- NDC wants provisional voter register released now.
- EC's delay blamed on incompetence and manipulation.
- NDC warns of potential anarchy if issue not resolved.
- Party seeks external oversight for credible elections.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is urging the Electoral Commission (EC) to release the provisional voter register for the December 7 general elections to political parties ahead of the exhibition exercise. According to the NDC’s Director of Elections, Dr. Omane Boamah, the delay in releasing the register is due to the EC’s incompetence and a deliberate attempt to provide a sub-standard register to political parties.
In a press statement, Dr. Boamah expressed deep concern that the EC’s actions could plunge Ghana into anarchy if not remedied immediately. The EC had requested that the NDC provide an external drive to load the provisional voter register, but despite submitting the drive and requesting additional information, the EC failed to honour its obligation.
The EC then surprised the NDC by stating that it would release the register on August 14, 2024, just six days before the exhibition exercise. However, the NDC has now been told that it will not receive the register until August 16, 2024, leaving only six days to scrutinize the register before the exhibition.
The NDC is concerned that the EC’s IT Department is dysfunctional and has refused to accept technical support from the UNDP. The party cites previous electoral issues, such as the chaotic 2023 District Assembly Elections and network failures during the Limited Registration Exercise, as evidence of the EC’s inefficiencies.
The NDC is calling on civil society organizations, religious bodies, and diplomatic missions to take an interest in the EC’s activities, as it believes the commission is not committed to delivering credible elections. The party demands that the EC release the provisional voter register immediately to ensure the sanctity of the electoral system and prevent any potential disturbances to the electoral roll.
