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The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Greater Accra region has disclosed a plan to use drones in the forthcoming general election, which has alarmed the Electoral Commission (EC).
The EC underlined that such an activity will not be allowed as it would breach security procedures and violate voters’ right to privacy throughout the voting process.
The NDC’s Greater Accra Regional Chairman, Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore, stated that the goal of the drone deployment is to get two million votes for the party in the next elections. This answer from the EC follows his comments.
Moore said that plans are already in place to teach constituency executives on how to operate the drones to monitor ground activity, and that this action is a part of an attempt to bolster the NDC’s monitoring mechanisms to thwart any rigging.
In an interview with Joynews, the EC’s Director of Electoral Services, Dr. Serebour Quaicoe, disclosed that the commission has not received any notification from the NDC on the use of drones.
Permitting such activities, according to Dr. Quaicoe, would go against security procedures and jeopardize voters’ privacy.
“Polling stations are security zones, so they will have to apply to the security people for permission to be granted. They will have to apply to the Electoral Commission for permission to be granted.
“But my point is that how comfortable will you feel that you are going to vote at the polling station and there’s a drone hovering around you? How sure are you with respect to the secrecy of the ballot.”
He underlined how crucial it is to keep voting materials secret and voiced skepticism about the legitimacy of using drones at polling places considering how delicate the democratic process is.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
