Biometric voter registration progresses slowly

The biometric voter registration which started on Saturday is progressing rather slowly as various registration centres are facing challenges with their data capturing system.

Officials at the centres the Ghana News Agency visited complained about the slow nature of the biometric data capturing system, saying it was slowing down the entire registration process.

However turnout was generally encouraging as queues were seen at all the centres, with clear anxiety printed on the faces of eligible Voter's who were eager to experience the biometric data capturing and also have their new voter identity cards.

As at 11.55 am, the centres at the Kwabenya D/A Primary school had registered only 27 people, the Christ Alone Chapel International Centre which was near the Kwabenya Abuom junction had registered 30 as at 12 noon, while the Atomic Hills Demonstration School had also registered 44 eligible voters as at 12.45 pm.

Though only the Kwabenya D/A Primary School had police presence, however the atmostphere was calm at all the places.

Mr Hassan Asibey, Registration Officer of the Kwabenya D/A Primary school Centre was optimistic that " if all goes well the team would hit at least 100 by the close of day.

He explained that unlike other normal registration centres, the Electoral Commission (EC) dispatched two teams to this registration centre due to the huge population, to ensure the completion of registration within the stipulated time.

Mr Felix Offei Anaman, Assistant Registration Officer at the Christ Alone Chapel International centre, expressed his frustration at the slow nature of the computer, saying " most people are blaming us for being slow without understanding that the entire process is new to all of us".

Mr Bright Bilson Esuon, RegistrationOfficer in Charge of Special Duties at the Atomic Hills Demonstration School, was hopeful that the centre would register more people by the close of the day.**