Increase offline machines to ease registration process - Ofosu Ampofo to EC

The National Chairman of the Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Hon Samuel Ofosu Ampofo has charged the Electoral Commission (EC) to increase the number of machines being used for the registration exercise, to ease the registration process.

He made these remarks, while speaking to the media as part of his tour to some constituencies in the Central Region for monitoring.

His monitoring team included the Deputy National Women Organizer, Maame Efua Sekyi-Addo, Central Regional Chairman Lawyer EKT Addo, Regional Vice Chairman Mr Aidoo Mensah and some constituency executives of the party in the region.

The Electoral Commission of Ghana commenced the limited registration exercise on 17th June 2019 to get all first time voters, registered but the process, which was supposed to be an online exercise was disrupted by network challenges with many unable to go through the process in time.

This forced the EC to do the registration offline across the country.

While interacting with the media as part of his tour, the Outspoken National Chairman of the NDC, indicated that the online system was a complete waste of time and money.

“The Commissioners of the EC refused to heed to our advice”, he said.

Chairman Ofosu Ampofo further called on the Electoral Commission to increase the number of machines being used for the offline registration, since there are still long queues at the registration centers.

He argued, that even though the online system allows for the applicant’s data to be captured into EC’s database during registration and data captured with the offline system has to be exported to the database at a later date, it will be prudent to increase the machines to reduce the stress and frustration EC has created.

At the various registration centers, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo encouraged the first time voters, party agents and EC officials to remain resolute and go through the process peacefully.

The NDC Chairman who began his monitoring exercise in the Greater Accra Region,on Saturday led his entourage to tour all the registration centers in the Awutu Senya East, Awutu Senya West, Gomoa East, Gomoa West, Ekumfi and Mfantseman Constituencies and is continuing in the Eastern Region today Sunday July 7, 2019.