The National Democratic Congress (NDC) will need to apply to the security agencies and the Electoral Commission (EC) for a permit to use drones to monitor the elections in 2024, the Director of Electoral Services at the EC, Dr. Serebour Quaicoe, has said.
He, however, indicated that it would be difficult for such a request to be granted because the polling station areas are security zones.
“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 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,” Dr Quaicoe said.
“The fact remains that polling stations are security zones. We want to ensure the secrecy of the ballot. So at the polling station where I am going to make my choice, I want to vote in that secrecy,” he told Joy News.
The Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the NDC, Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore had revealed the plan to use drones for election monitoring.
This, in his view, is to strengthen the party’s monitoring systems to block possible rigging.
“The Greater Accra Region, next week is going to train constituency executives on how to use drones to monitor elections,” Mr Moore said when the flagbearer of the NDC John Mahama met executives and key stakeholders of the NDC during his ‘Building Ghana Tour’ in Accra.
Mr Mahama, for his part, told the NDC to be vigilant in the 2024 general elections.
To him, they can engage in all the campaign activities ahead of the election but without vigilance, they will not be able to achieve the target.
He said “One of the key things in this election is vigilance, we can do all the campaigning we want, but if we are not vigilant on the day, and we don’t cover every single polling station with eagles’ eyes.
“You can do all the beautiful things you can, razzmatazz and in the end, you don’t achieve the target you want.”
He added “So Greater Accra Region, we want you to cover all the polling stations with the best party agents. The election directory, you are aware, is conducting some exercises. They’ve been conducting exams for election directors in their constituencies and the regions because we need the best people who understand the electoral system to be able to monitor the elections in the region.
“We should not be sentimental with these appointments and appoint the right people,” he advised.