WR biometric registration exercise peaceful -Opoku-Mensah

Mr Steve Opoku-Mensah, Western Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, has said the biometric registration exercise had so far been peaceful in the region.

He said notwithstanding the initial challenges associated with equipment use and personnel as well as the rush-hours, the exercise was being undertaken smoothly in the over 2000 centres in the region.

He said the region registered 415,377 voters in the first phase and the breakdown is as follows: males 213,022 and 202,355 females.

Mr Opoku-Mensah told the GNA that the figure could increase by the end of the second phase and cautioned registration officials who close earlier rather than the stipulated time to desist from the act as it amounted to breach of contract.

He said the commission had received numerous complaints about some centres closing before time with the excuse that their cameras could not capture clearer images after 1700 hours.

Mr Opoko-Mensah said investigation had already started in five centres to ascertain the truth or otherwise of the issue.

He said despite challenges like printer failure and stolen memory chips among others, the biometric registration exercise had so far been peaceful in the region.**