News
Excessive make-up can interfere with biometric verification — EC cautions women
The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has cautioned women not to apply a lot of makeup on Election Day, else they would be left disappointed.
According to the Commission, the Biometric Verification Device (BVD) may be unable to capture such women because of the over-application of cosmetic material on the face.
Mr Fred Tetteh, the Deputy Director of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation of the EC, who gave the caution, said such women cannot vote in case the finger print and manual exercise fail.
Explaining at a briefing session on Tuesday, Mr Tetteh stated that the BVD has only three features, which is the finger print, facial recognition and manual.
According to him when the BVD fails to capture the finger print, it resorts to the facial identity which becomes problematic when there is too much makeup.
It was themed: ‘Strengthening Advocacy for Gender-Representative and Inclusive Governance in 2024 and Beyond.’
The aim is to increase the participation and representation of women and women with disabilities within all decision making spaces of Ghana’s governance system.
Mr Tetteh advised women to be modest with the makeup when going to vote.
“I beg the women to stay away from the ‘pancake’ and others. It is just an election day; kindly minimise the polishing so that you can vote freely without any hitches and stress.”
Additionally, he said when both fingerprint and facial recognition fail, then one has to go through manual verification which usually comes with doubts.
He noted that the EC was putting in place structures to ensure a peaceful and transparent elections, which would be friendly for observers and polling agents who would also be expected to obey the rules.
In a welcome address, the Head of Programmes for ABANTU for Development, Mrs Grace Ampomaa Afrifa, urged key stakeholders, chiefs, the media, religious leaders and other influential people in society to educate people about the need to maintain the peace of the country even beyond the exercise.
The Coordinator for Affimative Action Law Coalition, Becky Ahadzi Esq., stated that it was unfortunate that Affirmative Action Law was passed after the primaries, limiting the number of females’ candidates in parliament.
The session was organised by ABANTU for Development, a non-governmental organisation, that focuses on supporting community led- development initiatives in Ghana and Africa with support from STAR Ghana Foundation.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
News
CSA urges Universities to strengthen cybersecurity following university of Nottingham cyber-attack
The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has cautioned universities and other operators of Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) in Ghana to comply with cybersecurity regulations following a recent cyber-attack on the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom.
In a press release issued on June 16, 2026, the Authority said the incident should serve as a warning to educational institutions that no organisation is immune to cyber threats, regardless of its size, reputation or technological capacity.
According to the CSA, the attack on the University of Nottingham is believed to have affected about 450,000 students and alumni, exposing sensitive information such as personal records, contact details, student identification information and financial data.
The Authority noted that although the breach occurred outside Ghana, it has important lessons for the country’s education sector as well as other critical sectors including health, telecommunications and transportation.
The CSA explained that Ghanaian universities are increasingly relying on digital technologies such as student information systems, online learning platforms, cloud services, digital payment systems and research collaborations.
While these technologies improve efficiency and access to services, they also create opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit vulnerabilities.
“The question is therefore not whether Ghanaian universities or other critical sectors will be attacked, but whether they are sufficiently prepared when an attack occurs,” the statement said.
The Authority reminded institutions to adhere to the Directive for the Protection of Critical Information Infrastructure, which was launched in October 2021 to strengthen cybersecurity across critical sectors.
According to the CSA, the directive requires organisations to establish cybersecurity governance structures, conduct risk assessments, implement security controls, report incidents, carry out regular audits and develop effective incident response plans.
The Authority said these measures are intended to reduce the likelihood and impact of cyber-attacks and help protect essential services and national interests.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Former NPP flagbearer aspirant, Kennedy Agyapong, has criticised both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the delayed completion of the Afari Military Hospital and other stalled health infrastructure projects.
Mr. Agyapong made the remarks on Tuesday after donating a pickup truck, an incubator and personal protective equipment (PPEs) to the 37 Military Hospital as part of activities marking his 66th birthday.
Speaking at the event, he said successive governments had failed to complete the Afari Military Hospital despite having years in office to do so.
According to him, the project was initiated during the administration of former President John Agyekum Kufuor and construction later commenced under the NDC.
Mr. Agyapong, who previously chaired Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, said he was aware of the project’s challenges and insisted that both the NPP and NDC should be held accountable for the delays.
“We will criticise the NDC and we will criticise the NPP. That’s the only way to go,” he said.
He noted that the previous NPP administration spent eight years in office without completing the facility and questioned attempts to place the blame solely on the current government.
The former Assin Central MP called on Ghanaians to put national development ahead of partisan politics and demand accountability from all political parties.
He said the country would make greater progress if leaders focused on completing critical projects and delivering results rather than engaging in political point-scoring.
By: Jacob Aggrey
