The Electoral Commission (EC) is under fire for allegedly compromising its credibility as a fair and transparent institution responsible for conducting free and fair elections. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the EC of manipulating data from its district offices to rig the elections in favor of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
According to the NDC, the EC is involved in a scheme to tamper with data from 276 constituencies, which they believe is designed to benefit the ruling party. Mahdi Jibril, the Deputy Director of Elections for the NDC, voiced these concerns on the Adekye Mu Nsem morning show on Ahotor 92.3 FM, hosted by Citizen Kofi Owusu in Accra.
Jibril criticized the EC’s press releases as mere “smoke screens,” arguing that the commission’s double standards are evident. He pointed to numerous issues, including allegations of a bloated voter register, which he claims undermine the credibility of the EC as it prepares for the December 7th elections.
In response, Dr. Bossman Asare, the Deputy Chairman of the EC in charge of Corporate Services, has reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to conducting free and fair elections. Speaking at a press briefing on September 2, Dr. Asare assured the public that the EC will not shield any officers found guilty of electoral malpractices and will ensure they face the full rigors of the law.
Dr. Asare’s remarks come amidst growing concerns from political parties, particularly the NDC, which has questioned the EC’s impartiality. Despite these concerns, Dr. Asare emphasized that the EC is dedicated to maintaining Ghana’s peace and upholding the integrity of the election process.
In a related development, the NDC has demanded a public apology from the EC for what they describe as a “bloated” voter register. The NDC argues that inaccuracies in the register could jeopardize the upcoming elections and disenfranchise eligible voters.
During a press conference in Accra on Monday, the EC acknowledged responsibility for the inflated voter register in the Ejumako-Enyan-Esiam constituency, attributing the issue to an error involving the inclusion of voter transfer lists from 2020 and 2023.
The NDC had previously accused the EC of colluding with the NPP to inflate the register by over 3,000 voters. In response, Dr. Tanko Rashid-Computer, the NDC’s Deputy Director of Elections and IT, called for an external audit of the EC, stating that the commission can no longer be trusted to manage its own data effectively.
Rashid-Computer reiterated the demand for an apology from the EC, asserting that internal investigations are insufficient and that an external body should review the commission’s practices. “We don’t trust their internal investigation. We are calling for an external audit because this EC cannot be trusted to handle its own data,” he stated. “They should apologize to Ghanaians for the mistakes they’ve made.”
