By Tahiru Osuman Kaapore
Jirapa (UWR), Dec. 07, GNA – Voting started smoothly in Jirapa amidst long queues to cast their ballot in the ongoing Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
As at 0530 hours more than 30 voters had already formed a queue at the St. Augustine JHS 2 polling centre.
Mr Bayor Charles, the Presiding Officer at the centre told the GNA that some 708 voters are expected to cast their ballot.
He indicated that all election materials needed for the exercise arrived on time and the process started smoothly without any problem.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) all have their agents present to observe the process.
At least two security officials are stationed at the polling station.
Some 44,240 voters are expected to cast their ballot in 140 polling stations across the Jirapa Constituency.
Mr Francis Amoah, the Jirapa Municipal Electoral Officer of the EC told the GNA that all electoral materials arrived at all polling centres on time.
The incumbent Member of Parliament and NDC parliamentary candidate, Mr Cletus Seidu Dapilaah and the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Ayisha Salifu are contesting the Jirapa Constituency parliamentary seat.
The incumbent MP, Cletus Seidu Dapilah won the seat in 2020 with 25,175 votes as against his lone contender Mr Paul Derigubaa of the NPP, who managed only 9,366 votes.
Ayisha Salifu, a Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Zongo Development Fund, won the NPP parliamentary primaries as a first timer against the current Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Nicholas Soyiri.
GNA