General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Lawyer Justin Kodua Frimpong has expressed strong reservations about the National Democratic Congress (NDC)'s call for an independent forensic audit of the 2024 Provisional Voters Register.
The NPP asserts that the request is baseless and an unnecessary attempt by the NDC to stir public agitation and discredit the credibility of the Electoral Commission (EC).
Addressing the media on the issue, Mr. Kodua Frimpong recounted that the NDC, led by its Director of Elections, Dr. Omane Boamah, had raised concerns on social media regarding alleged discrepancies and manipulation in the provisional register.
These claims, the NPP believes, lack substantive evidence and have yet to be officially substantiated by the NDC.
The NDC has accused the Electoral Commission of presiding over irregularities in the voters' register, including missing voter names and unauthorized transfers.
In a petition submitted to the EC, the NDC demanded an independent forensic audit of the register, convening of stakeholder meetings, and a re-exhibition of the register after alleged errors are corrected.
However, the NPP, through its General Secretary, emphasized that the NDC’s failure to provide the Electoral Commission with concrete evidence of the alleged irregularities undermines the credibility of their demands.
Mr. Kodua Frimpong highlighted that the NDC, despite claiming to have identified over 243,000 illegal transfers and 3,957 deleted names, has yet to submit supporting documentation to the EC for verification.
"The NPP finds it difficult to comprehend the call by the NDC for an independent forensic audit on the basis of alleged errors and discrepancies," Mr. Kodua Frimpong said.
He noted that the Constitutional Instrument on the Registration of Voters (C.I. 127) already provides for mechanisms to resolve any issues with the provisional register, such as omissions, transfers, and deletions of names.
The NPP also pointed out that the call for a forensic audit contradicts past positions held by the NDC itself.
In 2015, when similar concerns were raised about the voters' register, the NDC, through its then General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, firmly stated that the Electoral Commission had always had the capacity to address such discrepancies through the exhibition process and existing mechanisms.
Mr. Kodua Frimpong reminded the public that the NPP had once led the call for reforms and greater transparency in Ghana’s electoral processes, contributing to the current system’s biometric verification devices and voter identification protocols.
However, the NPP insists that the NDC’s recent outbursts are unwarranted, especially given the legal provisions available to address any concerns.
The NPP General Secretary called on the NDC to act responsibly and present any evidence of discrepancies directly to the EC. He cautioned against misleading the public, urging all political stakeholders to work with the EC to ensure a credible electoral process for the 2024 general elections.
Lawyer Justin Kodua Frimpong affirmed the NPP’s commitment to a free and fair election, encouraging vigilance and maturity from all political actors in the lead-up to December 2024.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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