By Kamal Ahmed
Nuaso (E/R), Sept. 9, GNA – The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Lower Manya Krobo constituency has raised concerns about a possibly inflated voter register.
During a press briefing at the party’s constituency office in Nuaso, Eastern Region, Mr. John Matey Atteh, the NDC constituency chairman, accused the Electoral Commission of manipulating the voter register.
He cautioned that failure to address the inconsistencies in the register promptly could jeopardize the integrity of future elections.
“Our analysis and audit of the register uncover some disturbing manipulation, which we want to bring to the notice of the people of Lower Manya, and, by extension, the whole country,” he said.
He stated that the voter register had a population of 76,089 in 2023, and the limited registration exercise in 2024 had 3,160 participants.
He also stated that there were 978 transfers and 360 mop-up registrations, with 80,587 persons expected to vote in the upcoming 2024 elections.
“Although only 978 voters transferred their votes to the constituency during the limited registration exercise, we have observed an inflated transfer list of 2,359 voters.
“This indicates that the Electoral Commission has unlawfully added 1,381 new voters to the district, “he said
Adding, “Based on our understanding, the EC is deliberately trying to manipulate these new voters into casting two ballots in favour of the NPP candidate”
The Chairman mentioned that they have detected an unexplained reduction or deletion of 179 registered voters from the register, which, if not remedied immediately, may result in their disenfranchising them.
He emphasised that the NDC also discovered a bloated absentee list of 3,860 people, which included the special voters list and the transfer out list.
“We as a party has 642 persons on the special voter lists, and the Electoral Commission has over 3,218 illegal people on the list, and we have no idea where they acquired that number from” he added.
Mr Atteh added that these discrepancies have serious implications for the integrity of the December 7 elections and that they believe the anomalies were deliberate attempts by the EC, in conjunction with the ruling NPP, to rig the elections in favour of their presidential and parliamentary candidates.
He emphasized that they would not stand idly by while the electoral process was compromised, and that they were ready to define people’s rights and ensure that every vote is counted.
Mr. Jonathan Okine, the Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Director for the Electoral Commission, when contacted by the Ghana News Agency for his response on the accusations, said he has not been authorized to speak on the matter.
GNA