In a sharp and unrelenting critique, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, the Director of IT and Elections for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has criticized the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) over its repeated failure to release the Provisional Voter Register (PVR) ahead of the upcoming exhibition exercise.
With only four days left before the start of the exhibition of the voter register, Dr Boamah did not mince words in his condemnation of the EC’s actions, describing the commission as “incompetent” and highlighting the profound implications of its failure to meet essential electoral deadlines.
“Can you imagine? with only four (4) days to the start of the Exhibition of the voter register, the Electoral Commission of Ghana as at this morning is STILL NOT ready to release the Provisional Voter Register to Political Parties after a series of disappointments?”.
Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Director of IT and Elections of NDC
The delay, according to Dr. Boamah, is not just an administrative oversight but a significant threat to the integrity of the 2024 elections.
He argued that the voter register is a critical document that ensures transparency and fairness in the electoral process, adding that any delays in its release hamper the ability of political parties to scrutinize the register, potentially leading to issues of disenfranchisement and electoral malpractice.
EC’s BVR Kits Brouhaha
Furthermore, Dr Boamah underscored that this is not the first time the EC’s actions—or lack thereof—have raised concerns.
He pointed to a troubling incident where Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits were stolen from the EC headquarters, despite being under CCTV surveillance.
According to him, this incident, which remains unresolved, led the opposition National Democratic Congress to request an investigation into the Electoral Commission’s operations.
However, the Director of IT and Elections of the opposition National Democratic Congress expressed disappointment over the Parliament of Ghana’s failure to act on the party’s request, further compounding the frustrations of the NDC and other concerned citizens.
Given the gravity of these issues, Dr Boamah hinted at a more direct approach to holding the Electoral Commission of Ghana.
The former Minister of Communications under the erstwhile NDC and Mahama’s administration concluded his remarks by admonishing the Electoral Commission to release the provisional voter register for the 2024 general elections.
“EC, RELEASE THE PROVISIONAL VOTER REGISTER NOW!”, Dr Omane Boamah emphasized.
The urgency of Dr Omane Boamah’s call reflects the high stakes of the upcoming elections and the critical need for a transparent and accountable electoral process.
Meanwhile, Dr Serebuor Quaicoe, the Director of Training at the Electoral Commission (EC), in a earlier statement, reassured Ghanaians that the commission is operating within the legal framework set by the Constitutional Instrument (CI) 91, regarding the compilation of the provisional voters’ register.
In an interview, Dr. Quaicoe explained that according to Regulation 22 of CI 91, the EC is mandated to compile the provisional register within 90 days after the data collection from the registration process.
He emphasized that the EC is adhering to this legal requirement, noting that the data collection process concluded on August 3, 2024.
He further elaborated that while the EC had not initially planned to conduct a mop-up registration, the decision to do so necessitated a delay in the compilation of the provisional register.
“Once we decide to do the mop-up, it means that we have to complete the compilation before we can give the list out, and as I said, as far as the law is concerned, we have 90 days after compilation,” he noted.
Addressing concerns from political parties and other stakeholders, Dr Quaicoe acknowledged that the EC had communicated earlier deadlines for releasing the provisional register.
Meanwhile, the EC has announced that the Voters Exhibition Exercise will commence on August 20, 2024, and conclude on August 27, 2024.
This critical phase of the electoral process allows citizens to verify their details in the voters’ register and confirm their eligibility to vote in the upcoming general elections.
READ ALSO: The Multifaceted Nature of Songs: Purpose, Preference, and Target Audience
