Election: Bus shortages, security checks frustrate travelers 24 hours to polls
With 24 hours to the elections, many travelers are making their way to their constituencies to cast their ballots.
Coupled with the holiday, this has led to overcrowded bus terminals nationwide. However, the situation has been worse in some terminals.
In the Western Region, the Takoradi GPRTU Station has witnessed angry travelers venting their frustration over what they perceive as unfair treatment.
Some travelers, who arrived at the station as early as 5 a.m., are yet to board a bus.
JoyNews correspondent Portia Cudjoe reported that most of the buses at the station had been hired by Members of Parliament and political actors to transport their supporters to various destinations for the elections.
This development resulted in a frantic rush for the few remaining vehicles, causing chaos and tension among stranded passengers.
This situation mirrors events observed in Tamale earlier this morning.
In the Northern Regional capital, political actors also rented the limited buses at the terminals to transport voters to their respective areas. This left only a few vehicles available for the general public, resulting in significant inconvenience.
Scenes of people struggling to secure these free rides led to some scuffles at the terminals.
However, JoyNews’ Northern Regional Correspondent, Martina Bugri, reports that calm has since been restored.
The cause of delays is however different in the Upper East Region.
Security in Bawku has been intensified as dozens of travelers are subjected to rigorous checks before being escorted into the volatile town.
With the stakes high and the area marked as a potential flashpoint, authorities are leaving nothing to chance, deploying additional personnel and implementing strict protocols to safeguard lives and maintain peace.
In Accra, terminals at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle are busy with activity. Travellers eager to cast their votes are navigating packed queues and tight schedules to reach their hometowns.
One voter shared that he is travelling back to Kumasi specifically to vote, explaining that this is the main reason for his visit to the Circle bus station.
Another voter mentioned that he typically only travels home at Christmas, but due to the upcoming elections, he had to return to his hometown to cast his vote.
Source: Myjoyonline
