The Electoral Commission (EC) has rebuked the opposition National Democratic Congress' (NDC) proposal to utilize drones in the Greater Accra region during the 2024 elections.

The NDC's plan entails deploying drones to oversee the election proceedings in the region, but the EC views this initiative as a potential violation of voters' electoral privacy and security measures.

The Director of Electoral Services at the EC, Dr. Serebour Quaicoe, remarked that the commission has not received formal communication from the NDC regarding their intention to employ drones.

Dr. Quaicoe emphasized that permitting such actions would contravene security protocols and jeopardize the confidentiality of voters.

“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, so they have to apply,” he said in an interview with Joy News on March 12, 2024.

“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 added.

The EC's stance was prompted by remarks made by Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore, the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the NDC, who clarified that the use of drones is part of the party's strategy to secure two million votes in the forthcoming elections.

Mr Moore underscored the objective of enhancing the NDC's monitoring capabilities to prevent potential electoral irregularities.

Furthermore, Moore disclosed ongoing preparations to train constituency executives on operating the drones effectively to monitor ground activities.