency.