Justin Kodua Frimpong
The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has slammed the opposition National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) recent demonstration over alleged irregularities in the provisional voters’ register for the 2024 general election, calling it a “needless, deceptive, and mischievous” attempt to stir up tensions in the country.
According to the NPP, the NDC is making a mountain out of a molehill, and their demands for an independent forensic audit of the register are unfounded.
At a press conference in Accra yesterday, NPP General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, addressed concerns surrounding the voter register, emphasising that the Electoral Commission (EC) has established protocols to rectify errors and discrepancies.
He argued that the NDC’s reluctance to provide evidence of alleged irregularities to the EC raises questions about their true intentions.
Mr. Frimpong pointed out that his NDC counterpart, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, had previously acknowledged the effectiveness of existing mechanisms, such as exhibition procedures which allow citizens to verify their registration details and objections that provide a platform for eligible voters to be challenged among others.
He said prior to the demonstration, the EC had met with the NDC to demand evidence of discrepancies identified by the party.
Mr. Frimpong said the meeting between the NDC and the EC provided a platform for the NDC to voice their concerns regarding the 2024 Provisional Voters’ Register, including missing voter information, and voter transfer issues.
According to him, as much as the NPP shares in the concerns of the NDC, the opposition party has failed to present specific evidence to support their allegations of illegal transfers of 243,540, removal of 3,957 registered voters’ names from the register, and 15,000 unclear transfer paths.
The NPP General Secretary expressed surprise that the NDC has not submitted evidence of alleged irregularities in the provisional voters’ register to the EC.
“It’s intriguing,” he noted. “If the NDC has proof of illegal transfers, why haven’t they shared it with the EC to rectify the issue?” he asked.
He questioned the justification for the NDC’s nationwide demonstration, citing past instances where the NDC’s own leader, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, had withheld critical information.
Mr. Frimpong called out the NDC to follow established protocols to rectify errors in the provisional voters’ register, just like they did in previous elections, indicating that the voter exhibition exercise has been used over the years to address discrepancies in the voters’ register, and not a forensic audit.
He questioned why the NDC is deviating from tradition, especially since there was no need for a forensic audit in 2015.
“If it wasn’t necessary then, why now?” he quizzed, and pointed out that even if errors exist, the NDC’s refusal to provide evidence to the EC makes it impossible to correct them.
According to him, the EC is the body clothed with the legal authority to oversee the voter register.
“It’s worth noting that the Electoral Commission has existing mechanisms to address discrepancies, as outlined in Constitutional Instrument (C.I.) 91 and 127. These include resolving issues like omitted names, deceased voters, and voter transfers,” he stressed.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah