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A total of 40 vehicles were auctioned by the Electoral Commission in 2013 based on valuation of those vehicles by the State Transport Corporation ( STC) .

This was made known today when the Electoral Commissioner Mrs Charlotte Osei and some officials of the Commission appeared before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament to answer questions relating to the 2013, 2014 and 2015 report of the Auditor General.

According to Mrs Charlotte Osei staff of the Commission are also allowed to purchase some of the auctioned vehicles in line with the policy of the commission.

It was revealed that the immediate former Chairman of the Commission Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan purchased an auctioned Nissan Mini Bus with registration number GV 141 Z ( 2008 model) at Ghc 2,675.00

However Mrs Charlotte Osei could not immediately provide the committee information on the name of the Auctioneer engaged by the EC to auction the vehicles, the realizable value of the vehicles auctioned, the date on which the vehicles were auctioned and the date of advertisement of the auction.

The Commission according to the report raised only ¢83,000 from the auction of the 40 vehicles.

She promised to provide such information later to the committee.

On whether the Commission had a policy on auction, the Chairperson gave a back pass to her Deputy Amadu Sulley to answer because she was not present when the cars were auctioned and has not also auctioned any equipment ever since she was appointed in 2015.

Amadu Sulley intervened with the explanation that the unwritten auction policy was for the staff of the Commission to buy some of the disposed of vehicles as a way to motivate them.

Interestingly, a member of the Commission submitted a list of vehicles and beneficiaries of the auction in 2013, something that was not made available to the Auditor General when he was conducting the audit.

Per the list provided by the EC official, a number of vehicles bought in 2007 were auctioned at prices ranging from 1,000-3,000 cedis.

A Peugeot Boxer Mini Bus bought in 2007 at a cost of 96,015.94 was sold in 2013 at 3,745.00.

A Nissan Hard body Pick Up bought in 2007 at 18,483 were sold in 2013 at 1,926.00.

A number of staff also benefitted from the auction sale including former Chairperson, Kwadwo Afari Gyan.

Responding to a question on what the electoral commission does during its off season (when there is no major national election to be conducted) Mrs Charlotte Osei said the Commission organises training for its staff and engages in election activities outside the country among other activities.