Operators of drinking bars and pubs located close to polling stations within the New Juaben North Municipality in the Eastern Region have been advised not to operate on election day, December 7, 2020.
Ghana’s electoral laws indicate that drinking spots are not allowed to sell alcoholic beverages within 500 meters from polling stations.
However, the police say it has identified that the majority of drinking bars and pubs in the New Juaben North Municipality are operating very close to polling stations; a situation the police have described as worrying.
The Koforidua Effiduase District Police Commander, DSP Acolatse Young Samuel has thus appealed to drinking bars operating within 500 meters from polling stations to close down on election day or face prosecution.
He gave the advice in an interview with Citi News on the sidelines of a peace event organized by Voice of Zongo Communities, an NGO to sensitize the Zongo communities on the need for a peaceful election.
“According to the law, alcohol should not be sold 500 metres close to the polling station. But if you look at it, a lot of the polling centres in municipalities, have drinking spots near them. So the best thing is to close all drinking spots because you cannot open the spot and say you will sell only soft drinks, you will be tempted to sell hard drinks to your customers and people you know. So we are appealing to operators of drinking spots close to the polling stations not to open on election day.”
It is contained in Ghana’s electoral offences handbook that anything that intoxicates and can easily impair one’s sense of judgment should not find its way on the election ground.
On voting day, election officials are strongly advised against taking any intoxicating substance.
This is to eliminate all possibilities of them committing avoidable mistakes during the voting process.
A failure to comply with this directive constitutes an electoral offence.