The core of the NDC’s grievances are allegations of illegal voter transfers and the omission of party members’ names from the voters’ register. Dr. Frank Amoakohene claimed that over 75,000 illegal transfers had occurred in the Ashanti Region alone, a figure he emphasized could be decisive in the 2024 election.
He further alleged that around 5,000 NDC members were missing from the current voters’ register despite having their voter ID cards.
“Some people had their names in the 2020 register, but they are now missing from the 2024 register,” he stated. “We want the EC to fix this before the 2024 elections. We came here not to cause trouble but to demand accountability.”
The NDC has called for a forensic audit of the voters’ register, citing numerous inconsistencies discovered by their agents at polling stations. According to the protest leader, the provisional register exhibited by the EC did not match the one used at the polling stations, resulting in missing votes and other irregularities. He pointed to specific instances, such as at the New Edubiase community center, where the discrepancies amounted to dozens of votes.
The party issued a seven-day ultimatum to the EC, demanding that their concerns be addressed. The NDC protest leader in the region warned that if no action is taken, the party would escalate its actions.
“We came like a lamb, but next time we will come like a rolling lion,” he said, hinting at more radical measures if their demands are not met.
Despite the chaos, calm was eventually restored by the police, who maintained a strong presence around the EC office. According to the regional chairman, three NDC supporters were arrested during the confrontation, but the party leadership vowed to continue advocating for their rights to ensure a fair electoral process in the region.
The Electoral Commission has yet to issue an official response to the NDC’s petition, but the party’s leadership has made it clear that they will not relent until their concerns are addressed. The NDC believes that ensuring the integrity of the voters’ register is critical to the success of the 2024 elections.
The Ashanti Region, a key political battleground, is expected to play a significant role in the upcoming elections, and tensions between the EC and political parties are likely to intensify as the election approaches.
The Ashanti Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Francis Osei-Nsiah, who received the NDC petition on behalf of the commission, assured the NDC that their petition would be forwarded to the Electoral Commission in Accra within 24 hours. This is the reason why the NDC staged a protest in the Ashanti Region, dubbed “Enough is Enough,” demanding a forensic audit of the voters’ register.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Isaac Justice Bediako
