Dr. Bossman Asare
The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has clarified reports claiming the disappearance of Biometric Verification Devices (BVDs) and reiterated that no BVDs are missing, contrary to assertions made by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to the EC, the only items that were stolen from their custody are five laptops.
Responding to concerns raised by the NDC regarding the alleged loss of seven BVD machines, Dr. Bossman Asare, the Deputy EC Chair in charge of Corporate Services, called for calm and assured the public that the theft of the laptops would not compromise the integrity of the upcoming 2024 elections.
The issue was brought to light by the Minority Caucus on Tuesday, March 19, with Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson urging the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Police Service to promptly investigate the matter of the purported missing BVD machines.
Speaking from the EC’s headquarters, Dr. Bossman Asare clarified that all biometric devices are securely stored, emphasizing the Commission’s preparedness for the December polls.
He assured the public that the missing laptops contained no sensitive information that could pose a risk to the electoral process.
“We are fully ready for the election and we can confirm that five laptops have been stolen, which do not contain any information about anyone. They do not contain information, so there are no risks,” Dr. Asare stated.
He also addressed the confusion surrounding the distinctions between BVDs and Biometric Voter Registration devices (BVRs), emphasizing that BVDs are used solely for verification during the voting process, while BVRs are employed for registration.
Dr. Asare highlighted the importance of connecting both devices for usage and assured that the theft of BVDs would render them inoperable.
He further reiterated the ongoing collaboration with law enforcement agencies to recover the missing laptops.
The EC’s reaffirmation of the security and integrity of its biometric devices and systems is aimed at providing clarity and assuage concerns ahead of the pivotal 2024 elections in Ghana.
By Vincent Kubi