Asokore Mampong: Two Nigeriens arrested in voter registration exercise

Reports say the suspects could not provide convincing explanations to the Electoral Commission (EC) officers and police regarding their presence at the registration centre, resulting in their detention and subsequent transport to the police station

Police at Asokore Mampong in the Ashanti Region on Thursday (16 May) apprehended two Nigerien nationals attempting to register in the ongoing voter registration exercise.

Reports say the suspects could not provide convincing explanations to the Electoral Commission (EC) officers and police regarding their presence at the registration centre, resulting in their detention and subsequent transport to the police station.

The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) first vice-chairman in the Ashanti Region, Noah Owusu, who confirmed the incident to Asaase News said there is a search for two other suspects.

“The two were arrested after one of the suspects ignored earlier warnings that he was not eligible to partake in the process. But he insisted he was from Kumasi and so we kept mute until he proceeded to the EC officer. Even it was the EC officer who questioned his identity and that’s where he confirmed that he was indeed a Nigerien and so officials immediately arrested him and took him and his brother to the police station for interrogation,” Owusu said.

But the two were subsequently granted bail by the police. Owusu is, however, accusing executives of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Asawase of transporting foreigners to partake in the exercise.

He wants the police to advance their investigations to include such persons of interest.

“In the statement of one of the suspects he mentioned that some NDC executives including the constituency organiser brought them to the registration center… And he is the same person who went and seek bail for the suspects, and this is surprising. We will seek clarity from the police on this. We will not call for his arrest, but we want the police to do a thorough job”, Owusu stated.

Meanwhile, attempts to reach NDC executives in the constituency for comments have not been successful.

Despite experiencing nationwide technical challenges during the initial stages, electoral officers in Asokore Mampong have successfully registered a total of 2,304 individuals as of Wednesday (15 May).

However, the process has also seen complications, with six cases of double registration identified and the recent arrest of the two foreigners.