Dr. kwadwo Afari Gyan, EC Boss
An official of the Electoral Commission (EC) has refuted reports that the biometric machines that would be used to register eligible voters for the December polls could cause diseases such as stroke, cancer and sexual disorders.
It is being rumoured in Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital that any person that would come into contact with the biometric machines would suffer stroke, cancer and sexual disorders.
The reports are said to have frightened people in Kumasi and the Ashanti region, which is the stronghold of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and they have vowed not to register during the voter registration to avert ailments.
But in a sharp rebuttal, Cynthia Frimpong, Electoral Officer, Subin Constituency, has stated emphatically that the biometric machines are not harmful.
She said the machines do not cause ailments such as stroke and cancer, urging the people to actively take part in the registration exercise which starts next month.
Madam Frimpomg was reacting to a question posed by a participant at the Subin MP’s quarterly public forum held at the GNAT Hall in Kumasi last Friday where the issue was brought to the fore.
She admonished the populace not to believe lies and falsehoods being peddled by some unpatriotic individuals, stressing that the EC, as a body, would not do anything that would negatively affect the citizenry.
The EC staff said the batteries used in the biometric machines could last for 48 hours, stressing that generators had been purchased to address unforeseen problems.
She noted that the machines could register a maximum of 120 people in a day, adding that national exercise would start at 7:00am and close at 6:00pm at some selected centres such day.
She said 7000 machines had been purchased by the EC for the registration exercise which would be conducted across the 23,000 polling stations in the country.
Explaining further, Madam Fimpong said the system had been programmed to pick vital parts of the person like the eyes and fingerprints “and this would make it impossible for a single person to engage in double registrations.”
She was of the view that the biometric system being introduced by the EC this year would enhance the impending general elections.
Madam Frimpong therefore entreated well-meaning Ghanaians to throw their weight behind the EC by participating actively in all EC programmes and also abide by the laws regulating the polls to make December elections a huge success.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi
