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In addition, the Commission's IT staff was not trained to use Biometric Recording Devices (BVD) and often relied on foreign suppliers to repair them at a huge cost.
Last year, she revealed that the foreign seller had pledged a whopping $ 4 million for the maintenance of the EC's biometric kits, noting that the contract signed by previous management with foreign sellers was unsustainable. and had exhausted the purse of the country.
The President of the EC stated the following when she led a delegation of Commissioners to pay a courtesy visit to the management of Peace FM, a subsidiary of the group of companies Despite the business group in Accra .
"Our biometric systems had already been controlled by foreign sellers and it was the worst thing that happened to a country and endangered its sovereignty," said the EC President.
The biometrics data of the election management body of Ghana is managed by Superlock Technology Limited (STL), an Israeli computer company, subcontracted to the previous management of EC Management for the maintenance of its software and software. data center equipment.
The visit aimed to create partnerships with key stakeholders and to support the implementation of the Commission's activities, particularly in the area of information dissemination.
The President of the BOI was accompanied by two of his two badistants: Mr. Samuel Tettey, Head of Operations and Mr. Eric Bossman Asare, Head of Internal Services.
The EC delegation was received jointly by Mr Fadda Dickson, Director General of DGC, Mr Kennedy Asante Osei, Director General of DGC and Mr Kwami Sefa Kayi, Moderator of Morning Show-Kokrokoo of Peace FM.
Ms Mensa noted that since foreign sellers controlled the EC's biometric system, they could reject the Commission's schedule for the organization of elections or a national exercise, which could jeopardize the electoral process of the country.
In this context, she stated that the Commission had begun to audit its systems and processes and had cleaned up 13,000 BVD to ensure the judicious use of resources to promote efficiency and to help anchor democracy. multipartite in the country.
Mrs Mensa explained during the taking up of the present EC management last year that events have followed one another. it responded to a US $ 56 million financial and technical proposal from its foreign suppliers for the renovation of the EC's biometric verification devices and data center.
She said that she had consulted the biometric specialist who had installed the Commission's IT infrastructure in 2011 for advice on the way forward.
After evaluating the old IT infrastructure, she said the IT specialist had told them the cost of the renovation was too expensive and unsustainable.
Moreover, biometric devices recommended by EC suppliers were obsolete, expensive and inefficient.
The consultant advised the Commission to proceed with a competitive tender in order to allow other companies with modern technologies to bid.
In these circumstances, the EC President gave the badurance that the Commission would opt for modern recording devices that could perform multiple functions, which is less expensive and more user-friendly than what had been recommended by the suppliers.
Ms Mensa also reported on some of the activities undertaken since taking office in August and some activities to be implemented in the coming months of the elections until 2020.
She badured that the EC would not prevent any eligible Ghanaian from exercising its right to vote and would at any time set up systems to promote democracy and defend the will and sovereignty of the people.
Mr. Tettey stated that the EC is putting in place the Chief Justice Committee to address its shortcomings and administrative failures in order to ensure more transparent and credible electoral processes.
Dr. Bossman Asare lamented the enormous costs of holding an election, claiming that EC had spent $ 12 per person during the election.
As a result, the Commission put in place measures to optimize resources, ensuring that the use of modern election technologies can save the nation $ 20 million.
Responding to former President Mahama's concerns that the EC President could rig the 2020 elections, Dr. Bossman Asare asked the former president, who is also a candidate for the NDC presidency, to not to fear because adequate structures were in place to promote fair, transparent and credible processes. elections.
Political party representatives were allowed to monitor processes, while the National Investigation Bureau, police personnel, civil society organizations and foreign observers enjoyed unhindered access to polling stations. , badembly offices and the printing of ballots. the electoral process.
He asked anyone with information about how an election could be rigged to help the election management body to stop it.
The President of the EC presented a copy of the EC election guidelines and activities to be implemented at the Peace Management FM management.
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