The National Democratic Congress (NDC), through its Director of IT and Elections, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, has issued a strong call for a forensic audit of Ghana’s 2024 Provisional Voters Register.
This demand comes on the heels of key observations from an ongoing comparative analysis of the 2020, 2023, and 2024 voter registers, which Dr Omane Boamah asserted reveal significant discrepancies that could undermine the credibility of the upcoming December 2024 elections.
According to Dr. Omane Boamah, the party’s review of the voter registers has uncovered numerous irregularities, including the illegal addition of previous transfers into the 2024 voter list, the repetition of transferred names, and the identification of untraceable voter transfer paths.
“We had an engaging encounter with the Electoral Commission yesterday about the unfit-for-purpose voters register in a patriotic attempt to heal the register immediately through forensic audit. The Observations From The Register So Far: 243,540 Previous Transfers illegally added to 2024 Transfers, including Repetition of illegally Transferred names. 15,000+ Unidentifiable voter transfer paths (due to fake registration of voters???).
“Where were they originally registered? 3,957 voters in 2023 register but deleted from 2024 Provisional Register Due to Transfer 2,094 voters transferred to different polling stations but not found in Absent Voter List as required by Law”.
Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Director of IT and Elections, NDC
The party also identified corrupt files in the register, which failed to display names and photos of registered voters — a critical flaw that Dr. Omane Boamah warned could have devastating consequences if left unresolved on election day.
The Case for a Forensic Audit
Dr. Omane Boamah outlined the NDC’s rationale for a forensic audit, underscoring the need to assess the full extent of voter manipulation.
Specifically, he pointed to the case of the Electoral Commission’s office in Pusiga, where unauthorized transfers were made from the Tamale South constituency.
This incident, the NDC fears, could be part of a larger pattern of unlawful voter transfers across the country.
The NDC also sought answers regarding the vulnerabilities within the EC’s system— both human and technical — that allowed for these unauthorized actions.
The party questioned whether the EC’s remedial measures will be enough to prevent similar problems ahead of the December 7 elections.
Additionally, the NDC criticized the delayed provision of the Provisional Voters Register, describing it as an avoidable error that has hampered their ability to verify the register’s accuracy.
“The above Observations only constitute the tip of an iceberg! The giant rotten meat is underneath the sea. Thus, we have deliberately not been tempted to disclose why such massive derangement can afflict the voters’ register. But to technical minds, the answer is obvious! This being the case, we’re approaching this engagement with the Electoral Commission with tact”.
Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Director of IT and Elections, NDC
The Impact on Election Integrity
The potential impact of these issues on the 2024 elections cannot be overstated. According to Dr. Omane Boamah, the mistakes and irregularities identified could significantly affect the fairness and integrity of the upcoming polls.
He stressed that resolving these concerns is critical to ensuring that the election results accurately reflect the will of the people.
The NDC also raised questions about the EC’s historical comparisons, noting that the Commission has attempted to generalize the current situation by referencing errors made by past administrations.
The party’s Director of IT and Elections believes that these comparisons do little to address the immediate issues and called on the EC to provide a clear timeline for correcting the discrepancies in the voter register.
“What is the timeline for addressing these issues in order to derive a reliable, credible, accurate and fit-for-purpose voter register before printing of the registers, and other materials to commence as originally planned and agreed at IPAC?”.
Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Director of IT and Elections, NDC
Recommendations and Urgent Requests
As part of its recommendations, the NDC called for a five-day re-exhibition of the voter register following the forensic audit.
Dr Omane Boamah argued that this re-exhibition period would allow voters who feel disenfranchised to verify the accuracy of their information before the general election.
He also urged the EC to immediately convene an emergency meeting with key stakeholders, including political parties, civil society organizations, and the international diplomatic community, to discuss the concerns raised and initiate the forensic audit.
Upholding Democratic Integrity
In closing his remarks, Dr. Omane Boamah emphasized that the NDC’s criticisms of the Electoral Commission are not intended to undermine its work but to hold the Commission accountable for the integrity of Ghana’s electoral process.
He urged the EC to adhere to the highest standards of fairness, neutrality, and transparency, stating that the credibility of Ghana’s democracy is at stake.
The NDC remains steadfast in its position that a forensic audit is the only way to restore public confidence in the voter register and to ensure that the upcoming 2024 elections are free, fair, and reflective of the true will of the Ghanaian people.
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