Two communities in Volta Region boycott biometric registration exercise

Agou and Jumbo, two communities in the Volta Region, also known as “no man’s land” on Sunday chased away Electoral Commission officials seeking to register eligible voters as they continue to boycott all national elections related activities.

The Registration Officials fled to safety from the rampaging community members to protect life and registration equipment.

The communities have boycotted national and local government elections since 2004 and had petitioned government to realign their boundary demarcation to make them bonafide entity of Nkwanta North district.

Mr James Blema, Assembly-man for the area, told the GNA that the chiefs and people have resolved that until the redemarcation exercise was done, they would not participate in any local government or national elections.

He said they claim that they are bonded by language, tradition, culture and proximity, occupying the immediate southern fringes of Nkwanta North and felt slighted when jurisdictions like Yalanjo and Kofi-Akura, which are west and east of Agou, should be part of Nkwanta North and not them.

Mr Paul Levin Gyato, Nkwanta North District Chief Executive, speaking to the GNA said a Committee tasked to re-zone the boundary has presented its report and its recommendations are yet to be considered.

He said as all efforts to resolve the impasse have failed and appealed to the Government to expedite action on the issue before the end of the registration period.

Mr Gyato said tension was escalating in the area and but for the swift intervention by the Police, the situation would have been a bad on.

Source: GNA