The Deputy Director of Elections and IT for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Tanko Computer, has intensified the party’s call for a forensic audit of the current voters’ register.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, he highlighted the party’s concerns over discrepancies in the electoral roll and stated that without a transparent and credible voters’ register, Ghana risks jeopardising its democracy.
“We have come to a crossroads in this country, a very critical moment for our democracy. If we don’t take care, what is happening in the sub-region could happen here. The only problem we foresee, that people are turning a deaf ear to, is this register. A clean, clear, and credible register is the sink or swim of credible elections.”
The NDC has raised alarm over what it describes as anomalies in the provisional voters’ register released by the Electoral Commission (EC).
According to Dr Computer, their issues are not limited to minor mistakes, such as misspelt names or incorrect dates of birth, which can be easily rectified at exhibition centres.
Instead, he pointed out major concerns like “bloating and padding of figures in the register,” which the party believes require more than simple corrections.
“We are calling on civil society, the media, and stakeholders in our democracy to come on board,” he continued.
“We have seen anomalies in the provisional register given to us by the EC. When you begin to see bloating and padding, it is a cause for concern.”
Dr Computer further explained that while the EC has claimed the register is provisional and that there is room for corrections, the scale of the discrepancies necessitates a forensic audit by an independent body.
“These are not simple corrections,” he argued.
“We need a thorough investigation to ensure that every vote counts and is properly accounted for.”
However, the EC disagrees.
In response, Benjamin Bannon-Bioh, Director of Electoral Services at the EC, clarified that the list provided to the NDC includes all voter transfers since the register was compiled in 2020.
“The list includes transfers made in 2020, 2023, and 2024,” Bannon-Bioh explained.
“These are not new additions; they are part of the existing register. The figures have been consistent, and any discrepancies can be accounted for by reviewing the transfers year by year.”
He added, “This was not an error or a deliberate attempt to inflate the register. We have always aimed to track the movement of all voters, and we provided this comprehensive list to the parties.”
Despite the EC’s assurances, the NDC remains firm in its stance, insisting that a forensic audit is necessary to dispel any doubts about the integrity of the voters’ register ahead of the upcoming elections.
The largest opposition party has vowed to embark on a march to all EC offices across the 16 regions on September 17 to demand that the Commission do what is right by them.
Source: myjoyonline.com
