Biometric register: EC not honest with parties – NDC

The main opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC) says it suspects some hanky-panky going on around the Commission’s quest to obtain a new biometric register.

The Director of Elections for the NDC, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah told Kasapa 102.5 FM his party is confused as to why the EC is not forthcoming with details on the supposed consultancy report on the facility allegedly made by the previous EC, as well as the cost on either an upgrade or the acquisition of a new biometric register.

“The upgrading, according to them will cost more than acquiring a new one, but they are also unable to give us the real cost of obtaining a new one, neither are they able to tell us how much it will also cost for an upgrade. The EC is not honest, Im sorry to say this, but that is the fact.”

For the NDC it’s just prudent that the EC builds on the system they have at the moment by upgrading its data centre.

Explaining why the NDC staged a walk out yesterday at the IPAC meeting, the Director of Elections for the NDC claimed there has been no exhaustive discussions on the matter, which they’d made those concerns known in previous IPAC meetings.

He recalled an invitation for emergency IPAC meeting on November 25 where the issue of a new register came up although it had not been on the agenda.

The parties were asked to bring experts to discuss the procurement for the new register at another emergency meeting on December 2, where the NDC again raised concerns with it but still participated in the discussion, Mr. Afriyie Ankrah recounted.

He added:“There are inaccuracies and we’ve proved to them that there was no need for a new biometric register. It’s just complex and complicated to acquire a new register.”

Boycott of IPAC meeting 

Some five opposition parties including the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), on Tuesday, December 10, 2019 stormed out of an Inter-Party Advisory Committee meeting at the behest of the Electoral Commission.

The People’s National Convention, United Front Party, the Eagle Party, and the All People’s Congress joined the biggest opposition NDC to stage the protest enbloc over certain concerns.

According to the NDC, the EC tricked them for a meeting meant for the demonstration of some software for a new biometric register, which they are opposed to.

Source: kasapafmonline.com