EC rejects allegations of discarding functioning BVDs, causing financial loss

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Fri 26th Apr, 2024 23:43

The Electoral Commission (EC) has categorically rejected the allegations of sneaking out thousands of biometric verification devices (BVDs) for recycling and causing financial loss to the State.

In a statement dated Friday, April 26, the Commission said such statements are not only false but are “designed to mislead the public and cause disaffection for the institution and its leadership.”

The Commission noted that IMANI Ghana and Bright Simons peddled falsehood.

It emphasised that the Commission spent US$68 million for two data centres and procured over 74,000 BVDs as well as 8,500 biometric voter registration kits (BVRs), instead of the alleged US$150 million.

However, the Commission deemed it “important to address persistent misinformation being peddled by one Bright Simons and his counterparts at Imani.”

“Ghanaians would recall that Imani accused this Commission of acquiring new BVDs and BVRs just for a “procurement gig” when there was no need to procure the new equipment.

“What Ghanaians were not told by Imani is, that the previous administration had planned to refurbish obsolete BVDs, BVRs and data centres for millions of dollars for short-term use only—namely, to conduct the 2018 Referendum and 2019 DLE,” it said.

“The current Commission, however, cancelled the contract for the total refurbishment, and conducted the 2019 DLE using the available equipment and without exhausting the US$56 million.

“This Commission utilised U$51 Million out of the US$56 million approved largely for the refurbishment of obsolete equipment, towards the procurement of two (2) new Data Centres, 74,500 new BVDs, and 8,500 new BVR kits. A total of US$68,661.912.67 was used to procure the above-listed equipment and data centres,” excerpts of the statement read.

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According to the Commission, the Original Equipment Manufacturers and the Managers of its biometric infrastructure, HSB Identification BV and STL, respectively, informed the former Commission in writing about the obsolete nature of the Commission’s biometric infrastructure.

In addition, the Commission explained that some 10 biometric verification devices (BVDs) found at a recycling company in Madina were obsolete devices that had been legally auctioned to the company.

The Electoral Commission (EC) clarified that it has abandoned the refurbishment plan and instead decided to procure new equipment.

But it said the decision, aimed at ensuring resource efficiency and maintaining the integrity of electoral processes, involves replacing outdated 2012 equipment with modern infrastructure.

Addressing concerns about allegations of improper disposal of devices at a loss to the State, the Commission emphasised that the auction was conducted transparently.

The proceeds from the auction were duly deposited into the Consolidated Fund, as per their statement.