Ghana: Group wants EC to come clean on STL role in 2012 elections

In the face of fresh evidence, election observation body (Coalition of Domestic Election Observers) CODEO, says the Electoral Commission (EC) needs to confirm or deny a claim that it contracted an IT company, Superlock Technologies Limited (STL), to transmit election results.

Although the Commission denied this, at least, three years ago, Interior minister Prosper Bani last Tuesday released a statement which said the EC has contracted STL to transmit tallied election results.

The fresh claims have left CODEO worried, National coordinator, Albert Arhin, has told MultiTV/Joy FM’s new analysis show Newsfile.
“They need to clarify the issues….it borders on transparency and accountability” he expressed concern.

In December 20012, the role of STL came into sharp focus when the NPP accused the Electoral Commission of secretly engaging STL for election results transmission.
The then EC Chairman, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, on December 8, 2012, dismissed the allegation.

“We wish to state emphatically that no such engagement has been made, neither is the Commission doing electronic transmission of results,” Dr. Afari-Gyan.
But Prosper Bani’s revelation categorical statement has left political observers wondering if it was a slip.

CODEO says it has never known STL to play any role in any election adding that in a normal arrangement, results are sent from the polling stations to the constituency centers where it is collated.

According to Mr. Arhin, the collated results are then sent to the regional office and later forwarded to the national head office of the Electoral Commission.

“So if there is anything contrary to this normal arrangement then it ought to be explained to Ghanaians to know exactly what happened”, he said.

He said the integrity of the EC is at stake if it leaves questions surrounding its relationship with STL unclarified. He added that STL’s contract with the EC is to supply and install ICT software and products, which officials of the Electoral Commission are to use for the elections.

This he said suggests that STL will not have direct control of the process as it is to supply ICT products, which are to remain the property of the Commission.

“The Electoral Commission has never transmitted polling station results to any other place for presentation to the headquarters. Maybe this is the first time they are trying to transmit results”, said Mr. Arhin who is an ex-worker at the Commission.

Source: myjoyonline