Abort plans for new biometric register – Ben Ephson to EC

The decision by the Electoral Commission to ensure that only biometrically registered electorates vote in the 2020 elections will disenfranchise the majority of potential voters, renowned pollster Ben Ephson has said.

His comments come a day after the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the People’s National Congress (PNC) together with three other political parties walked out of a meeting with the Electoral Commission.

The United Front Party, the Eagle Party, and the All People’s Congress were also part of the walkout.

According to the NDC, the EC deceived them into the meeting only for them to realise that they were there to witness the demonstration of software for a new biometric register, which they are opposed to.

Addressing a news conference in Accra Deputy General Secretary of the NDC Peter Boamah Otokunor said the Jean Mensa led administration is sidelining IPAC in preparations for elections 2020.

Speaking on the Morning Starr Wednesday, Mr Ephson told host Francis Abban that the EC’s decision is not the best since the country has only 11 months to go for a major election.

He added that if the EC proceeded on that path it could potentially create a major problem for the country since many voters live in far-flung rural areas and could be disenfranchised.

“I don’t think it will be possible to register about 11 million voters biometrically within 11 months…If the Ghana Card is available, this issue of re-registration will be absent and the cash allocated for the new register can be used for something else…the move for this new register for the coming elections should be put on ice for now,” Mr Ephsin said.