NDC calls for audit of Electoral Commission’s operations ahead of December 7 elections

Head of the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC), legal team, Edudzi Tameklo, has raised concerns regarding the integrity of the electoral processes leading up to the 2024 elections in Ghana pertaining to the missing BVDs.

Tameklo emphasized the necessity of conducting a thorough audit of the Electoral Commission’s activities, particularly focusing on the procurement and handling of crucial election equipment. He highlighted the significant investment made by the Commission in 2020, totaling $74 million, for the creation of a new voter register.

According to Tameklo, this included the purchase of specialized machines and software crucial for the electoral process.

“These machines you don’t just buy them off the shelf, they are specifically configured, and the other thing is that, the electronic election management software allows you to even configure polling stations, constituency names, region among others, all into the software. And so it is not just machines, but even laptops. What’s the level of data protection? Because these are individual data on these machines. So, we need to find where they are, so we are clear in our minds that they are not compromised. That’s all we are asking for,” Tameklo stated in an interview on 3FM Sunrise Morning Show with Johnnie Hughes and Helen Appiah-Ampofo, on April 22.

Expressing skepticism about the Electoral Commission’s ability to safeguard election materials, Tameklo raised questions about the whereabouts of 28 Biometric Verification Devices (BVDs) and other crucial equipment. He stressed that without assurance of the equipment’s safety, it’s difficult to trust the overall integrity of the electoral process towards the 2024 elections.

“My answer is a no to the integrity of the processes that the Electoral Commission is putting together towards the 2024 elections. I have no believe. Because all these outstanding matters where are the machines? 28 BVDs where are they? Whose responsibility is it to keep these things where they are? These are physical materials. Now what more integrity is there?” he asserted.

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Tameklo also urged relevant stakeholders, including the Peace Council, the Council of State, and diplomatic missions with vested interests in Ghana, to heed their call for an audit.

“I want to encourage the Peace Council, the Council of State, the various embassies, the various missions with vast interest, both investment and what have you in this country, to as it were wake up to this call. We do not want a situation where we will get to the point where we say had I known,” he said.

He also emphasized that the cost of conducting such an audit, pales in comparison to the potential consequences of compromised election processes.

“The 2024 election is of utmost importance, and there can be no room for compromise,” Tameklo declared.

“We cannot afford to reach a point where we regret not taking action. Transparency and accountability must be upheld to ensure a credible electoral process,” he said.

Tameklo reiterated the NDC’s firm stance on the matter, emphasizing that they will continue to push for transparency and integrity in the electoral process leading up to the 2024 elections.

By Joselyn Kafui Nyadzi