A Fellow at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD Ghana), Dr. John Osae-Kwapong, has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to convene an inter-party advisory committee (IPAC) meeting urgently.
The purpose of the meeting would be to reassure political parties that the errors in the electoral roll that have been rectified will not impact the upcoming general elections.
Dr. John Osae-Kwapong emphasized that in an environment of distrust, the EC cannot afford to make any honest mistakes that could jeopardize the credibility of the electoral process. He made these statements while speaking on the Ghana Tonight show on Monday, May 13.
The Electoral Commission has recently corrected errors related to the daily registration figures provided during the ongoing limited voter registration exercise. Initially, the Commission had reported that 143,014 eligible voters had been registered by the end of day four of the exercise. However, discrepancies were identified in the figures released at the end of Day 3, particularly in the Upper East region.
Less than 24 hours after releasing the figures, the Commission issued a statement acknowledging the errors in the data. The statement explained that there was a repetition of figures for day three in the Upper East region, leading to inaccuracies in the total registration figures.
The EC reiterated its commitment to transparency and accuracy in the voter registration process, emphasizing the importance of providing the public with reliable information about the ongoing exercise. The Commission emphasized that all mistakes in the daily voter registration figures had been corrected.
According to the updated registration figures by region provided by the EC, the Greater Accra region has recorded 17,837 registered voters, followed by other regions with varying numbers of registered voters.
Despite facing several challenges during the limited voter registration exercise, the EC remains determined to achieve its registration target by the end of the process. The Commission aims to ensure a comprehensive and accurate voter register for the December 7 polls.
Dr. John Osae-Kwapong’s call for an emergency IPAC meeting highlights the need for clear communication and reassurance from the EC to political parties and the public. This move is essential to maintain trust and credibility in the electoral process as the country prepares for the upcoming general elections.
