Faulty Machine Ends WR Pilot Registration

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The Electoral Commission (EC) has ended its pilot registration in the Western Region albeit abruptly due to a faulty device.

A total of 73 persons were registered on the first day of the pilot voter registration exercise held at the regional office of the commission in Sekondi.

However, on the second day yesterday, the exercise was suspended due to what some of the officials described as ‘technical problem’.

It was revealed that the BVR machine used to capture the bio-data of applicants developed a fault.

Officials who were to capture the bio-data of about 15 persons present for the registration had to pack off the device.

In an interview, Rex Jonfiah, Deputy Western Region Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), said when he asked for the reason the exercise had been suspended, he was told the device had developed a technical problem.

“I will wait for an official comment and more explanation from the Regional Director, Angelina Tagoe, on why the exercise has been suspended and the nature of the problem. Because the EC’s invitation to us indicated the exercise was for two days,” he said.

“I was told they were using one machine and no backup. So I want to find out the magnitude of the problem, for which reason the whole exercise has been stopped,” he added.

“The exercise was very smooth on the first day. What has happened, I believe, could be solved so we have to be patient and wait for official explanation,” he said.

He commended the EC for making sure that all the necessary items were in place in ensuring that all those who visited the venue for the exercise adhered to the safety protocols.

For his part, the Western Regional Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kirk Mensah, indicated that the exercise was very crucial and not ‘trial and error’ venture.

He said the accuracy of the machines used for the 2012 general elections had great improvement in 2016 and that if the EC used the same machines, there would be greater improvement in their accuracy.

“Because the more you use the old machines, the more the faults could be detected and improved upon. But this is a situation where the EC wants to try a new machine during this year’s critical general elections,” he said.

Joe Nelson, Regional Secretary of the NDC, who was also present, noted that from day one his party had not supported the compilation of a new register.

“If we begin to have problems with the machines during the pilot programme then you can imagine what will happen during the mass registration exercise,” he said.

From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi