Dr. Serebour Quaicoe
The Director of Electoral Services at the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Serebour Quaicoe, has defended the commission’s decision to auction obsolete Biometric Verification Devices (BVDs), following scrutiny from the IMANI Center for Policy and Education.
The controversy arose after ten BVDs were found at a recycling facility in Madina, prompting calls for an investigation into the auction process.
Despite the concerns raised by IMANI Africa’s President, Franklin Cudjoe, Dr. Quaicoe reaffirmed that the auctioning of the BVDs was carried out lawfully, with approval from the Ministry of Finance.
In a Face to Face interview on Citi TV, Dr. Quaicoe explained the steps taken by the EC to dispose off the outdated equipment in accordance with regulations.
Dr. Quaicoe clarified that the obsolete BVDs and Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) devices were phased out before 2020 when the commission acquired new technology. After receiving permission from the Ministry of Finance to dispose off the outdated equipment, the EC engaged six auctioneers through a competitive process, with a recycling company in Oyarifa eventually purchasing the BVDs.
Addressing concerns about the legality of the auction process, Dr. Quaicoe emphasized that the State valuer assessed the items, approval was obtained from the finance ministry, and all funds generated from the auction were deposited into the Consolidated Fund.
He underscored that the EC followed due process and conducted the disposal in compliance with established procedures.
Dr. Quaicoe asserted that the EC is unperturbed by the recent scrutiny, stating, “We’re not worried because we have not committed any offence. The documents are there.”
“I want to put on record that the BVDs and BVRs were those which were used before 2020, we acquired new ones. So, once we acquired new ones, these ones were obsolete, we’re not using them. They were still occupying space, so the Commission wrote to the district valuer, STC, they did the evaluation of all the materials, and we have documentation to that effect.
“We sent permission to the Ministry of Finance seeking permission to dispose of. They also replied and gave us the permission to go ahead. The Commission interviewed six auctioneers and one of them was picked. And a little recycling company bought them located at Oyarifa, they have EPA approval to do all those things. The auctioneer advertised it, look for February 1, 2024, Daily Graphic.”
The Commission remains resolute in its stance that the auction of the BVDs was conducted transparently and in accordance with the law, dismissing claims of misappropriation of state resources.
The unfolding controversy surrounding the auctioning of the Biometric Verification Devices highlights the need for transparency and accountability in the disposal of government assets, prompting further scrutiny into the procedures followed by public institutions in such transactions.
By Vincent Kubi