Guinea's electoral body says it's ready for presidential polls

The spokesman for Guinea's National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) Salifou Kebe said Wednesday the commission had achieved a 70 percent preparation rate for the Oct. 11 presidential elections.

Addressing the press in Conakry, Kebe said "CENI was not facing any major challenge that could prevent the holding of the elections on the date stipulated in the country's electoral code."

"Today, the electoral commission has completed several activities in readiness for the polls, with all possible cooperation with political parties," Kebe said.

He affirmed that distribution of voters' cards was still ongoing across the country and that the commission was still holding training sessions for electoral clerks who will be deployed in the 38 electoral constituencies.

"The electoral materials will soon be deployed across the country and in 18 Guinean embassies in other countries," the spokesman said, adding that the electoral materials are comprised of electoral kits such as ballot papers, voters' cards, electoral register, voting booths and ballot boxes.

He further added that the commission will distribute health kits for prevention against Ebola virus.

According to the final electoral register prepared by CENI, over 6.4 million voters will be expected to cast their votes on Oct. 11 to elect the country's president.

The electoral commission has identified 14,482 polling stations across the country and over 72,000 poll clerks have been trained and deployed in the polling stations.

The Guinean government has deployed 18,800 police officers to guarantee security during the elections. Endit