The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Electoral Commission (EC) of illegally transferring voters into and out of various constituencies in the Eastern Region, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the 2024 voter register. According to the NDC, a total of 2,661 voters were unlawfully transferred into constituencies, while 2,826 voters were removed from their original constituencies without their knowledge.
Allegations of Voter Manipulation
At a press conference held in Koforidua on Monday, September 16, 2024, the NDC claimed that the EC, in collaboration with the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), was manipulating the voter register to rig the upcoming December 7 general election.
Jamal Konneh, the Eastern Regional Secretary of the NDC, outlined several alarming discrepancies. He pointed out that while the EC had initially reported 2,000 voter transfers within the region, the exhibited voter register showed 4,661 transfers—revealing an additional 2,661 allegedly illegal transfers.
“We are here to expose the incompetence of the Electoral Commission and their agenda to destabilize the region on election day,” Konneh stated. He stressed that these discrepancies undermine the credibility of the election and called for immediate corrective measures.
Examples of Irregularities
The NDC provided specific examples from constituencies where they claim voter transfer numbers had been manipulated.
In Achiase, 453 voter transfers were officially recorded, but the register shows 1,520 transfers—an illegal increase of 1,067.
In Lower Manya Krobo, 2,359 transfers were recorded, while the original number was 978, showing an illegal addition of 1,381 voters.
Similarly, in Nkawkaw, the NDC claimed 838 voters had been transferred, but the register displayed 2,120 transfers, indicating 1,282 unlawful transfers.
Nsawam-Adoagyiri showed the largest discrepancy, where 2,000 official transfers ballooned to 4,661 voters, adding 2,661 illegal transfers.
Discrepancies in Special and Absentee Voter Lists
The NDC also raised concerns about the absentee voter list, alleging that many voters were unknowingly transferred from their original constituencies. In Lower Manya Krobo, for instance, 642 voters were placed on the special voter list, but the absentee voter list contained 3,860 names—an additional 3,218 allegedly illegal transfers.
Nkawkaw and Nsawam-Adoagyiri showed similar patterns, with 2,240 and 2,826 voters illegally added to absentee lists, respectively.
“These voters will face frustration on election day when they cannot find their names at their original polling stations,” Konneh warned, citing the risk of confusion and disenfranchisement.
Polling Station with Only One Voter
In a particularly strange discovery, the NDC uncovered a polling station in the Asuogyaman Constituency with only one registered voter. The station, named “International School Akosombo” and coded E011303, has raised further doubts about the accuracy of the EC’s voter register.
“The fact that a polling station can exist with just one voter shows the EC’s poor handling of the register,” the NDC alleged.
Issues with Proxy Voting
The NDC also highlighted irregularities in proxy voting. According to the party, voters in Achiase, such as Abban Yaa and Abankwa Michael Agyei, were listed as proxy voters without having applied for it, suggesting deliberate manipulation of the process in favor of the NPP.
NDC Demands and Demonstration Plans
In response to these irregularities, the NDC is calling for a forensic audit of the voter register and has demanded that the EC provide a timeline for resolving the issues before the final register is printed.
“We will not rest until justice is served,” Konneh declared, urging Ghanaians, civil society, and the international community to join the call for a fair election.
The party is also planning a major demonstration on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, to protest the alleged voter register manipulation. The demonstration, scheduled to start at 6:00 AM from the Koforidua Prisons Park, will pass through key areas, including ‘B’ Foster Traffic Light, the New Juaben South Municipal Assembly, and Agartha Market. The protest will conclude at the Eastern Regional Office of the Electoral Commission, where the NDC plans to present a petition to the EC’s Regional Director.
Dr. Mark Oliver Kevor, the Eastern Regional Chairman of the NDC, emphasized that the party would continue to fight against the perceived irregularities until the situation is rectified.
As the general election approaches, tensions are mounting, with the NDC warning that the alleged irregularities could lead to significant voter disenfranchisement and chaos on election day.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
