The Electoral Commission (EC) has once again rejected calls from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for a forensic audit of the Provisional Voters Register (PVR), citing that the legal and administrative measures in place have not been fully utilised to justify such an audit at this time.
In a letter addressed to NDC Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the EC reiterated that the mechanisms for cleaning the register, including the exhibition exercise, provide adequate avenues for resolving discrepancies.
The response followed a petition from the NDC after their Enough Is Enough demonstration on September 17, 2024.
The EC clarified that under Constitutional Instrument (C.I.) 91, the PVR is considered a draft register, and discrepancies are to be expected. The commission argued that the established process of holding an exhibition of the register allows for public inspection and correction, making a forensic audit unnecessary.
“The Commission is of the view that the legal and administrative processes laid down to clean the PVR have not been fully exhausted to justify the calls for a forensic audit. We entreat the public to trust us to carry out our mandate,” the letter stated.
The EC’s position contrasts sharply with the demands laid out in the NDC’s petition, which called for an independent forensic audit of the voter register and its IT system to uncover irregularities and ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
The letter was also copied to key stakeholders, including parliamentary leaders, civil society groups, and religious bodies such as the National Peace Council, the Christian Council, and the Chief Imam, among others.
Despite the NDC’s concerns about unauthorised log-ins, data discrepancies, and other irregularities, the EC maintains that the current systems for cleaning the voter register are sufficient to address these issues.
