‘Items stolen are 5 laptops’ – EC insists amidst viral memo recalling BVDs
The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has strongly refuted rumors of theft at its stores, aside from the previously reported five missing laptops. In a statement dated Friday, March 22, 2024, the Commission reiterated that there have been “no thefts of BVDs from its stores.”
The statement was issued in response to a viral memo dated March 7, 2024, which instructed EC’s regional directors to facilitate the return of 28 Biometric Verification Devices (BVDs) from 10 affected regions after the 2023 District Level Elections (DLE).
The Commission clarified that the memo was part of routine internal asset reconciliation procedures aimed at ensuring accountability and the return of all electoral equipment, including BVDs, to the Commission’s custody.
Emphasizing its rigorous asset management system, the Commission underscored the importance of maintaining a transparent and accountable inventory of all its assets.
Regarding the missing laptops, the Commission reiterated that they are separate from the BVDs and do not possess the capability to affect the integrity or outcome of elections. The BVDs, integral to the electoral process, are designed with sophisticated security features, and without proper activation and official use within the electoral framework, they are essentially inoperative.
The Commission assured the public and stakeholders that the integrity of elections remains unassailable, and called for accurate and responsible information dissemination to prevent the spread of rumors that could undermine public trust in the electoral process.
