The chairman of Ghana’s Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) says the ongoing voter registration process will ensure a credible general election December 7.
Kwadwo Afari-Gyan called on prospective voters to verify their personal information during a 10 day registration program.
“We are exhibiting the provisional voter register [and] after that we will make any corrections that are appropriate, and then print the final voters register,” Afari-Gyan said. “Without the register we can’t take nominations, so I reckon that we take nominations for the elections around the middle of October, and then we will be on.”
Afari-Gyan said the voters’ list verification process will enable the electoral body to organize free, fair and credible presidential, legislative and local balloting.
“We did a biometric voters register, which means that we incorporated features unique to the individual into the register,” he said.
“In particular, we took the person’s picture digitally, and then we took all 10 finger prints, if available, as a means of being able to identify people properly,” Afari-Gyan said. “So we can detect persons who have attempted multiple registrations. So, it is going to be a more credible register than we have had before.”
Afari-Gyan said the electoral commission also has set up an SMS, or text messaging platform, that will allow prospective voters access to the voters list through their mobile phones.
“In fact, making sure that you have been placed properly is so important to us that we are going to make it possible for people to text to a certain number and then verify their registration. So, it’s important for people to find out where they have been placed for purposes of voting on election day,” said Afari-Gyan.
He said the electoral commission will institute a new voter identity measure during the December election.
“On the day of the elections, we will verify people’s identity, electronically, by their finger prints,” he said. “So, it’s going to be a very accurate and credible voters’ register,” he said.
“We urge everybody who applied for registration to go and make sure that his or her name is in the register at the place where he or she applied for registration. Let us not be disappointed on election day,” Afari-Gyan said.
Clottey interview with Dr.Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Ghana's elections chief