The Electoral Commission (EC) has revealed findings from an ongoing investigation into unauthorised voter transfers.

The initial reports confirm that transfers were indeed effected for 38 individuals using the credentials of an EC official.

According to the Deputy Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) in charge of Corporate Services, Dr Bossman Asare these transfers were detected through audit logs in the Voter Management System (VMS), which showed that photos from voters' ID cards were used for facial verification to complete the transfers.

"Preliminary investigations by the Commission have revealed that voter transfers were indeed effected for 38 individuals using the credentials of an Electoral Commission Official. The records of those transfers are captured in the Voter Management System’s (VMS) audit logs.

"A look at the verification done during the transfer process shows that photos of the voters from their Voter ID Cards were used for facial verification and to effect the transfers," EC disclosed in a press briefing on Monday, September 2.

This follows reports some voters from two polling stations in the Tamale South Constituency and polling station in the Sagnerigu Constituency had been transferred to the Pusiga Constituency in the Upper East Region without their knowledge or consent.

Dr Asare stated that the voters involved in the Tamale South and Sagnerigu Constituencies incident have denied taking part in a transfer exercise.

He stated that they alluded that their Voter ID Cards were collected by one Haruna Muniru ostensibly for the processing of a loan.

• Real also: EC won’t bloat voters register for any party’s advantage – Dr Bossman Asare

According to him, while the EC does not currently have evidence to suggest that this practice is widespread, investigations are underway to determine if similar incidents occurred beyond the Tamale South and Sagnerigu constituencies.

Dr. Asare assured that "any such transfers will be reversed, and the perpetrators of such acts shall be dealt with according to the law."

As a result of these findings, the Commission has suspended the Pusiga District Electoral Officer and requested that he respond to the Commission's findings.

"Once the investigations are concluded, the Commission will take the appropriate action and inform the public accordingly," Dr. Asare stated.

The EC has also reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the integrity of Ghana’s electoral process, noting, that the Commission will not shield any of its officers, both permanent and temporary, found complicit in any electoral malpractices.

In response to this incident, the EC has introduced a new security feature known as a ‘liveliness check’ in the verification process. This measure is designed to ensure that biometric data is captured from a live, present human being, rather than a spoofed source such as a photograph, which was used in the reported case.

Dr Asare added that "The ‘liveliness check’ has been built into the system to prevent any future occurrences of this nature."