Election 2024: What about cyber threats? — Kwesi Pratt reiterates Akata Pore's alarm over EC’s IT vulnerabilities

Veteran journalist Kwesi Pratt Jnr has raised concerns about the Electoral Commission’s (EC) preparedness to address potential cyber threats during the upcoming December 7, 2024, elections.

Speaking on Metro TV's Good Morning Ghana, Pratt criticized the focus on physical security measures while digital vulnerabilities remain unaddressed.

Highlighting past incidents, Pratt noted that Ghana's previous elections faced instances of digital interference, making it very important to safeguard the integrity of the EC’s IT infrastructure.

“What about cyber threats? We do know that in some of the elections, the equipment of the EC was jammed. It is not just about physical security or the threats at polling stations. What about the damage which can be done in space?” he queried.

Pratt emphasised the warnings issued by retired Ghanaian army officer and Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) member Sergeant Daniel Alolga Akata Pore (rtd), now an IT expert, who has repeatedly flagged the EC's IT system vulnerabilities.

According to Pratt, Akata Pore has submitted petitions to both the EC and the Data Protection Agency without any response.

“Over the last two months, Akata Pore has been raising several issues about the security of the EC's IT system. He has written petitions, but there has been no response. This should be a priority,” Pratt emphasized.

He further urged the EC to act swiftly by consulting IT security experts to address any weaknesses in its systems, particularly given the prevalence of misinformation and the potential for disruptions in the digital space.

With just two days to the polls, the veteran journalist stressed that “it’s not too late to bolster the nation’s electoral system against cyber threats.”