Peter Mac Manu
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has dismissed the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) allegations of discrepancies in the voter register, labeling them as baseless.
Speaking at the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting in Accra yesterday, Peter Mac Manu, NPP’s Director of Elections, recalled the party’s 2015 demands for a new register, which the NDC opposed. He noted that history is repeating itself.
Mr. Manu highlighted past instances of allegation of voter register bloating by the NDC, citing a 2008 case in Ashanti Region where investigations revealed computer input errors.
He questioned what has changed since the NDC’s 2015 stance.
“Today is 1st October and barely nine years ago, in 2015, we were assembled here for the same purpose of getting a credible register for the 2016 elections.
“And I recall vividly as a member of the NPP team that when we had made our presentations about the state of the register, that it was bloated, that it was not fit for purpose, and we were calling for a new register.
“Our colleagues on the other side said, no, the register is fit for purpose, and that we should allow the Electoral Commission to do its work. They also said why should we be interfering in the affairs of the Electoral Commission. Today, they are playing the catch-up with the NPP,” he stated.
He added, “But I’ll go back even before 2016. In 2008, just before the 2008 elections, the NDC made allegations that there were some 13 constituencies in Ashanti Region whose register had been bloated. The commission, then headed by Dr. Afari Gyan, also met IPAC in the same fashion and constituted a committee: one from NPP, one from NDC, and two from the other political parties.”
“They went into the matter, and they came back to report that it was an error from a computer input. So the allegations were dismissed. I think that we are repeating ourselves the same way,” he stressed.
Mr. Manu expressed joy and commended the EC for instituting yesterday’s meeting to the full glare of the Ghanaian public “and our friends from other countries.”
He emphasised that the Electoral Commission’s (EC) institutionalised mechanisms allow for corrections during the exhibition process. He cited the CI91 regulation, which requires residency for at least 12 months before transfer.
Mr. Manu criticised the NDC’s claims of 50,000 deceased individuals on the register, referencing a 2016 report estimating 580,000 voter deaths. He challenged the NDC to provide evidence.
The NPP General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, also spoke, urging stakeholders to ensure peaceful elections.
He also criticised the NDC’s failure to submit allegations to the EC and challenged them to present evidence.
The NPP General Secretary said his party was skeptical of the NDC’s motives, accusing them of propaganda.
“Not long ago, certain people staged a demonstration against the Electoral Commission based on what they perceived to be discrepancies in an attempt to rig the election for the New Patriotic Party.
“Despite several calls from key stakeholders, including ourselves, asking the NDC to raise legitimate concerns, we even suggested they hold a press conference and invite all of us to review these allegations.
“Today, as we speak, the NDC is yet to provide the so-called allegations and discrepancies to the Electoral Commission. Let it be on record,” he asserted.
“I challenge them. If the NDC indeed has any further allegations, they should bring them forward for interrogation and to see whether the Electoral Commission has addressed them. It’s not a question of having a leaking roof and simply mopping the floor,” he argued, rebutting earlier submission by the NDC representatives led by Dr. Omane Boamah.
By Ernest Kofi Adu