Jean Adukwei Mensah, Electoral Commissioner
A leaked internal memorandum from the Electoral Commission (EC), under the leadership of Jean Adukwei Mensa, has exposed a troubling discrepancy regarding missing Biometric Verification Devices (BVDs), sparking allegations of a “culture of cover-up” by an independent watchdog group.
The controversy unfolded after Minority Leader Casely Ato Forson raised concerns about the reported theft of Biometric Verification Devices (BVDs), expressing apprehensions regarding their potential impact on the integrity of the upcoming December 7, 2024, general elections.
In response to the opposition’s claims, the EC vehemently denied any missing BVDs during a press conference on March 20, 2024, asserting that only five laptops were unaccounted for and that all BVDs were secure. However, an internal memo signed by EC’s Operations Commissioner Samuel Tettey contradicted this statement, revealing that 28 BVDs were yet to be returned to the Commission’s headquarters following the completion of the District Assembly elections.
The memo disclosed that ten regions had failed to return at least one verification device, casting doubts on the Commission’s transparency and accountability measures.
While some regions promptly returned their devices, such as Oti, Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, and Upper West, the memo underscored significant lapses in the retrieval process in other areas.
The revelation has spurred calls for an independent investigation into the handling of electoral equipment and prompted closer scrutiny of the EC’s internal protocols. Critics argue that the apparent discrepancy undermines public trust in the electoral process and raises concerns about potential vulnerabilities in election management systems.
As pressure mounts on the EC to address the issue, attention remains focused on the Commission’s ability to safeguard the integrity of future elections amidst growing skepticism and allegations of misconduct.
Bellow is the Memorandum:
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