Accra, July 14, GNA – Dr Kwabena Duffuor, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning on Thursday said government had released GH¢50 million to the Electoral Commission (EC) for biometric registration for Election 2012.

“To advance the cause of democracy through transparent, free and fair elections, government has released GH¢50 million to the Electoral Commission (EC) for biometric registration for Election 2012,”” he added.

Dr Duffuor was presenting the mid-year review of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy and Supplementary Estimates for the 2011 Financial Year to Parliament in Accra.

He explained that the money was to implement activities preceding the 2012 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.

On Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), Dr Duffuor announced that government had released GH¢8 million out of an allocation of GH¢25 million for the 2011 fiscal year.

He said government would release the rest of the funds to SADA to ensure a speedy implementation of programmed activities.

In addition, government has made a provision of GH¢5million in the Supplementary Budget.

The Finance Minister said a Government of Ghana (GOG)-Development Partners conference on SADA would be convened soon to solicit the support of development partners.