The Electoral Commission’s omission of critical voter data undermines transparency and credibility of the 2024 General Elections
It is necessary to bring to the attention of Ghanaians, all political stakeholders, and the international community our deep concerns regarding the actions and omissions of the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana as we approach the crucial 2024 General Elections.
You may recall that following the deep discrepancies identified in the provisional voters register, we demanded a forensic audit, which the Electoral Commission turned down. That forensic audit awaits the EC from January 2025.
But even before the first ballot is cast, the relevance of the forensic audit is beginning to show and shame those who clandestinely connived with the Commission to prevent the much needed forensic audit of the register. Meanwhile the audit of the IT system also remains outstanding.
We must note that the competence, credibility and transparency of the EC is central to the integrity of any electoral process, and recent developments raise significant doubts about the Commission’s commitment to conducting a fair and impartial election.K
Yesterday, the 6th of November, 2024, as America was witnessing the re-election of a former President, the EC invited all political parties to receive copies of the final voters register.
Shockingly, the register provided lacked essential voter data necessary for verifying its credibility:
• National Voter Statistics,
• Regional and Constituency Voter Statistics,
• Absentee Voter Statistics,
• Gender Statistics, and
• Statistics on Proxy Voters.
This data is fundamental for transparency, ensuring political parties and civil society organizations can thoroughly scrutinize and validate the voters register.
The omission of such critical information limits the ability of political stakeholders to verify the completeness and accuracy of the voters register, which is the backbone of credible elections.
By withholding these vital statistics, the Electoral Commission is casting further doubts and clouds over the transparency of the upcoming elections and threatening the legitimacy of the electoral outcome.
1. Transparency and Trust: Elections are only credible when all parties and stakeholders trust the processes involved. The EC’s omission of essential voter data not only erodes this trust but also limits accountability.
2. Credibility of the Voters Register: The absence of vital data raises serious questions about the reliability of the register itself because voters and political parties deserve to know if the list reflects an accurate and updated register of the Ghanaian electorate.
3. Violation of Democratic Principles: By acting without full transparency, the EC risks damaging Ghana’s democratic reputation.
The NDC calls on:
• The Electoral Commission to immediately rectify these omissions and make available the full statistical breakdown of the voters register,
• Civil Society Organisations, the international community and the Media to demand accountability from the EC and support efforts to ensure transparent, credible elections, and
• International Observers to take note of these troubling developments and closely monitor the EC’s actions leading up to and during the elections.
Ghanaians deserve a transparent, free, and fair electoral process!
