The Centre for Public Opinion and Awareness (CenPOA) asserts that any chaos in the upcoming December 7 presidential and parliamentary elections will be the Electoral Commission’s (EC) responsibility.
The civil society organisation maintains that the electoral body cannot persist in its intransigence when confronted with compelling evidence substantiating the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) allegations.
Michael Donyinah Mensah, the Executive Director, stated that the party has raised fundamental issues that must be addressed by the EC.
He argued the only difficulty is that several individuals are looking at the issues raised by the NDC with political lenses because of how they resisted similar appeals by the NPP when the party was in office.
The NDC’s current complaints about the voter register’s discrepancies and demand for an audit echo the NPP’s 2016 concerns, which the NDC opposed at the time. This mirrors a longstanding pattern of opposition parties questioning the Electoral Commission’s credibility while the ruling party defends it. Consequently, despite the NDC’s concrete evidence, many are dismissing their audit request due to this historical context. However, it is essential that we acknowledge and rectify the register’s issues to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.”
Michael Donyinah Mensah opined that ”another reason the EC refuses to accept the call for a forensic audit is the fear of implications that may affect them. If that’s the case, the EC should publicly explain why they cannot accommodate that request.
“Given the NDC’s evidence, particularly the Pusiga example, we should listen to their request. The EC has proven liable to mistakes over the years, demonstrating their fallibility through various activities, which necessitates addressing these issues”.
When asked if a forensic audit could address electoral process challenges, he replied, ”I don’t think it will solve all problems, but it’s a crucial starting point. However, timing is a concern, with only 70 days until elections. Its uncertain if the EC will accommodate this request.
“Nonetheless, refusing to audit the register will lead to chaos in the upcoming elections, potentially jeopardizing their peaceful conduct or even their occurrence. Citizens recognize the register’s issues, as evidenced by the EC’s past mistakes. This situation differs from eight years ago when the opposition requested a new register. The EC should heed the call and address the raised concerns,” he added.
