By Isaac Arkoh/Victoria Agyemang
Cape Coast, Sept. 17, GNA – Hundreds of supporters of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) across the Central Region took to the streets of Cape Coast on Tuesday, seeking clarification on the discrepancies in voter transfers amounting to 35,517 by the Electoral Commission (EC).
They also called for a comprehensive audit and re-exhibition of the 2024 Provisional Voters’ Register (PVR) specifically in the Central Region.
The Regional Chairman, Prof Richard Kofi Asiedu, led the protesters to present a petition highlighting that the data provided by the EC to the NDC revealed a total of 71,828 transfers in the region.
However, the printed transfers data from the 22 District Offices of the EC indicated a total of 36,311, showcasing a disparity of 35,517.
In addition to that, more than 1,400 voters had their names inexplicably removed from the
Among these cases, 287 individuals from Assin South, 288 from Assin North, and 536 from Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem were listed as absent without any justification provided for their exclusion by EC.
These irregularities, he said indicated a significant unauthorised transfers of voters from the EC Headquarters to various constituencies across the region.
Prof Asiedu further specified instances of discrepancies in the numbers of transfers, such as in the Effutu Constituency where the District EC Office reported 6,206 transfers while the EC Headquarters data showed 10,113, resulting in a difference of 3,907.
Similarly, in the Awutu Senya East Constituency, the District Office recorded 5,188 transfers, whereas the EC Headquarters data displayed 9,202 transfers, indicating a discrepancy of 4,014.
In Ajumako-Enyan-Assiam Constituency, the District EC Office noted 1,259 transfers, whereas the EC Headquarters data revealed 4,286 transfers, with a difference of 3,027.
Regarding vote transfers, Prof Asiedu alleged that more than 14,436 unauthorised transfers were made into various constituencies in the region by the EC.
Those actions, he said, suggested that transfers were conducted without valid reasons or with inadequate explanations.
He further alleged that in the region, transfers were executed across constituencies without proper justification by the EC.
“For instance, in Awutu Senya East, 1,310 individuals were transferred without cause, as were 1,204 in Mfantseman and 1,464 in Effutu, among others,” he said.
Prof Asiedu condemned those actions as a breach of C.I. 127, regulation 22 sub-regulation (1-4).
For him, those illicit transfers were likely orchestrated to favour the New Patriotic Party in the region.
Meanwhile, the demonstrators, mostly clad in red or black with some in their party colours of red, white, green and black, marched peacefully.
Fuelled by the party’s ethos of “Unity, Stability, and Development,” the protesters echoed the rallying cry of the demonstration: “Enough is Enough.”
Earlier, under the guidance of regional executives, the protesters began to assemble sporadically from 0500 hours at Siwidu near the Robert Mensah Sports Stadium.
By 0900 hours, a large number had converged, signalling the commencement of the march towards Bakaano Roundabout, passing through Kingsway, Kotokuraba, Mfantsipim Junction and Pedu Junction to the EC’s office along the Cape Coast-Takoradi highway.
Periodically, they paused at strategic points to engage with onlookers who voiced their support.
Upon reaching Pedu traffic light, amid a tumultuous flow of vehicles, the demonstrators veered eastward, proceeding approximately 300 meters along the Cape Coast — Accra highway before diverging at the Highways junction towards the EC Regional office.
On arrival at the EC office junction at around 1100 hours, tensions escalated between the protesters and the police, resulting in a brief confrontation as they attempted to forcibly gain entry.
However, the police effectively maintained order, preventing any further escalation.
Mr Manu Sakyi, Regional Director of EC, accepted the petition and pledged to forward it to national headquarters for any redress.
GNA