The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has recently engaged in a public dispute with IMANI Africa and its Honorary Vice President, Bright Simons, over what it perceives as persistent misinformation spread by the Civil Society Organization. Fred Tetteh, the Deputy Director of Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation at the EC, issued a statement addressing several accusations leveled against the Commission by Simons and IMANI Africa.
One of the key issues highlighted in the statement was IMANI Africa’s allegation that the Commission was acquiring new Biometric Verification Devices (BVDs) and Biometric Voter Registration devices (BVRs) unnecessarily. Tetteh clarified that the decision to procure new equipment was a response to the previous administration’s plan to refurbish outdated BVDs and BVRs for short-term use only, specifically for the 2018 Referendum and 2019 District Level Elections.
Additionally, Tetteh addressed previous allegations made by IMANI Africa in 2020, including claims about the cost of procuring BVDs and BVRs and doubts about the Commission’s ability to register voters within a specified timeframe. He pointed out instances where Bright Simons allegedly spread misinformation during the 2020 Voters Registration Exercise, including claims that obsolete BVRs from 2012 were being used for voter registration in Kumasi.
Tetteh urged the public to disregard statements from Bright Simons and IMANI Africa related to the Commission’s matters, asserting that they are false and misleading. This public confrontation underscores the importance of transparent communication between civil society organizations and electoral bodies, particularly in the context of election-related processes.
It also highlights the challenges faced by electoral commissions in managing public perception and addressing allegations of misconduct or misinformation. Moving forward, it is crucial for all stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue and uphold the integrity of electoral processes to ensure free, fair, and credible elections.
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