Biometric voter registrations picks up in Kumasi

The on-going biometric voter registration, now in its fourth day, has gathered momentum as more people pour into the registration centres.

Although some technical glitches that threatened the exercise at the start still persist in some of areas, the general situation has significantly improved.

Registration Officers spoken to by Ghana News Agency (GNA) confirmed things were going on pretty smoothly.

At the Maakro SDA church in the Suame Constituency, a total of 743 applicants had so far been issued with voter identification (ID) cards.

Mr Steven Nyantakyi, the Registration Officer (RO), said it had been smooth and peaceful.

The picture at the Abusuakruwa Christ the Way Ministries was however different. As of 0735 hours on Tuesday, nobody had been able to register because of the malfunctioning of the computers.

Ms Yaa Afrah, the RO, said the problem keeps recurring.

Four hundred and eighty-seven (487) people had been registered since Saturday.

People waiting in the queue looked visibly frustrated as many of them, being workers, had gone there early, hoping to go through the process and rush to the workplace.

At both Kuwait/Aprabong and the New Chief’s Palace-Kaase in the Asokwa Constituency, the officials complained of lack of back-up batteries.

Except for that, everything was well. They were confident that this would be addressed.

Between the two centres they had registered 681 voters as of the time the GNA got there.

Madam Georgina Mensah, the RO for Amakom Division Two, said 39 people had registered as of 0900 hours of Tuesday.

The figure added to the previous three days total, comes to 309.

At Amakom Division One, Mr Alfred Owusu Amankwah, the RO, said they continue to see an increase in the number of applicants with each passing day.

As of 0850 hours, 36 people had registered to bring the total to 340.

Mr Sadat Kasim, Special Duty Officer, Ayiguan Registration Points “A” and “B” in Tafo-Pankrono, said they had not encountered any hitches.

The applicants normally come in their numbers in the morning to avoid standing in the baking sun during the afternoon.

Here 582 applicants had already received voter ID cards.

Mr Enoch Asamoah, RO for Asuofram, told the GNA that the technical challenges they initially faced were all over allowing for the registration of 290 voters.

The Old Tafo M/A Primary School had issued 293 voter ID cards, according to the RO, Mr Titus Opoku Agyemang Titus.**