The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Baba Jamal, has played down allegations of intimidations said to be characterising the ongoing by-elections at Atiwa. Baba Jamal said the allegations are “normal accusations that come with by-elections and should not be taken seriously.” Joy News Eastern Regional Correspondent Benjamin Tetteh reports of scuffles between supporters of the two major parties, the NPP and the NDC, giving the police a difficult time to manoeuvre. According to the Eastern Regional Youth Organiser of the NPP, Frank Dompreh, the ruling party is intimidating its supporters especially in areas believed to be strongholds of the NPP. He alleged that supporters of the NDC have mounted roadblocks in the polling station of the NPP candidate, and are preventing people from going to vote. Early on, the NPP candidate in the by-election Kwasi Amoako-Attah, alleged some miscreants have stashed ballot papers in their long sleeves to rig the election. In a reaction, the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Baba Jamal said he has received reports of intimidation but they are nothing the police cannot deal with. “We have some one or two pockets of problems but that is not so much that we can say has gotten out of hand," he said. He confirmed reports of roadblocks and some alleged attacks on NDC sympathisers but said the police have proven equal to the task. He said generally the elections have been calm. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana