Isaac Frimpong,
Businessman
I recalled that during the last election, each of the 89 polling centres in the Akwatia Constituency had one security personnel at post. This security measure, in my opinion, was certainly not adequate to deter potentials troublemakers.
The security personnel were outnumbered by the troublemakers who had a field day. This time round, if the government really wants to ensure that a successful election takes place, then more security men must be deployed to all the six polling stations.
Another essential thing for the conduct of a free and fair election is the need for security personnel to be impartial so they can send a clear signal to the electorate about their impartiality
If they fail in this regard and display any unprofessionalism, their presence may be countered by the youth.
Beatrice Duker,
Trader
In my opinion, since other polling centres, apart from the six where election are to be held, were also fraught with electoral irregularities, the upcoming elections should not only focus on the six but in all the remaining 83 polling centres.
Again, serious efforts must be made to ease the tension between the two prominent parliamentary candidates and their supporters, not to consider the election as a do- or-die affair.
As one people, we must resolve to pray that this time round, we will be more tolerant and respect the democratic rights of each other. We should not allow a mere voting exercise to destroy the good relations among the people that has taken many years to build.
We must know that in the event of any disturbance in the coming election, we all stand to suffer the consequences of the misdeeds of a disgruntled few. We should therefore help the government, the security agencies and the EC to undertake a transparent election.
Emmanuel Asihene,
Farmer
As the date for the re-run gets closer, the government must ensure that adequate security personnel are sent to the area to protect not only the ballot materials but also the lives of the electorate, who are now entertaining fears following the violent acts they witnessed in the last elections.
If the government failed to ensure the security of the voters, who need to be encouraged to go out in their numbers to exercise their franchise, it may further erode their sense of safety. Why should they want to be brutalised or maimed because they want to exercise their democratic rights? Of course, nobody in his or her right mind will risk his life.
This is against the background that there are widespread rumours making rounds that some youth have hatched plans to engage in various electoral frauds such as snatching of ballot boxes and embarking violent demonstrations as part of strategies to mar the conduct of the election.
Again, there are rumours that some of the youth belonging to one party intends to brutalise some members of another party before, during and after the elections.
If these rumours are true, it would not auger well for the conduct of a peaceful election as the youth belonging to the parties concerned might want to counter any attempt to harm them.
Masawood Saeed,
Teacher
The people of Akwatia, particularly the youth, have not had access to decent employment for many years. The last election made this social canker worse as many idle youth became extremely vulnerable to some of the political leaders who used them to engage in violence.
The lack of employment avenues for the youth has also compelled a number of them to seek greener pastures elsewhere, especially in the mining sector outside Akwatia. The absence of employment has further triggered a high dropout rate among the youth since parents are unable to cater for their children’s education and other needs.
Unemployment has also resulted in an unprecedented teenage pregnancy rate among girls some as young a 11, 12 and 13 years, coupled with petty thievery among boys who have to fend for themselves.Meanwhile, unemployed adults are often seen under trees playing draught on daily basis.
It was for these reasons that the people must do away with violence to enable them to elect an MP who would assist in solving our problems together with the government and other development partners.
In the spirit of reconciliation, it is important that people refrain from attributing the snatching of ballot boxes and its attendant violence to the youth from the Zongo communities. This attitude only push the blame on some people without necessarily helping to find the solution to the problem, which, I believe lied in seeing ourselves as one people with one common destiny—the development of Akwatia and its people.
Nana Owusu Ansah,
Pensioner
I strongly condemn the electoral fraud and violence that truncated the conduct of free and fair elections at Akwatia in the last elections.
As a means of healing the rift among the people, I hail the Supreme Court’s decision for the EC to organise a re-run of the Akwatia elections in the six disputed polling stations.
In the last elections, voters belonging to one party were denied the opportunity to cast their votes at Akyem-Wenchi, thought to be a stronghold of another party.
It was based on this blatant discrimination that tension and confusion erupted at the six polling centres. We must remind ourselves that if a group of voters are prevented from casting their votes because they are perceived to belong to a particular party, they in turn will prevent others they perceive as opponents from casting their votes at other polling centres. This was exactly what brought about the electoral fraud and the snatching of ballot boxes.
I believe the re-run, which should be monitored by a heavy security presence, would ensure the conduct of a free and fair election that would be acceptable by all.
Kofi Amoako,
Farmer
There is a saying that there is no smoke without fire. As the date for the re-run of election draws closer, I urge the government and the security forces to put their ears on the ground and be attentive to all manner of rumours making rounds in the communities.
In the last elections, there were widespread rumours that some of the youth from a particular community intended to snatch ballot boxes and also engaged in electoral fraud as part of efforts to mar the elections. Truly and as expected, this came to pass.
I am saying this because my daily interactions with the people had revealed that most of the electorate may never show up on the voting day for fear of being beaten or harassed by thugs from a political party.
If the government is determined to avert this,it must go all out to boost security presence at all the six polling centres to protect life and property.
The mere presence of security personnel will also ensure orderliness and sanity during the election.
Nana Adwoa Owusua,
Akwatia
Gyaasehema
The 2008 election at Akwatia was characterised by needless violence that badly soiled the good name of Akwatia and its people who have now unfortunately been tagged as being lawless and violent.
Though the violent acts were perpetrated by a few disgruntled individuals, every resident of Akwatia is now bearing the brunt of the deeds of few recalcitrant people.
This was what truncated what was otherwise the conduct of a free and fair election last year.
Consequently, the absence of a member of parliamentary (MP) for Akwatia Constituency for the past seven months has adversely affected the socio-economic development of the area, as making the concerns of the people not being effectively addressed.
With the upcoming election on August 18, the atmosphere has become tense as people who were once good neighbours are no longer on good terms with each due to their political affiliations.
Worse of all, it is common to find a husband and wife as well as a father and his son showing ill feelings towards one another.Why should we allow this to happen among us? This attitude has indeed, affected the healthy relations that had long existed among the people of Akwatia.
To avert a recurrence of what took place during the last election, the government should deploy well equipped security personnel to man the six polling centres. It is my hope that such tough security measure will significantly ensure a violence-free atmosphere that will encourage a high voter turnout.
As a queenmother, it is my hope that our four parliamentary candidates will join hands with the traditional authorities and other stakeholders to educate the people not to perceive the election as a do and die affair but only as a medium to express one’s political belief.
The huge resources that would be channelled into the conduct of the election could have been utilised to develop the area and create jobs for the people. As a people, we are fed up with election-related violence.
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