The National Democratic Congress (NDC) says the Electoral Commission (EC) has not responded to its petition for a forensic audit of the voters’ register.
Last week, the NDC staged a nationwide demonstration in an effort to call attention to what it insists are serious flaws with the electoral register. The leadership of the party led by Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia presented a petition to the Electoral Commission at the end of the exercise.
It was received by the commission’s Deputy Chairperson in charge of Operations, Samuel Nettey who assured the petitioners that their concerns will be addressed.
However, in a letter signed by the NDC’s General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey and addressed to the commission’s Chair, Madam Jean Mensa, he reminded her that the EC had not yet got back to the party on the issues raised.
“This follow up letter has become necessary due to the fact that, the Commission has not had the courtesy to reply our petition till date,” he stated. “Neither has the Commission officially responded to the serious issues we have raised in the petition and the request for a forensic audit thereof.”
The letter summarized the reason for which the NDC had demanded an audit be done.
“We are by this letter reminding the Commission of the critical importance of a credible voters’ register to the impending December 7 polls, hence the need for an audit of the electoral roll and its IT system to identify the vulnerabilities therein and effectively address the numerous anomalies we have put before you,” Mr. Kwetey said on his party’s behalf.
Calls are growing in the country for the Electoral Commission to sanction an audit of the 2024 voters’ register following reports of unauthorized voter transfers, omission of names and discrepancies in figures presented by the EC during the exhibition exercise.
Several civil society organizations and political parties have urged the EC to hand over the register to an independent body for a forensic audit with the latest call coming from the Movement for Change.
In a letter to the EC, the group agreed with the NDC’s assertion that a review of the register ensures transparency and credibility of the electoral process ahead of the December polls.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Mitchell Asare Amoamah
