No Biometric Verification Device has been stolen – Electoral Commission

The Electoral Commission has said that the allegation by the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson that seven Biometric Verification Devices (BVDs) have been stolen is not true.

On Tuesday, March 19, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson indicated that the EC confirmed to them about the missing seven BVDs cannot be identified.

The minority leader has since called on the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies to “immediately issue a statement giving us the details of their investigations so far,” adding, “I am concerned and worried because that devices in the hands of an unknown person can compromise the future elections”.

But addressing the press in Accra on Wednesday, March 20, a Deputy Commissioner at the EC, Dr Bossman Asare said “These allegations are not true. No BVD has been stolen. To set the records straight, the Commission recently undertook routine servicing of its Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) Kits. It was during this maintenance that we discovered the theft of five (5) laptops from the Biometric Voter Registration kits, not seven BVDs as erroneously stated.

“For clarification, Biometric Voter Registration Kits, which comprise a laptop, camera, scanner, and printer, are entirely separate from the Commissions Registration Data Systems and are incapable of manipulating election outcomes as suggested. These kits, though crucial for voter registration, require specific activation to function accordingly. Without such activation, they serve no purpose beyond their individual components as a laptop, camera, scanner, or printer. What this means is that, they are of no value beyond what they were manufactured to be.

“Similarly, the stolen laptops, cannot be utilized for voter verification or registration. It remains just a laptop. As such, they cannot be used to compromise our systems and
undermine the credibility of the upcoming elections in December 2024. The integrity of our systems and elections remain intact. Again there seem to be some confusion as to the use of our equipment. It’s imperative to understand that the Commission utilizes two (2) distinct equipment for its operations: the Biometric Voter Registration kits which is used for voter registration and the Biometric Verification Devices to verify voters using their fingerprints or facial features on election day. These devices, in isolation, cannot fulfill the functions of registration or verification without proper activation.

“It is important to note that at the completion of every registration exercise, all data captured are erased from the laptops in a process termed ‘End of Life’. As such, we assure
the public that the stolen laptops contain no sensitive or valuable data. Consequently, the theft bears no impact on the integrity of upcoming elections, nor does it serve any political
agenda as insinuated. Upon detection of the theft, the Commission promptly notified security agencies involved in the maintenance process, and investigations are actively ongoing to apprehend and prosecute the suspects. The Commission places high value on its assets including the Biometric Voter Registration Kits and Biometric Verification devices hence its continuous reliance on the Police and other security devices to protect all its installations.

“The Commission urges public figures and citizens alike to exercise due diligence by verifying information before dissemination. This responsibility is paramount to maintaining
public trust and preventing unwarranted fear or panic. The Electoral Commission remains committed to upholding the highest standards of transparency and integrity in its
operations and elections.”