The Electoral Commission (EC) is poised to conduct elections in the Bawku Central Constituency, despite ongoing conflict in the area.
The Upper East Regional Director of the EC, William Obeng Adarkwa, revealed in an interview that the commission is collaborating closely with security agencies to ensure smooth and peaceful elections in the constituency.
“As a commission, we are prepared. As you know, the issue here in Bawku is purely a security matter, so when it comes to the general security for a particular place of community, it is the Ghana Police Service who is in charge. We are liaising with them every day and they are updating us. We are going ahead to train our officials and give them the necessary skills to conduct the elections.
“We appeal to the people themselves to create an atmosphere which is so peaceful so that we can have our officials and material at various designated places to conduct the elections as mandated by the constitution,” he stated in an interview monitored by The Ghana Report on Citi FM.
His remarks counter earlier concerns raised by some Ghanaians who feared residents of Bawku might be disenfranchised due to the ongoing tension in the town as Ghana heads to the polls on December 7
Currently, 26 people have lost their lives due to unrest in the town.
The ethnic conflict escalated in late October after Seidu Abagre, a rival chief installed by the Nayiri, returned to Bawku on October 26.
Due to the unrest, teachers and students have vacated schools due to safety concerns.
The Ghana Water Company Limited and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) have also suspended operations in the town, leaving residents with limited access to water and electricity.
Meanwhile, authorities have imposed a 6 am to 6 pm curfew on Bawku, enforced by security personnel, to ensure peace prevails in the township.
