Jaatoyiri residents in Wa East call for polling station, cite dangerous journey to vote

Residents of Jaatoyiri in the Goripie Electoral Area of the Wa East District are urging authorities to establish a polling station in their community, saying more than 600 registered voters must travel to Goripie to cast their ballots.

Residents say the journey along a poor road is difficult on foot or by tricycle, particularly for older people and those with limited mobility. During the rainy season, they add, the Goripie Dam can overflow, making travel between the communities even more challenging and limiting access to essential services.

Speaking to Info Radio, resident Boye Sulemani said some elderly people were unable to make the journey to vote.

Another resident, Gabriel Teyiri, said Jaatoyiri voters previously cast their ballots in Viehaa before their polling station was moved to Goripie. He recounted accidents involving voters travelling to Goripie and warned that residents might boycott future elections if a polling station was not established in Jaatoyiri.

Women in the community also accused successive governments of neglecting Jaatoyiri, pointing to the absence of basic amenities. Resident Tierimwini Duoeri said the community lacked a good road network, a school and electricity, despite residents continuing to vote in every election.

Duoeri said residents were frustrated by the lack of progress and would no longer travel to Goripie to vote.