Audit Electoral Commission's IT systems - Africa Centre for Digital Transformation

The Africa Centre for Digital Transformation (ACDT) has urged stakeholders, including political parties and civil society groups, to demand a comprehensive forensic audit of the Electoral Commission of Ghana's (EC) IT systems ahead of the 2024 general election. 

In a press statement released on Monday, the ACDT expressed concerns over the security of the EC's digital infrastructure, warning that its reliance on external individual IT consultants puts the election’s security at risk.

The ACDT highlighted the growing global threats of cyberattacks and pointed to specific evidence of cyber vulnerabilities affecting electoral bodies worldwide, including the Electoral Commission of Ghana. 

The group believes that a forensic audit is essential to identifying potential weaknesses in the EC’s systems, ensuring they are free from unauthorized access, and safeguarding the integrity of the 2024 election.

"Given the increasing digital threats, ensuring the transparency, security, and integrity of the EC's IT systems is crucial for public trust and the credibility of the upcoming election," the statement read. The ACDT noted that any doubts surrounding the electoral process could destabilize the country's socio-political landscape.

The press release also expressed concerns about the EC’s continued reliance on external individual IT consultants to manage critical technological functions. The ACDT argued that this practice undermines the development of local IT expertise and poses significant risks to data security. "Outsourcing this responsibility to external individuals exposes critical data to unnecessary risks, including potential breaches of data privacy," the ACDT warned.

In addition, the group pointed out the financial burden associated with hiring external consultants, which could strain the national budget. They advocated for a shift in strategy towards building internal IT capacity within the EC, urging the development of local talent to ensure the sustainability and security of Ghana’s electoral processes.

The ACDT’s concerns come after the EC, in a press statement issued on September 25th, acknowledged discrepancies in the Provisional Voter Register (PVR), citing "network errors" during data extraction. However, the EC assured the public that the errors were corrected during the exhibition process and would not affect the final voter register.

With just 60 days until the election, the ACDT called on the EC to prioritize addressing these discrepancies and to take swift action to implement a forensic audit of its IT systems. The group stressed that the audit is necessary to restore public confidence in the electoral process and protect the integrity of the upcoming polls.

In its recommendations, the ACDT urged the EC to invest in local IT talent, strengthen internal IT capacity, and enhance transparency in its data protection measures. 

"Elections are the cornerstone of democracy, and public confidence in the process is non-negotiable," the ACDT stated, calling for unity among stakeholders to ensure that Ghana’s electoral systems remain secure and trustworthy. 

The press statement concluded with a call to all political actors to support this initiative, emphasizing that the future of Ghana’s democracy depends on a robust and transparent electoral process.

Read the entire statement below;