SCENES AT TWO SEPARATE POLLING STATIONS WITH QUEUES OUTSIDE, AND VOTING INSIDE.




Initials CG/VS/PNG/LAD



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Background: VOTING GOT OFF TO A BRISK START TODAY (FRIDAY) IN THE GENERAL ELECTION TO CHOOSE GHANA'S FIRST CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT SINCE FORMER PRESIDENT KWAME NKRUMAH WAS OUSTED BY A MILITARY COUP THREE-AND-A-HALF YEARS AGO.

SINCE DAWN, THERE WERE REPORTS OF HEAVY VOTING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. IN SOME CASES QUEUES OF VOTERS STARTED TO FROM HOURS BEFORE THE POLLING STATIONS OPENED.

GHANA'S TWO-AND-A-HALF MILLION ELECTORATE HAVE A CHOICE OF 460 CANDIDATES FROM FIVE PARTIES, PLUS 20 INDEPENDENTS, ALL COMPETING FOR THE 140 SEATS THAT WILL COMPRISE THE NEW NATIONAL ASSEMBLY (OR PARLIAMENT).

THE MAJORITY PARTY LEADER WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE CHOSEN GHANA'S PRIME MINISTER BY THE THREE-MAN PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION OF THE NATIONAL LIBERATION COUNCIL. IF NO ONE PARTY HAS A CLEAR MAJORITY, THE COMMISSION WILL CHOSEN THE PERSON THEY FEEL COMMANDS THE MAJORITY SUPPORT IN THE ASSEMBLY.

AMONG TODAY'S V.I.P. VOTERS WERE CHIEF JUSTICE AKUFO ADDO AND HIS WIFE.

A STATE OF TEMPORARY PROHIBITION WAS DECLARED THROUGHOUT GHANA IN THIS, THE FIRST DAY OF VOTING,. "CLOSED" NOTICES WENT UP IN BEER SHOPS AND WINE BARS, TO BE REMOVED WITH THE CLOSE OF VOTING AT 1700 HOURS G.M.T.