Ghana to Implement Biometric Voting for 2016 Elections

GBN reports that due to high fraud levels with the ballot box voting used throughout Africa, Ghana wants to move to electronic voting, and not just any electronic voting. Communication Minister Haruna Iddrisu claims that the system might even be ready early—just in time for 2012. Several political parties have agreed that a biometric system is the best way to prevent voter fraud, especially multiple voting.

While exact details on the nature of the biometric proposals are scant, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) cautions Ghanaians against undue haste when adopting new electronic measures. He believes that a biometric registration system may be possible after the 2010 national census.

E-Government initiatives and electronic voter registries are taking hold throughout West Africa. The largest concerns are, as with the old system, data security and voter fraud. Buy in from both the government and opposing political parties is essential, as is a truly independent voter board, both difficult to come by in this region.