The Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission overseeing operations, Mr. Samuel Tettey has categorically refuted allegations made by the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson that 7 Biometric Verification Devices (BVD) are missing which can undermine the integrity of the 2024 general elections.
Mr. Tettey clarified that the actual items missing are five laptops, not the biometric verification devices as previously reported.
On Tuesday, 19th March 2024, there was a stir when reports emerged about the missing biometric verification devices, sparking fears over the integrity of this year’s electoral process.
The Minority’s concerns were aired following a meeting between the Electoral Commission, under the stewardship of Jean Adukwei Mensah, and parliamentary leaders, where the issue of the missing devices was purportedly confirmed.
Dr. Forson addressing the press, called for a comprehensive police report on the matter, highlighting the potential risks such losses could pose to the fairness of the forthcoming elections.
“The Electoral Commission confirms that seven biometric devices are indeed missing. I urge the CID and the Ghana Police Service to immediately issue a statement giving us details of their investigations so far,” he said.
However, in a twist, Mr. Samuel Tettey, during a media briefing dubbed ‘Let the Citizen Know’ series, dismissed these allegations as baseless. He emphasized that no biometric verification devices have been stolen.
“To set the records straight, the commission recently undertook routine servicing of its biometric voter registration kits. It was during this maintenance that we discovered the theft of five laptops from the biometric voter registration kits, not seven BVD as erroneously stated,” Mr. Tettey indicated.
He further said “For clarification, biometric voter registration kits which comprise a laptop, camera, scanner, and printer are entirely separated from the Commission’s registration data systems and are incapable of manipulating elections outcomes as suggested. These kits though crucial for voter registration, require specific activation to function accordingly”.
For his part, the Deputy EC Chair in charge of corporate services, Dr. Asare Bossman assured the general public that the commission is fully ready for the upcoming general elections.
He also stated that the commission spent 132 million dollars on the 2020 general elections and not 150 million dollars as suggested by a section of the public.
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Source: Sasu Ayisadu/ATLFMNEWS
