The Member of Parliament for Tamale South Constituency, Honourable Haruna Iddrisu has called for a comprehensive forensic audit of the Electoral Commission’s (EC) biometric devices ahead of the December 2024 general elections.
The former Minority Leader, in an address in Parliament, emphasized the need for a technical audit to ensure the readiness and reliability of the biometric devices, which are crucial for the smooth conduct of the elections.
Addressing the Speaker of Parliament, the National Democratic Congress lawmaker, Hon. Iddrisu stressed the importance of verifying the state of all the biometric devices that will be used in the upcoming elections.
“Mr Speaker, the Electoral Commission has 75,000 Biometric devices which will be used for the purpose of the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections. Mr Speaker those biometric devices, we have to subject it to some technical audit. 1, to know the state of their batteries, 2 the state of their adapters and 3, the state of their readiness for elections on 7 December”.
Honourable Haruna Iddrisu, MP for Tamale South Constituency and former Minority Leader
Concerns about Device Readiness
Hon. Iddrisu expressed concerns about the operational readiness of these devices, particularly the functionality and reliability of their batteries and adapters.
His remarks underscored the critical need for transparency and preparedness, emphasizing that a malfunction on Election Day could compromise the integrity of the electoral process
He highlighted the potential risks associated with transitioning to a manual system if the biometric devices fail, an occurrence that could cast doubt on the election results.
“You don’t want a situation where on Election Day, 7th December, we are told that you should transit to a manual system. We want the system to work. The functionality and efficacy of these batteries are important”.
Honourable Haruna Iddrisu, MP for Tamale South Constituency and former Minority Leader
Financial and Logistical Gaps
Drawing attention to the logistical and financial shortcomings of the Electoral Commission, Hon. Iddrisu revealed that the EC may need to procure more than 5,000 new batteries to ensure all devices are operational.
He raised questions about the EC’s preparedness and the adequacy of its planning to ensure a smooth electoral process.
“I understand that they will need money to acquire more than 5,000 batteries; I mean, you cannot have devices of 75,000 and when you are acquiring batteries, you are talking of 5,000. It should be 20,000 or 25,000 or even half of it”.
Honourable Haruna Iddrisu, MP for Tamale South Constituency and former Minority Leader
Call for Parliamentary Oversight
In his address, the former Minority Leader, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu urged the Parliamentary committee responsible for the Electoral Commission to summon the Chairperson of the country’s electoral management body, Madama Jean Mensa to provide an update on the readiness of the biometric devices.
His call for oversight highlights the role of Parliament in ensuring that the EC is fully prepared for the elections, reflecting a commitment to transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
As Ghana prepares for the December 2024 general elections, he underscored the significance of the readiness of the Electoral Commission’s biometric devices, underscoring the importance of ensuring that all necessary equipment is functional and reliable.
His appeal to Parliament to hold the EC accountable serves as a reminder of the need for rigorous oversight to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process and maintain public trust in the democratic system.
The Minority Leader, Dr Ato Forson, in an earlier remark, raised serious concerns about the integrity of the upcoming elections,
He accused the Electoral Commission of failing to maintain a credible Voter Register, citing numerous irregularities and flaws that he claimed indicate possible tampering with the database.
“We cannot vouch for the integrity of the Voters Register as it stands,” he declared, calling for a comprehensive forensic audit to ensure transparency and fairness in the electoral process.
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