In a significant development this morning, the IMANI Center for Policy & Education has formally petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana for purported constitutional, statutory, and administrative violations concerning its actions in the recent “firesale of electoral equipment for scrap” scandal.

IMANI's Executive Director, Franklin Cudjoe, expressed grave concerns regarding the EC's handling of the nation's resources, labeling it as “misappropriation,” “wastage,” and “misuse.” The petition, addressed to CHRAJ, highlights the organization's belief that the EC's conduct in prematurely retiring and disposing of numerous electoral equipment, including laptops, digital cameras, printers, scanners, and fingerprint verifiers, may be driven by conflicts of interest and potential corruption.

The petition asserts that the EC's actions, including the disposal of equipment containing sensitive voter information, raise serious questions about transparency, accountability, and data protection. IMANI contends that the disposal process, allegedly conducted without requisite certifications and through undisclosed means, could compromise citizen safety and the integrity of future elections.

IMANI further challenges the narrative put forth by the EC regarding the obsolescence of the equipment, arguing that the portfolio of electoral devices comprises items purchased and refurbished at various intervals between 2011 and 2019, contrary to the EC's claims.

The petition also hints at possible referral of the matter to the Office of the Special Prosecutor for a specialized corruption risk assessment, emphasizing IMANI's commitment to transparency and accountability in public affairs.

The controversy dates back to 2020 when the EC initiated a procurement process for a new Biometric Voter Management System (BVMS), sparking criticism from IMANI over allegations of bid-rigging and inflated costs. Subsequent revelations of BVMS components being discovered in a recycling plant have intensified scrutiny of the EC's actions, prompting IMANI to call for a thorough investigation into potential breaches of public trust and legal obligations.