The National Democratic Congress (NDC), in collaboration with key Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), labour unions, faith-based organizations, and other stakeholders, has issued a resolute call for an immediate forensic audit of the 2024 Provisional Voters Register (PVR) and its accompanying IT system.
The National Democratic Congress in a communiqué, issued after a high-level meeting on September 23, 2024, with several CSOs, Labour Unions, among several others, at the Mikado Conference Center in Accra, emphasized that safeguarding Ghana’s democratic principles requires urgent and transparent actions to rectify the anomalies identified.
“During the review of the 2024 Provisional Voters Register, serious irregularities were uncovered, including unauthorized voter transfers, missing data, and deleted voter entries.
“These issues raise significant concerns about the credibility of the upcoming 2024 General Elections and could potentially disenfranchise large numbers of voters.”
Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, Director of Interparty and Civil Society Relations, NDC
Resolutions from the NDC and CSOs
In response to these findings, the NDC, together with its allies, outlined a series of urgent resolutions aimed at ensuring a free, fair, and credible electoral process.
These include a call for a Forensic Audit of the Voters Register and IT System. The NDC and its partners are calling for an immediate and independent forensic audit of the entire 2024 Provisional Voters Register, including the IT systems used for voter registration, data transfers, and backend processes.
This audit, they asserted, is critical to identifying and rectifying the anomalies that threaten the electoral process.
Formation of a Joint Task Force
To guarantee transparency, the communiqué proposed the formation of a joint task force comprising representatives from the Electoral Commission (EC), political parties, CSOs, and independent technical experts.
This task force, per the communique, would oversee the forensic audit, ensuring that it is conducted without interference or manipulation.
Public Disclosure of Audit Findings
The communiqué further called for the results of the forensic audit to be made public immediately upon completion. The NDC and its partners emphasized that transparency is key to restoring public confidence in the electoral process.
The EC was also urged to take swift corrective actions based on the audit’s findings, particularly regarding the restoration of deleted entries and the correction of unauthorized transfers.
Re-exhibition of the Voters Register
Following the forensic audit, the communiqué recommended that the EC re-exhibit the Voters Register for at least five days, allowing all registered voters to verify their information and ensure accuracy.
This process according to the communique should be supported by a strong public awareness campaign to maximize participation.
Correction of All Anomalies
Moreover, the NDC and its partners demanded that the EC address all identified discrepancies swiftly, including unauthorized transfers, missing data, and deleted voter entries.
The communique read that affected voters must be notified of these corrections to prevent disenfranchisement during the general elections.
Review of Electoral Timeline
Acknowledging the time required for a thorough forensic audit and re-exhibition process, the communiqué urged the EC to review the electoral timeline, if necessary.
“Adjusting the timeline will ensure that all necessary corrections are made, contributing to the credibility and fairness of the 2024 elections”, the communique read.
Engagement of International Observers
The NDC and its allies also called for the involvement of international electoral observers to closely monitor the forensic audit and other pre-election activities. This, they asserted, would ensure adherence to international electoral standards and guarantee impartiality.
Institutionalizing Electoral Accountability
Looking ahead, the communiqué recommended institutionalizing regular audits and verifications of the electoral roll and associated IT systems. Additionally, it called for continuous dialogue between the EC, political parties, and CSOs to promote transparency and accountability in future electoral processes.
Conclusion and Call to Action
The communiqué, signed by Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor on behalf of the NDC’s leadership and supported by other civil society leaders, reflects the collective determination of these organizations to protect the integrity of Ghana’s electoral system.
They argued that a forensic audit of the 2024 Provisional Voters Register and its IT systems is not only essential to preventing voter disenfranchisement but also crucial to restoring public trust in the democratic process.
The NDC and its partners urged the Electoral Commission to act on these resolutions swiftly in the interest of democracy and fairness.
“We remain committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure a transparent and credible electoral process,” the communiqué concluded.
This call for a forensic audit comes shortly after the Electoral Commission of Ghana rejected the NDC’s earlier request for a forensic audit, assuring the public of the register’s integrity ahead of the 2024 General Election.
In the letter, the EC explained that the Provisional Voters Register is a draft document subject to review and correction through an Exhibition Exercise, as provided by the Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2016, Constitutional Instrument (C.I.) 91, and its amendments.
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