Voting in the Ayawaso East Constituency of the Greater Accra Region got off to a slow start on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, as more than 40,000 registered voters headed to the polls to elect a new Member of Parliament.

The by-election, which has drawn significant political attention, is being keenly contested by five candidates seeking to fill the vacant parliamentary seat.

Speaking on the Ghana Yensom Morning Show on Accra 100.5 FM, a Branch Youth Organiser of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) attributed the low early turnout to the ongoing Ramadan fast.

According to him, many Muslim voters who wake up at dawn to observe the fast often return to sleep before later heading out to perform their civic duties.

He indicated that the party was mobilising its supporters to ensure improved turnout as the day progresses.

Reports from polling centres confirmed the slow start.

Correspondent Jacob Narbi reported that at the Nima Cluster of Schools, only 162 voters had cast their ballots as of 8:00 a.m.

At Nima JHS 1, just 15 people had voted at the time of his visit, with a similar situation observed at the Presby School polling station.

Hannah Myers, reporting from Alhaji Iddrisu House Number 2, also described turnout as low in the early hours.

In some instances, a polling officer told reporters  they had more reporters visiting the polling station than voters since polls were opened

Despite the slow start, electoral officials have assured the public that all necessary arrangements have been put in place to guarantee a smooth and peaceful process.

Security personnel have been deployed across polling stations to maintain order, while the Electoral Commission has pledged transparency and fairness throughout the exercise.

The five candidates contesting the seat are:

Baba Jamal – National Democratic Congress (NDC) 

Baba Ali – New Patriotic Party (NPP)

Umar Sander Mohammed – Independent

David Kanor – Independent

Ibrahim Iddrisu – Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG)

Observers are closely monitoring voter turnout and the overall conduct of the polls, as the outcome is expected to influence the political dynamics within the constituency.