Audit the voter register to dispel the allegation of a bloated roll – Kofi Abotsi tells EC

The Dean of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Law School, Professor Ernest Kofi Abotsi has suggested to the electoral commission to accept the request to audit the voter register for the 2024 general elections.

In his view, auditing the electoral roll will be in the interest of the commission itself because it will afford it the opportunity to dispel the allegations or concerns raised by the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

In a post on his X platform, Prof Abotsi said “The EC’s position on the request for an audit of the register is baffling & even troubling! For even if they deny the merit of the claims, audits by their nature confirm or refute allegations, and for a constitutional body whose mandate is rooted in perceptions of fairness and neutrality, it is in its own interest and that of Ghana’s that it dispels, not fight, allegations of a bloated register through an audit.”

The Electoral Commission had turned down a request from the NDC for an independent forensic audit of the provisional voters’ register.

This rejection came after a closed-door meeting between the EC and the opposition party, following concerns raised by the NDC regarding alleged discrepancies in the voter roll.

Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Director of Elections for the NDC, expressed disappointment, emphasizing that a forensic audit would be essential in restoring confidence in the electoral process. “They have not accepted the independent forensic audit request,” Dr. Boamah stated after the meeting.

The NDC has been vocal about their concerns, particularly regarding what they describe as the extent of manipulation in the voter transfer system. They argue that the provisional register contains illegal transfers that could potentially undermine the fairness of the upcoming 2024 elections. The party has called for transparency, requesting the involvement of independent experts in auditing the voter list.

Dr. Boamah stressed the importance of an external body handling the audit, comparing it to a medical referral system.

“The very doctor who created the problem should not be the doctor that will resolve the problem,” he said. He added that development partners, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), are willing to support the audit process, but it requires the EC’s consent.

“The UNDP is ready and willing to provide the support only if the Electoral Commission will write and request the support,” Dr. Boamah noted.

Despite this, the EC remains firm in its decision not to proceed with the audit, a stance that has raised concerns about transparency in the electoral process as the 2024 elections approach.

 

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