- EC believes that the call for an audit of the voter register is premature
- The EC argues that established procedures and timelines are already in place
- The EC emphasizes that conducting an audit at this stage could disrupt ongoing preparations
The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has dismissed the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s call for a forensic audit of the voter register for the upcoming 2024 elections, describing it as premature.
The NDC has been vocal about perceived irregularities in the voter register and plans to stage a nationwide protest on September 17 after the EC refused to accept an independent audit of the register.
These demands intensified after the EC acknowledged that some district officers had illegally transferred votes, a situation the Commission claims to have rectified and penalized those involved.
The EC emphasizes that the current exhibition exercise is designed to address any issues with the provisional voter register before it is finalized for the December 7 elections.
During a press briefing on September 12, Samuel Tettey, the Deputy Chairperson responsible for operations at the EC, argued that a forensic audit is unnecessary at this stage. He pointed out that the exhibition process itself serves as an audit, providing an opportunity to identify and correct discrepancies.
Tettey highlighted that the NDC’s concerns about the provisional register are not unprecedented, noting that the purpose of the exhibition exercise is to correct such discrepancies, as it has done in the past.
He criticized the NDC for only recently showing interest in the register, suggesting they should have demanded a similar audit for the 2016 register, which included questionable entries like photos of plants and animals. He also pointed out that the voter register has never undergone an audit since 1992.
The Deputy Chairperson reiterated that the law provides for self-auditing through the exhibition exercise, where citizens can verify their details and report inaccuracies. The EC then corrects these discrepancies through established procedures.
Tettey argued that a forensic audit would not add value beyond the current processes and questioned who would address the discrepancies if an audit were conducted. He asserted that the EC is already addressing these issues effectively.
The Commission has urged the NDC and its presidential candidate to engage in dialogue rather than pursuing a demonstration, which could escalate tensions ahead of the elections.
