Disclosing BVR kit serial numbers will pose security risk – EC tells NDC
The Electoral Commission (EC) has rejected a request by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to release the serial numbers of the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits deployed for the limited voter registration exercise.
According to the EC acting Director of Public Affairs, Michael Boadu, disclosing the serial numbers to external entities could potentially jeopardize the security of the electoral system and its processes.
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In a statement released on Thursday, May 9, the EC said it has measures in place to ensure the transparency of the ongoing registration exercise and that it has nothing to hide.
“Releasing these serial numbers to any external parties, including political entities, poses a substantial risk to the security and integrity of our registration processes. That is why this has never been done since the biometric voting system was introduced in Ghana.
“The Electoral Commission has nothing to hide. It is important to note that the demand for serial numbers of BVRs if granted, could pose major risks to the security and integrity of our electoral system and operations. Prevention of such risks by declining this request, far outweighs any concerns and interests of individual stakeholders,” the statement said.
The NDC raised the issue at a press conference on Thursday.
NDC Chairman Asiedu Nketia said the EC’s refusal to provide serial numbers of the BVRs further enforces their suspicion that missing Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits could be used to illegally register voters.
He said this suspicion has influenced all the party’s preventive measures in preparation for the 2024 election.
“The NDC has always been suspicious that the stolen kits could be used to illegally register some people to add them to the voters register to enable them to vote on December 7, 2024. That remains our suspicion. “That underlines all the precautionary measures we are trying to take to forestall that one and give everybody peace of mind, including the Electoral Commission and the New Patriotic Party that is in power,” he said.
“Why is the EC resisting and stopping NDC registration agents from recording the serial numbers of BVR kits? The question is what does the EC have to hide.. what is their fear over the recording knowing very well that some have been stolen under their watch. We are saying let us track and protect those that are stolen and you are resisting, are you not part of thieves?” he questioned.
Below is the statement from the EC.
