The Electoral Commission of Ghana has officially acknowledged the receipt of a petition from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), dated 17th September 2024, concerning discrepancies in the Provisional Voters Register (PVR) for the upcoming 2024 General Elections.
The NDC, in its petition, expressed concerns that the discrepancies identified in the PVR rendered it unfit for the elections and called for a forensic audit of the register. In response, the Electoral Commission (EC) emphasized that the PVR is a draft version generated immediately after voter registration and is not the Final Register. The EC explained that this provisional register undergoes a legal process of inspection, revision, and correction at Polling Stations across the country before it is finalized.
Citing regulations 23 and 24 of the Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2016 (C.I. 91), amended by C.I. 126, the EC highlighted that the Provisional Voters Register is displayed for public inspection to allow for corrections, including resolving issues such as missing names, errors in biographical data, and deceased persons on the register. The EC assured that the discrepancies highlighted by the NDC were the usual issues encountered during every voter registration exercise, which are rectified during the exhibition process.
The EC further noted that during a meeting with the NDC on 6th September 2024, they assured the party that most of the discrepancies had been resolved. The Commission requested that the NDC submit data on the detected anomalies to facilitate further investigations. However, the EC expressed disappointment that the NDC had yet to provide the requested data, which would have helped address their concerns and demonstrate the credibility of the voters’ register.
The EC reiterated its confidence in the current electoral processes and urged the NDC to participate in the ongoing procedures designed to ensure a credible register for the 2024 General Elections.
Source: Padfm.com.gh/Kumatey Gorden/0243531604
