Kwasi Kwarteng, spokesperson for the government and Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Education, has defended the Electoral Commission’s (EC) decision to use the voter register exhibition to audit the electoral roll.
Speaking on TV3’s “Big Issue” on Monday, September 16, Kwarteng emphasized that allowing the over 17 million voters to check and verify their details during the exhibition represents an integral part of the audit process.
“There is no better way to audit the register than to give the over 17 million people the opportunity during the exhibition,“ Kwarteng stated, underscoring the importance of public participation in verifying voter information.
The comments come in the wake of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) ‘s planned demonstration scheduled for Tuesday, September 17, in response to the EC’s rejection of their request for an independent forensic audit of the provisional voters’ register.
The NDC has raised concerns about alleged discrepancies in the voter roll, including what they describe as illegal transfers that could compromise the integrity of the upcoming 2024 elections.
Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, the NDC’s Director of Elections, expressed disappointment following a closed-door meeting with the EC, where the request for a forensic audit was declined.
Dr Boamah argued that an independent audit is crucial to restoring confidence in the electoral process. “They have not accepted the independent forensic audit request,“ he said, criticizing the EC’s refusal as detrimental to electoral transparency.
The NDC has called for independent experts, including development partners such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to oversee the audit.
Dr Boamah emphasized the need for an external body to conduct the audit, comparing it to a medical referral system where the same entity that created a problem should not resolve it.
“The very doctor who created the problem should not be the doctor that will resolve the problem,“ he noted.
Dr Boamah also highlighted that the UNDP stands ready to support the audit process, provided the EC formally requests assistance.
“The UNDP is ready and willing to provide the support only if the Electoral Commission will write and request the support,“ he said.
Despite these concerns, the EC has maintained its position against an independent audit, leading to ongoing debates about the transparency and fairness of the electoral process as Ghana prepares for the 2024 elections.
