- Dr. Arthur Kennedy alleges Ghana's voter register is inflated
- Procedural errors cited, including outdated registration methods
- - Lack of live biometric data verification blamed for discrepancies
A political activist and physician, Dr Arthur Kennedy, has raised serious concerns about the integrity of the voter registration process, claiming that the current voter’s register is bloated.
According to him, the number of registered voters appears uneven when compared to the overall population.
He pointed to procedural errors in the registration process, suggesting that the use of outdated methods, such as relying on unconnected laptops exacerbates the problem.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on September 18, he said, “I can tell you that the register is bloated because if you look at the population and the percentage of the population that is registered, it looks as if our register is too large.”
“Procedural errors are inflating the voter register,” Dr. Arthur Kennedy warns. He explains that using unconnected laptops without live biometric data can lead to discrepancies. “Registration should happen dynamically, with biometric measures applied in real-time, to prevent errors,” he suggests.
Dr. Arthur Kennedy has raised concerns that the current voter register may be inflated, implying that some individuals might be benefiting from these discrepancies. He emphasized that the Electoral Commission (EC) should not be tasked with auditing its own work.
Kennedy explained, “It seems like there are people who benefit from this, which is why it continues. In fairness to the EC, it has a vested interest in protecting its results. It’s like a student asking the same teacher who graded their exam to re-evaluate it; ideally, a different person should do the reassessment.”
He concluded by advocating for independent oversight, stating, “It’s in everyone’s interest to have impartial individuals review this to ensure trustworthy results.”
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is protesting against the Electoral Commission (EC), calling for an audit of the voter register ahead of the December elections. The party asserts that there are numerous irregularities in the register that could jeopardize a free, fair, and credible election.
These demands follow the EC’s acknowledgment of the transfer of illegal votes in the Pusiga District of the Upper East Region. While the EC claims to have addressed the anomalies in the register, it has declined the NDC’s request to provide evidence by sharing a copy of the corrected provisional register or re-exhibiting it.
