The Electoral Commission has again rejected calls for a forensic audit of the Provisional Voters Register.
The Commission maintains that the recently held Voter Register Exhibition Exercise is an effective and sufficient measure for identifying and correcting any discrepancies.
The NDC, in a meeting held on September 6, 2024, highlighted five specific issues with the Provisional Voters Register, urging the Commission to undertake a forensic audit to address their concerns. They also requested a re-exhibition of the Register. However, the Electoral Commission has countered these demands by emphasizing that the current processes are adequate and well-established.
According to the Commission, the Exhibition Exercise is designed to uncover and rectify errors in the Register. They argue that this process, which has been in place since 1992, is robust and aligns with legal requirements outlined in the Constitutional Instrument on the Registration of Voters (C.I. 91 as amended by C.I. 126). The Commission has assured that discrepancies flagged during the Exhibition are being addressed promptly and thoroughly.
“The call for a forensic audit at this stage is premature,” said a Mr Sammuel Tettey, Deputy Commissioner in charge of operations
He added “The Voter Register Exhibition Exercise itself serves as an audit, allowing for the correction of discrepancies identified through our established procedures.”
The Commission also pointed out that it has proactively addressed issues similar to those raised by the NDC and has maintained a transparent process involving various officers to ensure the accuracy of the Register. They stress that the integrity of the voter registration process is maintained through continuous updates and corrections.
The NDC’s proposal for a forensic audit, according to the Commission, would not provide additional value given that their current methods are already effective. The Commission urges the NDC to collaborate and submit detailed information about identified discrepancies to facilitate a proper review and resolution.
“The process we have in place is tried and tested,” Mr Tettey said. “Our focus is on resolving issues through established channels rather than introducing unnecessary external audits.”
