The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has raised ten critical questions concerning the integrity of the voter register following recent admissions by the Electoral Commission (EC).

In an open letter to Ghanaian voters, Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Director of Elections & IT for the NDC, highlighted concerns that must be addressed to ensure credible, free, fair, and transparent elections in 2024.

The NDC's letter comes after a press conference by the EC and alleges manipulation in the voter register, with several issues still unresolved.

The letter emphasizes that the EC has yet to respond to 35 outstanding questions related to stolen or missing biometric voter registration (BVR) and biometric verification devices (BVD).

Extent of Manipulation and System Vulnerabilities

The NDC questions the extent of alleged illegal voter transfers, citing a case where voters from the Tamale South Constituency were transferred without proper authorization.

The letter calls for clarity on how widespread these incidents are and how many voters might have been affected.

It also questions the vulnerabilities in the EC's systems that allowed such transfers to occur and asks what steps are being taken to address these weaknesses.

Call for Forensic Audit

Dr. Omane Boamah also reiterated the NDC's demand for an independent forensic audit of the voter register, arguing that this would enhance trust and confidence in the electoral process.

The letter urges the EC to agree to an independent audit to ensure transparency and credibility, citing a lack of faith in the Commission’s ability to address the concerns internally.

Accuracy and Public Confidence

The NDC has raised concerns about the accuracy of the current voter register and the delay in providing a provisional version to the party.

It questions whether the delay was intended to limit the party’s ability to scrutinize the register.

The letter also asks what measures the EC is taking to rectify errors and restore public confidence in the electoral process.

Impact on Elections and Historical Comparisons

The NDC warns about the potential impact of these admitted errors on the fairness of the upcoming elections, questioning how the EC will ensure that no voters are disenfranchised on December 7, 2024.

The letter criticizes the EC for making comparisons to errors from previous elections, arguing that such comparisons should only serve to prevent future mistakes.

Timeline for Corrections

Finally, the letter calls for a clear timeline for addressing the issues identified and ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the voter register before the elections.

Dr. Omane Boamah concluded by urging Ghanaian voters to demand answers to these questions to safeguard the credibility of the electoral process and to vote for John Dramani Mahama in the upcoming elections.