The EC’s Explanation Is Not Good Enough To Build Confidence In The Voter Register-Arnold Appiah

The EC’s Explanation Is Not Good Enough To Build Confidence In The Voter Register- Arnold Appiah

In the lead-up to the upcoming elections, the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has found itself embroiled in a contentious debate over the validity and transparency of the provisional voter register. The National Democratic Congress (NDC), has raised concerns about the integrity of the voter registration process and the accuracy of the provisional voter register coupled with discrepancies of illegal voter transfers.

However, Mr. Arnold Appiah, President- NDC Professionals Forum-USA and Director of International Affairs believed the EC’s explanation is not good enough for Ghanaians and the NDC to have confidence in the voter register.

Mr Arnold Appiah explained that what the EC should have done was to admit the concerns raised by the NDC  were legitimate and outline how those discrepancies and illegal voter transfers were made and corrected, who authorised them and what intentions were behind their actions.

“For the EC to make such a raw statement that, they have rectified the errors and they were corrected, is a fallacy talk for the NDC to believe the EC is capable of producing a credible and transparent voter register”.

Arnold Appiah, President Professional Forum NDC-USA

Listen To Mr. Arnold’s Interview 

Mr. Appiah averred that the NDC remains sceptical about the accuracy and credibility of the provisional voter register after pointing out instances that justify their claims of discrepancies raising concerns about potential voter disenfranchisement and electoral malpractice. However, the EC failed to act professionally by telling Ghanaians that, these are the instances that led to the errors in the provisional voter register.

Speaking on Radio Gold in Accra, Mr Arnold advises the NDC to ensure the EC produces a transparent and credible register to build public confidence among all stakeholders. Any perceived lack of transparency in the compilation of the provisional register may undermine the credibility of the electoral process.

“The EC’S system is porous, they mismanaged it, deleting data, transferring voters illegally, meaning the system cannot be trusted”.

Mr Arnold Appiah concluded that the NDC should firmly demand the  EC to provide answers on how those irregularities were made, those who authorised it, those in charge of the system, and those involved in the missing devices to make sure all these issues are corrected before going into the December 7 general elections.