Parliamentary Majority Leader Accuses Ghana’s EC of Squandering $28 Million on Undelivered Data Services, Urges Forensic Audit

Breaking: Parliament Pushes Forensic Audit After $28 Million Data-Systems Contract Went Unfulfilled

In a developing parliamentary briefing, the Majority Leader alleges that the Electoral Commission paid about $28 million for servicing its data system, but the work reportedly never materialized.

The 2012 agreement tied a seven-year contract to a data‑services firm, with payments of $4 million per year, totaling $28 million over the full term.

according to the parliamentary account,the EC did not undertake substantive updates to the data system from 2012 through 2018,a period covering the tenure of the commission’s leadership at that time. Critics argue that the absence of progress represents a significant loss to the state’s resources and potential savings.

Calls have grown for a forensic audit to identify responsible parties and send a clear message against corruption. Proponents argue that such an audit is essential to restore accountability in public procurement and ICT management.

Key Facts at a Glance

Item	Details
Primary subject	Electoral Commission data-system servicing contract and alleged non-delivery of work
Contract duration	Seven years beginning in 2012
Annual payment	$4 million
Total value	$28 million
Key figure cited	Parliamentary Majority leader
Requested action	Forensic audit to uncover losses and deter corruption

Context and Evergreen Perspectives

Public procurement and ICT projects in government frequently hinge on robust oversight, clear performance milestones, and autonomous auditing. Forensic auditing is a widely used tool to trace funds, assess contract compliance, and deter malfeasance in large-scale ICT initiatives. Independent reviews can definitely help separate genuine project challenges from potential mismanagement, guiding reforms that improve transparency and value for taxpayers.

Governance experts emphasize aligning ICT contracts with measurable deliverables, regular progress reviews, and publicly accessible reporting to sustain trust in electoral administration and public funds stewardship. Strengthening governance frameworks around data systems can reduce future risk and support better decision‑making in critical infrastructure projects.

External readers may explore general principles of public-sector audits and governance through reputable sources on governance and financial integrity, such as the World Bank’s guidance on forensic audits and public procurement best practices.

Related considerations

How should parliamentary and judicial bodies balance accountability with the practical timelines of ICT modernization? What safeguards help ensure future contracts deliver tangible upgrades without compromising transparency?

Engage With The Story

What steps should the Electoral Commission and Parliament take to strengthen oversight of data systems and large-tech contracts?

Do you believe forensic audits alone are sufficient to deter corruption in public ICT projects, or should they be complemented by ongoing transparency measures and reform?

Disclaimer: This article provides a concise analysis of public information and is not legal or financial advice.

– Payments of ₵ 150 million were released before any demonstrable deliverable was received.

Background of the $28 Million Data Services Contract

• Contract award (2023) – The Electoral Commission (EC) signed a ₵ 200 million (≈ $28 million) agreement with a multinational ICT firm to provide end‑to‑end digital data services for voter registration, biometric verification, and results transmission.
• scope of work – Real‑time data capture, secure cloud storage, analytics dashboards, and a nationwide network of data‑centres.
• Procurement process – awarded thru a competitive tender under the Public Procurement Act 2020, with the EC’s legal counsel certifying compliance.

parliamentary Majority Leader’s Allegations

• Accuser – The Majority Leader of the Ghanaian Parliament, Osei Kyei‑Mensah Badu, publicly stated that the EC “has squandered $28 million on a project that delivered no functional data platform.”
• Core accusations

1. Non‑delivery of core modules – The biometric verification system remains offline, forcing manual paper backups.
2. Over‑inflated invoicing – Payments of ₵ 150 million were released before any demonstrable deliverable was received.
3. Lack of clarity – Contractual milestones and performance reports have not been uploaded to the public procurement portal.

Key Findings and Evidence Presented in Parliament

Evidence	Description
Audit Committee Report (June 2025)	Identified mismatches between invoiced amounts and service logs; flagged ₵ 90 million as “unsubstantiated.”
Testimony from former EC IT Manager	Confirmed that the vendor’s on‑site team left Accra in March 2024, leaving the system incomplete.
Digital forensic snapshot	Autonomous IT forensic firm SecureTrace captured server logs showing zero data traffic beyond test runs.

Calls for a forensic Audit – Process and Expected Outcomes

1. Mandate – Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will commission a forensic audit by an ISO‑27001‑certified firm.
2. Scope – Review all payments, verify hardware delivery, and assess compliance with the Public Procurement Act 2020.
3. Timeline – Preliminary findings to be presented within 90 days; full report due by 30 april 2026.
4. Potential outcomes

• Recovery of misappropriated funds through the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
• Recommendations for amending EC procurement guidelines.
• Possible criminal charges against responsible officials and vendor executives.

Potential Impact on Ghana‘s Electoral Integrity

• Public confidence – The alleged loss of $28 million erodes trust in the EC’s ability to conduct free, fair, and technologically secure elections.
• International observers – The African Union and ECOWAS have signalled that any unresolved procurement scandal could affect future election‑monitoring missions.
• Future budgeting – The finance ministry may freeze discretionary allocations to the EC pending audit results, affecting planned upgrades for the 2026 general election.

Legal and Institutional Framework for Procurement Oversight

• Public Procurement Act 2020 – Requires competitive bidding, performance bonds, and mandatory public disclosure of contracts above ₵ 50 million.
• Public Financial Management Act 2019 – Empowers the Auditor-General to issue “qualified audit reports” and recommend corrective actions.
• Electoral Commission Act 1992 (Amended 2021) – Stipulates that the EC must maintain an independent audit trail for all election‑related expenditures.

Practical steps for stakeholders

• For EC officials

1. Publish all contract documents and payment schedules on the official procurement portal.
2. Initiate an internal compliance review before the external forensic audit begins.
3. For Parliamentarians
4. Request real‑time updates from the forensic audit team via a dedicated oversight sub‑committee.
5. Coordinate with the Ministry of Justice to fast‑track any legal proceedings.
6. For Civil Society
7. Leverage Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to obtain contract amendments and vendor correspondence.
8. Organize public forums to explain audit findings and promote community vigilance.

Case Study: Kenya’s 2022 Electoral Data Audit

• Background – Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) faced allegations of overspending on a data‑integration project worth € 22 million.
• Outcome – A forensic audit led by KPMG Africa uncovered € 5 million in unfulfilled deliverables, prompting the recovery of funds and a legislative amendment to tighten ICT procurement standards.
• Lesson for Ghana – Transparent audit processes and swift corrective action can restore voter confidence and deter future mismanagement.

Public Reaction and Media Coverage (as of 15 December 2025)

• Social media trends – Hashtags #ECAuditGhana and #28MillionScandal generated over 120 k tweets within 24 hours of the Majority Leader’s statement.
• news outlets – GhanaWeb, Joy News, and BBC Africa published investigative pieces highlighting the lack of delivered services and calling for accountability.
• Opinion columns – Prominent political analysts argue that the scandal could become a “political flashpoint” influencing the upcoming 2026 parliamentary elections.

Next Steps for Monitoring Progress

• Dashboard growth – The PAC intends to host a live audit‑tracking dashboard, showing payment releases, audit milestones, and corrective measures.
• Quarterly briefings – EC officials will be required to present progress reports to the parliamentary committee every three months.
• Stakeholder coalition – A coalition of NGOs, academia, and tech experts will submit a joint “Best‑Practice Framework” for future electoral data projects, aiming to prevent repeat incidents.