Ultimatum To EC On Biometric Register Premature � NDC

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) says it is premature to give the Electoral Commission an ultimatum to complete the production of a biometric voters register by the end of October 2011. According to the NDC, per the calendar of the EC, the registration of electorates will start in November; hence until then, it is irrelevant to give ultimatums. The NDC�s statement follows the NPP�s announcement over the weekend that it will reject the biometric voter�s register if the processes for its production are not completed by end of October this year. Mr Ahmed Gedel NDC�s focal person for the biometric voter�s register told Citi News that the NDC will take a stance after November. In a related development, the Electoral Commission (EC) has dispelled fears surrounding the readiness of the biometric register ahead of the 2012 general elections. According to the EC, per its tentative timetable, the entire registration process should end by April 2012 after which the country would be fully geared up for a successful election later that year. The Electoral Commission has come under a barrage of criticism especially from the main opposition NPP for what it describes as the lackadaisical attitude of the EC towards ensuring a successful voters registration and preparation of the biometric register which is said to be very technical in nature. Director of Public Affairs of EC, Christian Owusu Parry in an interview on Citi FM�s Breakfast Show on Monday September 26, said �there was a tentative timetable and the commission said we will commence registration of voters before the close of the year. �We had given ourselves up to the end of April next year by which time we are sure we would have finished registering all eligible applicants in the country. As we speak now we are still in the process of procuring the equipment but as you may be aware, certain issues relating to the procurement process have been a matter for discussion in court. �We are going to court tomorrow to argue out our case and hopefully the court we believe would give a ruling and then we would continue with the procurement process and we will announce a date for the start for registration�. Mr Owusu Parry added that the Deputy Chairman of the EC would today meet the leadership of the NPP to discuss concerns raised by the party.