Voting is underway at six polling stations of the Akwatia Constituency of the Eastern Region to round off the December 7, 2008 inconclusive election of a member of parliament. The process was truncated when unidentified persons stormed some of the polling centres to steal ballot boxes. The affected centres are the Yuroba Mosque A and B, Presby JHS, Lorry Station A and B and AME Zion, where voting has been peaceful so far, according to Joy FM’s Cyrus DeGraft Johnson who is covering the poll. He reports of an encouraging turnout as voters join in long, meandering queues. The contest for the seat is between the National Democratic Congress’ Baba Jamal and the New Patriotic Party’s Dr. Kofi Asare, who has a 3,079 votes advantage from the inconclusive December 7 General election. Dr Kofi Asare had 16,889 votes while Baba Jamal had 13,810 votes from the 83 out of 89 polling stations. 4,514 eligible voters are expected to vote in the six centres.

• Deputy Commissioner of Police, John Kudalor, Director of Operations of the Ghana Police Service who is in Akwatia to command security operations has assured voters of adequate protection to ensure a free and fair elections.
• NPP MP for Okere, Dan Botwe, who was serving as a polling agent for Dr. Asare has had to be escorted away from his post under armed military protection and replaced following protests from NDC supporters that he was not a resident or a voter.
• Police arrest one of two men who stormed a polling centre with cutlasses and other offensive objects. The second person managed to escape.
• Former MP for Oda and ex-Finance Minister, Yaw Osafo Maafo beats retreat as crowds boo at his presence at a centre to observe proceedings.
• Coalition Of Domestic Election Observers call for restraint on the part of party leaders and supporters and avoid any unnecessary show of force so as not to mar the election.
• A number of people arrested for attempting to vote with fake Identity Cards.
• Some voters are unable to vote as they find out some other persons may have voted in their place and their names ticked already.
• A 26-year-old man who attempted to vote is turned away because the Electoral Commission's particulars of the I/D card he bore corresponds to that of an 86-year-old man suspected to have died.
• Police search all vehicles entering or leaving Akwatia.
• Inspector General of Police leaves Accra for Akwatia to observe security operations for the polls.
• Deputy Commissioner of the Electoral Commission David Kanga arrives in Awaktia to facilitate voting.

According to Asempa FM's correspondent, Azor, the early enthusiasm by voters has waned considerably. Voter turn-out by Midday: Yuroba Mosque A: 345 voted out of 899 Yuroba Mosque B: 383 voted out of 807 Presby JHS: 530 voted out of 1192 Lorry Station A: 335 voted out of 598 Lorry Station B: 350 voted out of 615 AME Zion: 234 voted out of 403 Voting closes at 5pm. By Isaac Yeboah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana