The decision of the Electoral Commission (EC) to auction off outdated Biometric Verification Devices (BVDs) has been defended by Dr. Serebour Quaicoe, Director of Electoral Services.

After ten BVDs were found at a recycling facility in Madina, the IMANI Center for Policy and Education demanded an inquiry into the BVD auction.

Franklin Cudjoe, the President of IMANI Africa, maintains that the Electoral Commission’s explanation that the BVDs were out-of-date and legally auctioned is insufficient. He claims that these actions amount to misusing public funds and demands an inquiry.

The finance ministry gave them permission to auction their outdated equipment, including the BVDs, according to Dr. Quaicoe, who made this statement in a Face to Face interview on Citi TV. He also said they followed the law.

He explained that the recycling company at Madina, one of the six auctioneers, was chosen through an interview process, and that the auction was duly publicized in the Daily Graphic.

“I want to put on record that the BVDs and BVRs were those which were used before 2020, we acquired new ones. So, once we acquired new ones, these ones were obsolete, we’re not using them. They were still occupying space, so the Commission wrote to the district valuer, STC, they did the evaluation of all the materials, and we have documentation to that effect.

“We sent permission to the Ministry of Finance seeking permission to dispose of. They also replied and gave us the permission to go ahead. The Commission interviewed six auctioneers and one of them was picked. And a little recycling company bought them located at Oyarifa, they have EPA approval to do all those things. The auctioneer advertised it, look for February 1, 2024, Daily Graphic.”

“Not at all, State valuer assessed it, we wrote to the finance ministry, approval was given, and the items were valued,” the EC said in response to a question about whether the process of getting rid of the machines had broken any laws.

“They did interviews and the auctioneers auctioned the items. All the money generated was paid into the Consolidated Fund. We went through the legal means.”

He went on to say that because they have not broken any laws, the commission is not concerned about the controversy surrounding the auctioneering.

“We’re not worried because we have not committed any offence. The documents are there.”