[ 2016-11-21 ]

We’re not deploying faulty BVDs to NPP strongholds – EC
The Electoral Commission has refuted claims by the
New Patriotic Party that the commission intends to
deploy faulty Biometric Verification Devices
(BVDs) to the party’s strongholds for the
upcoming elections.

The NPP made the startling allegation at a press
conference alleging that the move by the
commission is to reduce their votes in the
party’s strongholds.

But a statement signed by the Head of
Communications at the EC, Eric Dzakpasu described
the allegation as untrue.

“…It is totally inaccurate for any political
stakeholder to claim that they have uncovered a
non-existent plot by the Commission to deploy
faulty machines to their strongholds.”

Below is the full statement by the EC

EC HAS NO PLAN TO DEPLOY FAULTY BVDs

We would like to assure the general public,
particularly those who are voting on December 7
that the Commission does NOT deploy faulty
Biometric Verification Devices (BVDs) for
elections. All our BVDs are fully tested to ensure
their optimum functionality before they are
deployed for electoral activities.

Therefore it is totally inaccurate for any
political stakeholder to claim that they have
uncovered a non-existent plot by the Commission to
deploy faulty machines to their strongholds.

For the avoidance of doubt, we would like to
repeat that on Election Day, we plan to do the
following:

The Commission will deploy 2 BVDs to each of the
28,992 polling stations across the country. In
total, the Commission is deploying over 70,000
well tested BVDs on Election Day.
The Commission has made provision for sufficient
backups at each of the 216 District Offices. These
will be deployed to any polling station which
would require them. As a result, we do not expect
any polling station to operate without a fully
functioning BVD.
All staff who would be operating the BVDs on
Election Day are currently undergoing rigorous
training to prepare them for the task ahead.
Additionally, 4 technicians will be deployed to
each of the 216 district offices to provide
technical support and rapid response to each of
the polling stations to deal with any unforeseen
technical challenges at any polling station within
the district on Election Day.
These same machines were used in all the
by-elections we have conducted since 2013 and the
district level elections in 2015 without any
challenge or complaints.
It had been agreed at IPAC that in case of failure
of any of the machines to verify a registered
voter, provision has been made for manual
verification of the voter in order not to
disenfranchise him/her.
Finally, we would like to urge any stakeholder in
the elections who claims to have “uncovered a
plot” to deploy malfunctioning BVDs to its
strongholds to make details of the said plot
available to the Commission to enable us take
preemptive actions to forestall its occurrence. It
does not help anyone to just put out such claims
in the media without providing any iota of proof.
We would like to emphasise that the ‘Special
Walk-in Service’ created by the Commission, is
an additional platform for the political parties
to table all their concerns and issues for urgent
discussion and resolution. We urge them to take
advantage of it for the good of the electoral
process.

Thank you.

Signed:

ERIC KOFI DZAKPASU

Head of Communications

Source - EC

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