NDC, NPP unhappy with biometric machine and printers
By: David Allan Paintsil, Cape Coast
Dr. kwadwo Afari-Gyan - Chairman, Electoral Commission
The two main political parties the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) members in the Central Region have expressed concerned over the malfunctioning machines and printers being used in the biometric registration exercise which is making it difficult for prospective electorate to register.
Speaking to The Chronicle on phone on Tuesday, Central Regional NDC Organizer, Mr. Patrick Anigyei said the faulty printers and some machines used for the exercise had affected the smooth operation of the exercise, as people turned out in their numbers at polling centers only to be told that the machine and the printer were not functioning.
According to him, this situation was causing a stir among eligible voters, resulting in apathy on the part of some people to register. He cited Sanka Polling Centre in the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem (KEEA) where the machine and printer were not functioning for two days and had to be sent to Accra for repairs.
He stated further that apart from these challenges the registration had been smooth without any physical confrontation between the two main political parties in the region.
On his part, the NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Cape Coast, Mr. Alfred Thompson, who is privy to party information on the exercise reiterated the concerned expressed by the NDC, adding that the situation was slowing down the registration exercise in the region.
Thompson maintained that the second phase of the exercise in the region had been tainted by malfunctioning machines and printers leading to disappointment of eligible voters who turned up in their numbers at various registration centers to register.
However, when contacted on phone, Mrs. Philomena Edusei, Central Regional Electoral Commission Director, confirmed that some of the machines and printers had developed faults, adding that any time such a situation occurred, the machines and printers are sent to Accra for repairs.
She said immediately after repairs they are returned to the various centres for the exercise to continue.
Short URL: http://thechronicle.com.gh/?p=43593