Curbing Election Fraud:

Cameroonian Engineer Proposes New Biometric Software

By Boris Esono and Bizel-Bi Mafor in Buea

CEO PEFSCOM System Ekombe Franklin Demonstrating how the new Biometric Voting System works

The Biometric software used by Cameroon’s Elections Governing Body, Elecam, is obsolete and unjust, according Computer Software Engineer, Ekombe Franklin Mbua, who is proposing a new and better software for the management of present and future elections in Cameroon.

                 Launching the system last Thursday February 8, 2018 in Buea amongst other products, Ekombe Franklin said the reason for creating the new software is because many people complain that their votes are not properly counted by the current biometric system employed by elecam, which also allows for dead persons to take part in elections.

                “The new system is able to detect whether or not someone has a valid card or not and it will also indicate whether or not the card had been used before. If it had been used before, the vote will not be counted. The system is able to register, proclaim the results in a matter of hours instead of having people count and proclaim which can take days”. 

                Quizzed on the issue of a duplicate registration, the CEO indicated that the system has been designed in a way that an individual cannot have duplicate account in his life. “A duplicate time system has been instituted. Hence a person cannot register in Buea and do same in Douala and expect to vote. It is virtually impossible”. “It is the same system that is in use with the GCE examinations where one can be detected if he/she has register in more than one center. In a case where a person has a duplicate registration, one account will be selected”. He added

                Speaking to the press shortly after the launch, Ekombe Franklin indicated that the system is very adaptable in a way that it can function even at late hours in remote areas. “If the system is fully charged, it can take you up to 12hrs. Since elections do not go past evening, the system basically just needs to be charged for ones and it can be used in any remote area in the country where there is no light and no network”.

He also indicated that he is now waiting for feedbacks from ELECAM officials as they loved the idea presented to them. “A pertinent query was asked by ELECAM on whether what they have done so far is going to be erased.    But we are just going to work from where they stopped and make it a better one”.

                To Oben Simon Besong, Managing Director “the aim is to transform manual systems which are plagued with a lot of disadvantages to computer based systems. The system has already been introduced in different spheres of life such as in the educational domain, visual teaching manual and others”. “The company intends to put vision 2035 at the forefront and will not slow its efforts to emerge before 2035”.

                The event saw in attendance the Regional Delegate of Arts and Culture, Grace Ewang, Principals of some educational establishments amongst others.

                It should be recalled that, the system introduced has undergone over 6 months of rigorous testing to make it free from any complications. Other applications equally launched include the Virtual Teaching and Learning (VTL) Program, Content Management System (CMS)and the Automated Tollgate System.

                Technology is the frontline of economic growth and with technology; we can achieve our set objectives.