TAIN CONSTITUENCY RE-SCHEDULED RUN-OFF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: CODEO POLLING DAY OBSERVATION: SITUATIONAL STATEMENT

INTRODUCTION

As indicated in the preliminary statement on the conduct of the presidential election run-off held on Sunday, December 28 2008 and issued at the International Press Center on Wednesday, 31 December 2008, the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) is observing the rescheduled Tain Constituency polls. Given the high stakes associated with the Tain election, CODEO deployed 144 observers to all the polling stations in the Tain constituency. These included the 7 Rapid Response Observers (RROs) assigned to polling stations randomly selected for the Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT), Regular Observers (ROs), Regional Coordinators (RCs) and Constituency Supervisors (CSs). A member of CODEO Advisory Board is also observing the polls. This situational statement focuses on the setting up and opening of polling stations and is based on reports received from 84 out of the 144 RROs, ROs, RCs, CSs and roving observers as of 2:00pm today.

SETTING UP AND OPENING OF POLLING STATIONS

• Reports received from our observers indicate that, in general, voting is proceeding peacefully and smoothly in the constituency and CODEO observers have been permitted by polling officials to observer the polls.

• Thirty-eight percent of our observers reported that polling officials arrived after 6:00am. Also, there were reports of widespread late arrival of election materials. This was explained away by EC officials as due to the fact that election materials had to be kept in Sunyani and transported early in the morning to Tain. It will be recalled that the EC office in Tain was burnt down after the December 7 elections. This accounted for the delayed opening of polling stations as reported by 67% of CODEO observers.

• Polling stations, according to our observers (99%) were setup in a manner to ensure secrecy of ballot and accessibility to persons with disability and the aged. Besides, all our observers reported that ballot boxes were shown to be empty and sealed.

• Ninety-nine percent of CODEO observers reported that there were uniform security personnel in polling stations. According to them, on average, each polling station has about five security personnel comprising military and police personnel. It is also worthy of note that there is significant level of security patrols by mobile security teams.

• NDC polling agents are reported by 97% of our observers to be present at polling stations. In contrast, NPP had one agent at Roman Catholic JSS, Banda Ahenkro earlier in the day who left after awhile.
• Reports received from our observers generally suggest low voter turnout. Coupled with this is the fact that the competitive spirit expected to characterize the election is simply not there because NPP supporters have boycotted the election.

INCIDENTS AND IRREGULARITIES

Incidents and irregularities reported at polling stations by CODEO observers included the following:

• Missing poll books and ID checklist at all polling stations which according to EC officials were destroyed in the fire that burnt down the Tain EC office. Voters without ID cards but with receipt from EC as proof of eligibility who cannot identify their names in the voter register are being turned away. Such cases have been reported at the Nsawkaw Health Center and LA Primary in Degege polling stations.

• Some NDC polling agents are getting involved in the poll processes by verifying particulars of voters’ ID cards particularly in Abekwai No. 3 LA Primary, RC Upper Primary in Njau and RC primary School, Tanoso polling stations. Unfortunately, some presiding officers have not been able to restrain them from this conduct.

• CODEO observers reported seeing buses loaded with NPP supporters entering the Tain constituency. They have been chanting “no Volta, no vote” and moving around the constituency. As at the time of this report there has not been any report of any clashes or confrontation. The mobile security teams have also stepped up patrol and the buses with NPP supporters are now less visible.

CONCLUSION

The coalition is continuing to receive reports from its network of observers. However, it is worried that tension may rise leading to clashes, especially with the increasing chanting of “no Volta, no vote” by buses full of NPP supporters in the constituency. CODEO will continue its observations through to the end of voting, counting of ballots and the collating of results. CODEO will issue another statement if necessary.

The coalition appeals to the leadership, more especially supporters of the two political parties to exercise much restraint to avoid creating chaotic conditions that could lead to violence. It is hoped that the uncertainties surrounding the declaration of results will soon be resolved.

We also appeal strongly to the media to use their medium to calm tension in the country.

CODEO finally appeals to all Ghanaians to remain calm and be law abiding.

Signed:

Professor Miranda Greenstreet and Justice VCRAC Crabbe,

Joint Chairpersons

(For and on Behalf of the Advisory Board)

CODEO Secretariat, Friday, 02 January 2009; 3:30 pm

For more information, please contact any of the following telephone numbers: 0243387094; 0244692301; 0243661350; 0244665065

Press Release Tain Rescheduled Presidential Run-off Situational Statement