CODEO report on biometric registration indicts EC

The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has indicated the Electoral Commission as being responsible for the irregularities which characterized the 40-day nationwide biometric registration exercise.

The indictment was contained in the preliminary findings of the group on the recently ended registration exercise.

CODEO noted that poor understanding and application of the eligibility criteria for registration, particularly, the criteria to determine residency, age, identification and procedures for guarantors and challengers accounted for misunderstandings at most centers.

The coalition also cited inadequate supervision from electoral officers on the field, equipment malfunctioning and repair or replacement time as well as challenges on the part of the Police in dealing with the activities of so-called monitoring teams of political parties and other criminal elements as factors which led to confusion at most registration centers.

The coalition is therefore recommending the EC be very thorough and diligent as it executes the next stages of compiling the voters register.

CODEO further called for more support for all stakeholders, including the media and the District Review Committees to improve their advocacy roles.

The Acting Director of Public Affairs at the Electoral Commission, Christian Owusu Parry assured the Commission will study the findings for necessary amends.

He said the Commission has currently reached the data cleaning stage of the process and hopes to weed-out all unqualified voters from the list.