Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, the Director of Elections and IT for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has strongly refuted the Electoral Commission’s (EC) assertions that the discrepancies in the 2024 Provisional Voters Register have been addressed.
Dr. Omane Boamah contended that the Electoral Commission’s failure to take decisive action could enable those tampering with voter data to persist unchecked, thereby jeopardizing the integrity of the upcoming election.
He voiced concerns that with the election quickly approaching, the EC’s delays in fully resolving these discrepancies could make it impossible to correct the voters register in time.
He emphasized that “Time is of the essence,” underscoring the urgency of addressing these issues.
“When your roof is leaking, you can choose to mop continuously, or you can decide to fix the leak and then mop. What we see here is the EC mopping and mopping [referring to the EC’s PowerPoint presentation], without addressing the core issue.”
Dr. Edward Omane Boamah
Dr. Omane Boamah reaffirmed the NDC’s call for a thorough audit of both the 2024 voter register and the Electoral Commission’s IT system, stressing the need for complete transparency and accuracy.
He emphasized that such an audit is crucial for restoring public confidence in the electoral process and ensuring that no tampering with voter data can undermine the credibility of the upcoming election.
According to Dr. Boamah, this comprehensive review would not only address current discrepancies but also serve as a safeguard against any future attempts to manipulate the system.
“Fixing the leakage is missing, and this is at the heart of our altruistic demand for a forensic audit”. – Dr. Edward Omane Boamah
He noted that all parties will be able to verify when the Electoral Commission properly fixes the voter register, as they each possess both hard copies and soft copies of the Provisional Voters Register (PVR).
This transparency, he added, ensures that any updates or corrections made to the register will be easily identifiable to all stakeholders.
Need For Forensic Audit Emphasized
Additionally, Dr. Omane Boamah emphasized that the forensic audit goes beyond just examining the voter register.
He expressed his intention to show the Electoral Commission how, following the NDC’s revelations, certain corrective measures have created the impression that the EC is addressing the issues, when in fact, deeper flaws may still persist.
He underscored that the audit is necessary to reveal the full extent of the discrepancies and ensure that the fixes are genuine and comprehensive.
“In November, if the very criminals that got us here, are still there engaged in illegal transfers, we will come back to square one. At that time, it will be too close to the December 7 elections. This is why we’re saying, we need to adopt a dichotomous approach, look at the register, fix the issues in there, and also audit the very IT system, that allows these anomalies to occur.”
Dr. Edward Omane Boamah
While the Electoral Commission acknowledged the errors highlighted by the NDC, it argued that the party’s call for an audit was premature.
The EC pointed to the existing robust procedures designed to finalize the voter register, emphasizing that it follows a multi-step process, including registration, exhibition, and review, to identify and correct discrepancies and ensure the integrity of the register.
“The register that we have today is different from what was given to the political parties in August. We have a track record of delivering free and fair elections. Our staff are well trained, and we have what it takes to produce a credible register”.
Electoral Commission
The Commission assured the public that most of the discrepancies had already been resolved, and the remaining issues would be addressed through this established process before the final register is completed.
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