The sun rose to find dozens of eligible professional voters queued up at various centres to cast their ballots as the special voting exercise begins across the country.
Security personnel, electoral commission officials and the media numbering over 127,394 were expected to cast their votes.
A total of 1216 people expected to vote in the Sunyani East constituency of the Brong Ahafo region and voting started at 7:15am, Prescious Semevoh reported.
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Latest updates: 'Elimination by rough tactics'
Some security officials have described as an 'elimination by rough tactics' the absence of their names on the special voter's register.
Scores of Fire, EC Officials and Police Commanders, including the District Police Commanders of Amasaman and that of Ashiaman, DSP Seth Tay and the District Crime Officer, ASP Herbert Sosu could not find their names in the special voter's list.
Some of the officers at the Tamale Central Polling station have threatened to disrupt the special voting exercise if the issues about the absence of their names on the special voter's register are not resolved.
Northern Regional correspondent Hashmin Muhammed reported that the angered security personnel have accused the EC Officials of deliberately taking their names off the list to disenfranchise them.
Many of them have threatened to boycott work and go to places where they originally registered to vote.
At Kwabenya Police stationOver hundred personnel of the security services here at the Kwabenya police station in the Dome--Kwabenya constituency cannot find their names so are unable to vote.
International community watches on as Charlotte Osei meets Amissah-Arthur,Akufo-Addo to commit to peace
The Electoral Commission is meeting all Presidential candidates or their representatives to commit to peace under the watchful eye of the international community.
Four presidential candidates or their representatives were present at Moevenpick Ambassador Hotel before the meeting was closed to the media.
They were Dr. Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur who is Vice-President and running mate to the governing NDC candidate John Mahama.
The main opposition NPP candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the PNC candidate Dr. Edward Mahama, NDP candidate Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings.
Photo: Edward Mahama
Photo: NDP candidate Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings [in white]
The CPP candidate Ivor Grenstreet is absent explained as lateness while PPP candidate Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom who had nominated his running mate Brigette is also absent.
She is also running late.
President Mahama was there for a brief private meeting with the chairperson of the Electoral Commission.
Photo: President John Mahama [ahead]
Former President Jerry Rawlings has also walked in and exchanged pleasantries with some of the dignitaries.
The ceremony was also attended by the National Peace Council composed of the clergy and muslim leaders.
Some EC Officials fear they might be disenfranchised
Some EC officials at the Adentan Constituency say they might not be able to partake in the special voting due to change in rules.
According to some of the Officials, they were initially told to vote where they would officiate but some arrived at the polling centres only to find out their names could not be found on the special voter's list.
"Some have been told to go back to where they originally registered and vote on December 7 but they fear they might be disenfranchised because they would be on duty on the election day.," Joy News' Jennifer Akuamoah indicated.
She said at 10:49am, 124 professionals had voted out of 823 names on the register.
EC Officials assist aggrieved Professionals
People who could not find their names on the register at the New Juaben South Polling Station were assisted by the Electoral Commission officials to rectify the problem.
Ofirikrom: NPP moves to stop election over 200 additional names
The New Patriotic Party moved to stop the special voting exercise in Oforikrom due to some discrepancies on the voter's register.
The total number of eligible voters on the list sent to the political parties was 400 but shot up to 600 on Thursday morning.
The spokesperson for the EC, Eric Dzakpasu has advised that the party speak to the EC officials at the constituency to rectify the problem.
"We will have to investigate why this happened but for now the parties have to follow the law and visit the EC office," Mr. Dzakpasu indicated on Joy FM.
Absence of names on vote's register
"The security officers are not taking this development lightly because they would have to return to their various destinations to be posted to work on election day and might miss their chances of voting," Manasseh Azure Awuni reported.
The major challenge faced by some professionals at most of the polling stations was the absence of their names on the voters register.
Some suspect the omission of their names on the register is a deliberate attempt by the Electoral Commission to disenfranchise them.
"As of now there is a temporary hold up and some of the special voters are very upset because some say they have travelled from Winneba, Aflao, Accra and other far places to vote," Joy News' Rafiq Salam reported.
Joy News reporters at polling centres at Sowutuom, Cantonments, New Juaben and many other constituencies reported similar incidents.
Four persons had voted as at 7: 15am at the Cantonments polling station, Fred Smith filed from the centre.
As at 6am, Joy News' Kwame Asare reported that voters had already lined up at the Ho Central polling station in the Volta region as the electoral commission officials set up the place.
source:myjoyonline.com
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