As part of its EnoughIsEnough nationwide protest, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has formally petitioned the Electoral Commission (EC) to conduct an urgent forensic audit of the Provisional Voters Register (PVR) and its Information Technology (IT) system.
The petition, signed by NDC National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, outlined grave concerns over alleged irregularities and unauthorized manipulations within the PVR, which the party believes could severely compromise the credibility of the upcoming elections.
The petition, addressed to the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, highlighted significant discrepancies in the register, suggesting deliberate efforts to manipulate voter data, which, if left unaddressed, pose a direct threat to the integrity of the December 7, 2024, General Elections.
“We, representing the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the main opposition political party in Ghana, hereby present this petition to your office regarding alarming irregularities, discrepancies and unauthorised manipulations discovered in the 2024 Provisional Voters Register.
“These irregularities pose a significant and immediate threat to the credibility of the 2024 General Elections. We demand that the Commission takes swift action to preserve the integrity of Ghana’s democratic process and ensure the stability and security of the nation”
Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, National Chairman, NDC
The NDC contended that the credibility of the election process is at stake, and called on the EC to take immediate corrective measures to safeguard Ghana’s democratic process.
Irregularities Uncovered in the Provisional Voters Register
The NDC’s petition detailed several critical issues it discovered during its examination of the PVR. Among the most alarming is the revelation of 243,540 unauthorized voter transfers, many of which the party claimed occurred without the knowledge or consent of the affected individuals.
The petition raised serious concerns about how these transfers were approved and whether there was collusion within the EC’s IT system to enable such manipulations.
Another issue raised is the existence of 15,000 untraceable voter transfer paths, a development that suggests potential voter registration fraud.
This according to the party is compounded by the theft of Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) equipment from the EC Headquarters, which the NDC believes may be linked to the fraudulent registration of voters.
Furthermore, the National Democratic Congress alleged that nearly 4,000 voters, who had been registered in 2023 were reportedly deleted from the 2024 Provisional Register without explanation.
“Misplaced Voter Transfers: Approximately 2,094 voters were transferred to different polling stations but were not reflected in the Absent Voter List”, the petition stated.
The party also identified corrupted data files, including missing names and photographs of registered voters, which it argued could disenfranchise voters on election day.
Electoral Commission’s Response: Admissions but Insufficient Action
While the EC has acknowledged some of these errors, notably during a press conference on September 2, 2024, the opposition NDC noted that the Commission has yet to undertake a forensic audit or engage key stakeholders to resolve these issues.
The NDC asserted that the EC’s delay in releasing the PVR ahead of the Voter Exhibition Exercise – providing the register just hours before the exercise was set to begin – significantly hindered its ability to scrutinize the register effectively.
According to the petition, during September 2, 2024, EC’s press conference, Dr. Bossman Asare, Deputy Chairman of the EC, admitted to illegal voter transfers but assured the public that these issues could be rectified.
However, the NDC vehemently disagreed, arguing that the scale of the discrepancies requires a comprehensive forensic audit rather than piecemeal corrections.
“The NDC’s observations and analysis, grounded in verifiable data, reveal significant flaws in the Provisional Voters Register. During a press conference on 2nd September 2024, the Electoral Commission acknowledged some of these errors. However, the Commission has failed to conduct a necessary forensic audit to fully assess the scope of these irregularities”.
Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, National Chairman, NDC
Key Demands from the NDC
In its petition, the NDC outlined several demands aimed at ensuring transparency and restoring public confidence in the electoral process. Key among these demands is the call for an independent forensic audit of the PVR and the EC’s IT system.
The NDC argued that such an audit is essential to uncover the full extent of the unauthorized voter transfers, data corruption, and other irregularities.
The party further called for the publication of the audit’s findings to guarantee transparency.
The NDC also demanded that the EC hold a stakeholder meeting involving political parties, civil society organizations, and international bodies such as ECOWAS and the AU to oversee the audit process.
Additionally, it called for a re-exhibition of the voter register for five days after the audit to allow affected voters to verify their details.
Lastly, the NDC insisted that the timelines for the electoral process be revised to accommodate the audit and re-exhibition process without affecting the December 7, 2024, election date.
This, the party said, is crucial to ensuring that the election is held on a fair and credible footing.
Potential Impact on Ghana’s 2024 General Elections
The NDC’s petition raised serious concerns about the implications of these irregularities on the 2024 General Elections.
The party believes that failure to address these issues could lead to widespread voter disenfranchisement and could undermine the legitimacy of the election results.
The petition warned that Ghana’s democratic stability could be at risk if the EC does not act swiftly to rectify the situation.
Given the gravity of the situation, the NDC expressed disappointment at the EC’s refusal to permit a live broadcast of the party’s findings on the PVR, which it believes would enhance transparency.
The party further criticized the EC for holding press conferences without allowing the media to ask questions, a move the NDC claimed was intended to conceal the truth from the public.
The petition was copied to the Majority Leader, and Minority Leader of the Parliament of Ghana, Civil Society Organizations in Governance, Diplomatic Communities and Foreign Missions in Ghana.
As Ghana approaches the 2024 General Elections, the integrity of the electoral process has become a critical point of contention.
The NDC’s petition underscores the party’s concerns about potential manipulation of the voter register, which it views as a serious threat to the country’s democracy.
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