“CARE” GHANA advocates for forensic audit of the EC’s assets

In a recent press release dated April 2, 2024, Care for Free and Fair Election Ghana, known as “CARE GHANA,” has voiced serious concerns about the accountability of the Electoral Commission (EC) in Ghana.

The organization, under the leadership of Executive Director David Kumi Addo, has called for a comprehensive forensic audit of all election equipment and assets owned by the EC across the nation’s sixteen regions.

A major issue highlighted by “CARE” GHANA is the EC’s failure to maintain proper records of its assets, leading to frequent replacements of election equipment and imposing a substantial financial burden on the Commission.

The 2021 Auditor General report underscored the absence of records for both movable and immovable assets, impeding the EC’s ability to provide a transparent account of its resources.

Of particular concern is the recent disappearance of seven biometric devices, casting doubt on the integrity of future electoral processes.

These allegations strike at the foundation of democracy, underscoring the critical need for a comprehensive investigation into the management of election equipment and assets by the EC.

Emphasizing the paramount importance of transparency and accountability in the electoral process, “CARE” GHANA has urged the Auditor General to conduct a forensic audit with the following objectives in mind:

1. Confirm or refute the alleged disappearance of the biometric devices and delve into the circumstances surrounding their absence.
2. Identify any additional missing items from the inventory of election equipment and assets.
3. Unearth any irregularities or deficiencies in the management and oversight of election equipment by the EC.
4. Propose corrective measures to avert future incidents of equipment loss or mismanagement and fortify the overall integrity of the electoral process.

“It is imperative that the results of the forensic audit are disclosed to the public to ensure transparency and rebuild public trust in the EC and the electoral process. The people of Ghana deserve a thorough and unbiased investigation into these allegations to uphold the principles of democracy,” the statement declared.

Source:Joseph Kobla Wemakor

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