EC orders more cameras

Koforidua (E/R), April 14, GNA- The Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan has assured registered voters in the Eastern Region that there would be enough cameras to take photos at each of the 2,607 registration stations when the exercise begins in the region from May 6 to 13.

Speaking at a two-day review meeting of the voters registration exercise at Koforidua on Wednesday, he said the Commission was expecting more cameras it had imported to augment the current stock of about 3,000.

Dr Afari-Gyan, however, expressed his worry that the problem would be with the Ashanti and Greater Regions where the full complement of cameras might not be able to satisfy each registration station. He announced that the EC had embarked on issuing of photos to registered voters in the Brong Ahafo region on Wednesday.

The Chairman explained that the Commission refused to extend the registration exercise based on the fact that, it felt those who wanted to register should have done so and dismissed criticisms that the Commission disenfranchised eligible voters by the decision.

He said: "We set off on a national exercise to register Ghanaians not party members so political parties should help make it successful instead of crying foul, even just at the beginning of the exercise."

On the issue of insufficient ink for the exercise, Dr Afari-Gyan disclosed that the EC spent 1.6 billion cedis to import them, which he said were enough for the exercise "since every bottle is supposed to serve 500 people," adding "the ink is being used because of our dishonesty."

On multiple registration he said the EC, had instituted a four-tier system of checks comprising the voter registration form, the poll book, the ID card and the photograph.