The Electoral Commission (EC) has denied selling voters’ information to a private software development company, Bysystems Limited.
Deputy Chairperson of the EC, Dr Bossman Asare revealed this on Fabewoso, the anti-corruption segment on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, Wednesday.
RELATED STORY: Fabewoso: EC sells voters’ data to private company – Auditor-General reveals
The sale of voters’ data has become topical in the media after an audit of some selected State institutions in 2018 by the Auditor-General.
The report said Bysystem bought the data from the EC and further sold it to a financial service provider.
This angered many who argued that the electoral body had flouted the Data Protection law in the country.
As an immediate measure, the Data Protection Commission has revoked the license of the software company pending investigations.
RELATED STORY: Fabewoso: Data Protection Commission revokes Bysystem license
But, Dr Asare, clarifying issues, said the EC has not given Bysystems access to the biometric data of Ghanaians.
Rather, he explained that, the software company is just a conduit banks use to verify voters identification cards used for transactions.
“We have not sold voters data so the Commission has not violated any law. Bysystems is given access when it wants to validate an identity,” he added.
The deputy EC Chairperson stressed that, there is no cause for alarm because voter information at the EC is very safe.
READ: Full list: Insurance, reinsurance and broking companies in good standing
Dr Asare said if after investigations it turns out that, Bysystem has violated any law, they would abrogate the contract.
But, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo Prampram constituency, Samuel Nettey George, said the EC erred in its decision to sell voters’ data.
He feared the electoral body may be hit with class action for selling their data without their authorisation.
The Ningo Prampram MP urged the EC to, as a matter of urgency, abrogate the contract with Bysystems and follow due process.
“The EC must admit they did wrong and we can help them remedy it,” he added..
Source: Ghana | Adomonline.com | Adwoa Gyasiwaa Agyeman
