The Electoral Commission (EC) must fulfill its responsibilities to ensure efficient systems and structures are in place, adhering to the rules and Constitutional Instruments (CIs) necessary for free and fair elections. Currently, the network for personal checking of individual voter data faces significant challenges.
Dr. Rashid Tanko, Deputy Director of Election in charge of IT for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), expressed concerns during the Adekyee Mu Nsem morning show on Ahotor 92.3 FM, hosted by Citizen Kofi Owusu in Accra. He criticized the current electoral management system, stating it lacks integration with e-collation and e-transmission, which is essential for incorporating online voter exhibitions at this critical juncture, especially given the EC’s inconsistencies regarding the accuracy of voter register data.
Dr. Tanko pointed out discrepancies between ballot statistics and the figures submitted for printing ballot papers, emphasizing that these issues must be resolved to ensure reliable data for the upcoming elections in December. He also highlighted the need to address challenges related to the signing of pink sheets before elections, which serve as certified documents to authenticate election outcomes in case of disputes. This is vital to prevent issues like the disappearance of pink sheets after polls.
In a related development, the EC announced that the certified voter register for the 2024 general elections will be ready and available in the first week of November. This was revealed by EC Chairperson Jean Mensa during an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.
In her address, Mrs. Mensa assured stakeholders of the Commission’s commitment to ensuring the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the voter register, which will include all eligible voters registered during the exercises conducted in 2020, 2023, and 2024. The EC has been diligently working to resolve any discrepancies to ensure the final register is reliable for the upcoming elections.
This initiative is part of the Commission’s broader efforts to maintain transparency and integrity in the electoral process. Mrs. Mensa noted, “Over the last two weeks, we have dedicated our efforts to cleaning the Provisional Voter Register (PVR) to ensure the information presented is accurate. Simply put, we have worked to ensure that every applicant who registered in 2020, 2023, and 2024 is included in the voters register.”
“We are confident that the revised PVR we present starting today marks a significant improvement over the register from the exhibition exercise, as nearly all discrepancies have been addressed.”
Story by: Alexander Kukah
