Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan, has confirmed that prisoners would be allowed to vote in the 2012 general elections.

His comments follow a commitment by President Mills on Tuesday to resource the EC to ensure prisoners vote in compliance with a Supreme Court ruling .

Dr. Afari Gyan, however, told reporters the EC is still considering whether to allow inmates to vote only in the presidential election or in the parliamentary as well.

Nevertheless, all prisoners, except those convicted for electoral fraud, would be eligible to vote. He also emphasized that those in condemned cells would also vote because “as far as my understanding goes, yes, they are not dead, are they?” Dr Afari Gyan asked.

He added that the Commission has already agreed to register prisoners in the upcoming biometric voter’s registration exercise.

Meanwhile, he has maintained that the EC cannot guarantee a verification of the biometric register, adding that the Commission does not have the money to buy the equipment for the exercise.

Touching on the Representation of the People (Amendment) Law (ROPAL), Dr. Afari Gyan said the Commission is still waiting for recommendations from the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) to decide on the next line of action.

The Chairman however doubted if Ghanaians abroad would be able to exercise their franchise in the 2012 elections.