EC to address 2024 voters register issues at IPAC meeting today

• Posted on October 1, 2024October 1, 2024
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana will meet all political parties, civil society organisations (CSOs), and donor partners on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, under the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) framework. 

The meeting aims to address concerns over the 2024 voters register, following repeated calls from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), for a forensic audit of the Provisional Voters Register (PVR).

Deputy EC Chairperson Dr Bossman Asare, during the Newsfile panel discussion on Saturday, confirmed that the meeting will focus entirely on the 2024 voters register.

“We’re holding a one-item agenda meeting under IPAC on Tuesday. Parties, CSOs, and donor partners who attend IPAC meetings will be present to discuss the state of the 2024 voter register. This meeting aims to ensure transparency and address concerns regarding the exhibition process and recent updates,” Dr Asare said.

The EC says it has addressed key issues raised about the voter register, but the NDC, represented by the South Dayi MP Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor questioned the EC’s internal processes and insists that only a forensic audit can resolve alleged discrepancies which he argues could impact the credibility of the upcoming December elections.

However, Dr Asare clarified that the EC is not considering a third-party forensic audit. “The audit process is already outlined in the law, and we are following it. After we finish the process, if there are genuine concerns, we can address them. But at this point, the EC does not see the need for an external audit. Tuesday’s meeting will be an opportunity for parties to ask questions and review the register in detail,” he stated.

The EC hopes the IPAC meeting will provide a platform for political parties to express their concerns while also showcasing the measures the Commission has taken to ensure the integrity of the register.

“The register is a living document, and we’re working with all stakeholders to ensure it is accurate and credible for the upcoming election,” Dr Asare added.

While the NDC continues to push for a forensic audit, other stakeholders, including the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), believe the current legal framework under CI 91 provides sufficient checks to address any issues.

Dafeamekppr insists on forensic audit of provisional register

Speaking on the same Newsfile programme on Joy FM on Saturday, the Member of Parliament (MP) for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, insisted that only an independent forensic audit of the voters’ register can guarantee transparency for the December 2024 elections.

Mr Dafeamekpor stressed that the issues with the Provisional Voters Register (PVR) require a deeper investigation beyond routine audits.

He argued that the EC’s internal audit processes are inadequate to fix these problems and called for a more comprehensive forensic investigation to restore confidence in the electoral process.

“While we recognise the EC is working to resolve these issues, a forensic audit is the only way to give us the confidence we need,” Dafeamekpor stressed. He added that the NDC is not convinced the EC’s current measures are enough to prevent voter irregularities. He cited examples from constituencies like Pusiga and South Dayi, where discrepancies in voter data were discovered.

Mr Dafeamekpor also criticised  the EC’s reliance on C.I. 91, stating that the system lacks the strength needed to tackle the scale of issues raised by the NDC. 

On the other hand, Mr Gary Nimako, Director of Legal Affairs for the NPP, criticised the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for what he called speculative accusations. 

Mr Nimako dismissed the NDC’s demand for a forensic audit as premature. He argued that the legal framework under C.I. 91 provides sufficient safeguards to address any concerns with the register. 

“The NDC’s request is unnecessary at this point,” Mr Nimako said, adding that errors identified in the PVR are part of the normal provisional process.

Mr Nimako also urged the NDC to allow the EC to complete its work before making further demands, emphasising that the register is still in progress. “The process is ongoing, and the EC is fully capable of resolving these issues,” he concluded.