Electoral Commission gets GH¢30m less of GH¢80m budget for biometric registration

The Electoral Commission (EC) presented a budget of GH¢80 million to government in order to enable it fund the biometric registration exercise before the 2012 elections, but it receives GH¢50 million instead.

The Finance and Economic Planning Minister, Dr Kwabena Duffuor on July 14, 2011 told Parliament that the government has released GH¢50 million to the EC for the Biometric Registration for 2012 Election.

“To advance the course of democracy through transparent, free and fair elections, government has released GH¢50 million to the Electoral Commission to implement activities preceding the 2012 Presidential and Parliamentary elections,” he said.

A Daily Graphic publication dated April 20, 2011 cites a Deputy Chairman at the EC, Mr David Kanga as saying the EC has submitted to government, a budget for GH¢80 million with which to support the biometric registration during the electioneering period in 2012.

In a telephone interview with the Electoral Commissioner, Dr Afari Gyan on July 14, 2011 he confirmed to ghanabusinessnews.com that it budgeted for GH¢80 million for registration.

“We budgeted for GH¢80 million for registration,” he said.

By Ekow Quandzie