The role of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the conduct of presidential and parliamentary elections in Ghana cannot be underestimated. Indeed, CSOs in the country over the last two decades have played key roles in ensuring free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections, since the country took a decision to return to democratic rule in 1992.
CSOs in the past and currently, still contribute towards the deepening of the country’s democratic process by organizing public sensitization forums on elections, capacity building workshops for media practitioners and political parties’ representatives, monitoring general elections as well as by-elections, provide suggestions on proper voting mechanisms, among others.
In view of the aforesaid, ShiShi Adam, a Master Trainer of Superlock Technologies Limited, providers of the software for the biometric machine, has encouraged CSOs in Ghana to continue to make meaningful contributions towards policy formulation and implementation in order to ensure that the best decision is taken for the benefit of all citizens.
According to him, CSOs have a lot of influence to exert anytime there is a public discourse on a new government policy and therefore, when they (CSOs) keep quiet and leave such matters to only politicians or government officials to decide, the formulation or implementation of such a policy might not fairly represent the views and interests of all Ghanaians.
He thus called on CSOs in the country to endeavour to contribute fairly to the formulation of policies that are intended for the benefit of Ghanaians in order for the state to achieve higher results when they are eventually implemented. Adding, he observed, that there was a general commotion when government announced the introduction of the biometric voter registration and voting system for this year’s elections, saying the whole idea was nearly aborted but for the intervention of CSOs who added their voice to the discourse by making meaning contributions towards it.
Mr. Adam made this observation when he facilitated a one-day workshop organized by Northern Sector Action on Awareness Centre (NORSAAC) to sensitise individuals working in the CSOs sector on the biometric voter registration and voting system, the biometric machines and how it operate.
The workshop was intended to erase doubts among participants with regards to the efficiency of the machines and why it’s the best option for Ghana.
The biometric machine is made up of a laptop computer, a scanner, webcam and printer. Apart from the laptop having an inbuilt battery that is rechargeable after two hours of operation, it also has three spare rechargeable batteries with one connected to it while two are put on standby. Each of the standby batteries can last for about eight hours, according to Mr. Adam.
The printer also has a battery that powers it to work while there is a standby generator to use to charge all the batteries in case there is power outage or the polling station is out of reach of electricity, he mentioned.
What is biometric voter registration?
Biometric voter registration involves the use of biometric technology in voter registration. Biometric technology is the use of computers, fingerprint scanners and digital cameras to capture the bio-data of applicants. Fingerprints are unique to every individual and it is these features and other details that are stored in the computer from which the voters register is produced. The fingerprints of all ten fingers of every prospective voter will be electronically captured using a fingerprint scanner. The four fingerprints on the right hand will be captured first followed by the left hand and finally the two thumbprints. Additionally, photograph of each prospective voter will also be taken on the spot. This photograph will be printed on the Voter Identification Card and the voters register.
Why biometric voter registration?
This new system according to Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC), the body responsible for conducting elections in the country, has been very necessary because the old method of registering voters did not have inbuilt mechanism for detecting multiple registrations and therefore, there were instances where some unscrupulous individuals registered more than once. Biometric technology will make the detection and removal of multiple registrations from the system possible. With this, a more accurate and reliable register will be produced for the 2012 elections and subsequent ones. Besides, anyone who registers twice would eventually have his name and other particulars completely erased by the machine automatically, according to EC officials.
Moreover, the following information are required from anyone who goes to the polling centre to register for the new biometric Voter Identification Card. They include birth certificate, baptismal card, passport, driver’s license, NHIS card, National Identification Card or existing Voter Identification Card.
Meanwhile, in an interview with the Executive Director of NORSAAC, Alhassan Mohammed Awal, he told TheADVOCATE, that the training was part of a project designed by NORSAAC, Centre for Active Learning and Integrated Development (CALID) and Rural Media Network (RUMNET) with sponsorship from Star Ghana (donor organization).
The project, dubbed: “Strengthening Advocacy for Peaceful Elections” is aimed at increasing citizens influence in decision-making process of the country.
Mr. Awal explained that RUMNET’s role was to build the capacity of media practitioners and design strategies on how to create awareness of the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections whereas CALID is expected to embark on grassroots education by promoting the essence and importance of the biometric voter registration and try to identify issues of concern raised by the people.
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