Government, EC commended on efforts to use biometric

Winneba (C/R), Dec 21, GNA - A founding member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Kofi Mintah, has commended the Electoral Commission (EC) and the government for deciding to use electronic register to conduct the 2012 general election.

Mr Mintah, a former Central Regional Chairman of the NDC, said the decision by the government to release GH¢80 million to the EC for the processing of the electronic register needed commendation. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Winneba, Mr Minta= h said recent events in Cote d'Ivoire must be an eye opener for African countries to find means to improve their electoral systems. This, he said, would make their elections credible and acceptable to all parties to prevent electoral disputes.

Mr Mintah said by adopting a biometric register, double registration and double voting would be a thing of the past.

He appealed to supporters of the NDC to embark on outreach programmes to educate people on government policies and programmes to ensure that the people know what the government had in store for them.

"It is only when the people understand government policies and pogrammes, particularly what concerns their welfare, that they will vote massively to return it to power in 2012," he said.