The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) of conspiring with the Electoral Commission (EC) to manipulate the upcoming elections. According to the NDC, the NPP’s refusal to support calls for a forensic audit of the voter register is evidence of this alleged collusion.
The NDC had petitioned the EC for a forensic audit following discrepancies found in the voter register. The EC, however, declined the request, stating that the discrepancies were not new and that measures were being taken to address them.
In response, the NDC has announced plans to stage nationwide protests on September 17, 2024, to demand action on the alleged issues with the register. The party has accused the EC of mishandling the situation and expressed concerns that the discrepancies could undermine the credibility of the elections.
Speaking on Rainbow Radio’s Nyankonton Mu Nsem program, Mahdi Jibril, the NDC’s Deputy Director of Elections, criticized the NPP’s stance. He expressed suspicion over the ruling party’s confidence in the voter register, particularly after incidents of tampering and illegal voter transfers were uncovered.
“The NPP is the only party that has found no problem with the register even when someone has been arrested for tampering with the register or illegally transferring voters without their knowledge.
The NPP has remained adamant and is claiming the register is credible. But the NDC affirms that the register is fraught with irregularities. The NPP is not demanding a forensic audit because their strategy is to have this register used for the elections so they can rig the elections,” he stated.
He also noted that the NDC received a different version of the voter register from the one the EC used during the exhibition exercise. This, he claimed, was further evidence of the discrepancies the NDC had highlighted.
Jibril went on to argue that the EC’s refusal to conduct a forensic audit raises concerns about the integrity of the electoral process. “If the EC has no intention of rigging the elections, they have a responsibility to accept our proposal for an audit to ensure a free, fair, transparent, and credible election,” he added.
The NDC’s protests, scheduled for mid-September, are expected to intensify the debate over the credibility of the electoral register, with the party continuing to push for transparency in the lead-up to the 2024 elections.
Source: InsiderGH.com
