Fulbright scholar to study verification machine used in Ghana’s 2012 polls

A political science professor at the Baldwin Wallace University, US, is set to study the use of biometric verification system used in Ghana’s 2012 elections.

Professor Thomas Sutton, who recently won a Fulbright Award, has received a grant that will fund the study.

“In his research, Sutton also plans to examine how Ghana deployed a high tech “biometric verification system” to match voter fingerprints at polling stations in the December 2012 national election,” the Baldwin Wallace University said in a statement.

According to the University, in spite of the cutting edge system, aimed at reducing fraud, the election results have been embroiled in a Ghana Supreme Court challenge claiming the polls were rigged in favour of the narrow winner.

Prof Sutton will be in Ghana from January – May 2014.

He will also conduct research into the parallels between recent presidential elections in Ghana and the United States.

“I’ve been told the people in Ghana closely followed the two election cycles here involving President Obama and that they were influenced by his campaign themes, particularly in 2008,” Sutton said.

Prof. Sutton indicated that Ghana has “really leapfrogged” the US in the use of technology in elections.

Prof Sutton will also teach three political history courses at Ghana’s University of Cape Coast.

The core Fulbright Scholar Programme sends a distinguished group of US faculty and professionals abroad each year to lecture and conduct research in a wide variety of academic and professional fields.

It is designed to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.”

The United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs administers the programme.

By Ekow Quandzie