HOW THE ELECTIONS IN BAWKU MUNICIPALITY WERE CONDUCTED

Unlike the 7th December polls which saw long queues as early as 5:30am at most polling stations, the run-off took off slowly and as one presiding officer puts, “the turn out is not low rather its slow”.

At exactly 7am most polling stations had started voting whereas the remaining, frantic efforts in terms of the conveying of electoral materials to the polling stations were being made for them to also to start in good time.

When the queues started forming at the polling stations, adequate security were already deployed which by and large saw a peaceful and orderly voting pattern in the municipality. By 3pm most polling stations were eventually empty with electoral officials waiting patiently to bring the voting to a close at the official time of 5pm.

Counting and declaration at the polling stations generally were very peaceful with few recording votes which were contested by some party agents and when they failed to reconcile the figures in good time it led to the contesting agents sustaining cutlass injuries in their heads. They were subsequently admitted, treated and discharged the next day. Some other group of persons who attempted cheating were also apprehended and the cases are under investigation by the police in Bawku.

By the end of the collation and declaration of the results, NDC Prof J.E.A Mills won all the three constituencies within the municipality. In Bawku central, NDC had 23800 votes as against NPP Nana Addo 18540. In Pusiga and Binduri constituencies, NDC won by 12996 votes and 13139 whiles NPP had 4399 votes and 5449 votes respectively.

Generally the polls in Bawku were peaceful, calm and orderly with security totally on top of the area.


James Dorgbetor
Municipal Information Officer

AYEEKOO TO THE SECURITY AND PEOPLE OF BAWKU

The Sunday December 7th election in Bawku Municipality was generally peaceful and very calm and orderly contrary to the expectation of many people that elections in Bawku would be marred by violence and skirmishes.

This success story could be attributed to the due diligence of the heavy police and military present in the municipality months before the elections which put fear and respect in the residents that any miscreant would not be spared when caught.

Additionally the people equally displayed high degree of comportment and cooperation that has not been seen in several months. The people have shown that they have a strong will and just when most people expected something unpleasant to happen they delved into their inner most and exhibited the calmness and peaceful nature the area is noted for, before the conflicts.

Worth mentioning is the general calmness of the people when both the parliamentary and presidential results were declared especially with the parliamentary results which had to be sent to Bolgatanga before it was finally declared which gave the NPP candidate Mr. Daramani Adamu 20157 as against the incumbent Hon. Mahama Ayariga, 17385 votes.

With all these internal and external commendations we wish to urge all residents in Bawku to keep it up and remember that absolute peace is not a one shop event but a process which demands our constant efforts to sustain it.

For the men in uniform, we love your style and show of strength and bravery!
As you sacrifice your lives to protect others may God bless you abundantly and promote you in your chosen career Amen.

Godwin Nkunu and James Dorgbetor
ISD- Bawku