Voting has started peacefully in various polling stations across the Ashanti Region.

A total of 3,019,178 registered voters are expected to cast their votes in 7,100 polling centres across 47 constituencies in the region.

The region, considered as the stronghold of the NPP is the second largest in terms of voter population in the country.

A visit by the media to some polling centres across the region indicated smooth start of the election process as all election materials, party agents and security officials were present in all the centres.

Most of the polling centres started voting at exactly 0700 hours as planned by the Electoral Commission.

One hundred and forty two (142) candidates are contesting for the 47 parliamentary seats in the region.

Out of the number, 23 are females while 22 are contesting as independent candidates.

Adum, the central business district of Kumasi, noted for its bustling business activities in the Subin constituency, was almost empty as at 0700 hours, when the media visited the area to see if the traders had gone to cast their votes.