The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has issued a strong demand for the immediate release of the Provisional Voter Register (PVR) for the upcoming December 7 general elections. The party, led by its Director of Elections, Dr. Omane Boamah, has expressed deep concerns over what it perceives as the Electoral Commission's (EC) deliberate delay and incompetence in handling the electoral process.
In a detailed statement, Dr. Boamah highlighted the NDC's frustration with the EC's failure to provide the PVR to political parties well ahead of the scheduled exhibition exercise. He described the delay as a calculated move to hinder parties from thoroughly scrutinizing the voter register, which is essential for ensuring a credible election.
According to Dr. Boamah, the NDC responded promptly to a request from the EC on July 18, 2024, to provide an external drive for the PVR. Despite complying with the request and providing additional materials, the EC failed to deliver the register within the expected timeframe. Instead, the commission indicated that the PVR would be available on August 14, just six days before the exhibition exercise scheduled for August 20.
The NDC's statement goes on to accuse the EC of deliberately withholding the register, noting that even the revised release date of August 14 was further postponed, leaving the party with only a few days to distribute the register to over 38,000 polling stations across Ghana. Dr. Boamah warned that this situation, coupled with the EC’s alleged dysfunctional IT department, could potentially lead to chaos if not addressed immediately.
Citing past instances of electoral mishaps, including the chaotic 2023 District Assembly Elections and recent network failures during the Limited Registration Exercise, the NDC raised alarms over the EC’s ability to conduct a fair and transparent election. The party also expressed concern about the security of the electoral process, referencing the unsolved case of stolen Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits from the EC headquarters.
The NDC is calling on civil society organizations, religious bodies, and diplomatic missions to closely monitor the EC’s actions, urging these groups to ensure that the electoral process remains credible and fair. The party vowed to resist any attempts to manipulate the electoral roll in favor of any political party.
As the December 7 elections approach, the NDC remains firm in its demand for the immediate release of the Provisional Voter Register, stressing that the integrity of Ghana’s electoral system must be upheld to prevent potential anarchy.