Don’t attempt to rig 2024 elections – NDC warns EC

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has warned the Electoral Commission (EC), against attempts to manipulate the 2024 general elections.

The NDC vowed to scrutinise and reveal any endeavours by the EC to subvert the integrity of the electoral process.

These remarks from the NDC come in response to the EC’s acknowledgement of errors made in the initial release of figures during the ongoing Limited Voter Registration Exercise. The EC subsequently corrected these errors and provided accurate figures for the different regions.

Addressing journalists on Thursday, May 16, 2024, the General Secretary of the NDC, Fifi Fiave Kwetey, contends that the mistakes were “utterly avoidable.”

He warned, “Simple arithmetic, accurately summing the regional figures from the 16 regions, would have clearly demonstrated to the EC that their numbers were erroneous. Such mistakes are utterly avoidable. Why must Ghana’s Electoral Commission be reduced to an ‘Error Commission’?

“The EC must distance itself from any intentions of rigging and be warned: any attempt to undermine the electoral process will be rigorously challenged and exposed.”

The NDC General Secretary asserted that the EC’s shuffling of categories is “transpositional rigging”.

“On May 12, 2024, the Electoral Commission issued a press statement acknowledging erroneous figures previously released and attempted corrections. However, they claimed the total number of registered voters over the four days remained unchanged. This situation exemplifies what we term “transpositional rigging,” where figures are shuffled between categories without affecting the overall total. The assertion by the EC that these errors in regional figures did not impact the total count is patently misleading.”

Mr Kwetey further issued a firm notice to the Jean Mensa-led Electoral Commission that the 2024 elections will not be business as usual.

“Ladies and gentlemen, with this press conference, we are issuing a firm notice to the Jean Mensa-led Electoral Commission: the 2024 elections will not be business as usual! We are also here to declare unequivocally that any attempt by the EC to violate CI 127, which governs the conduct of the general elections, will be met with resolute resistance from us. We will not stand idly by while the EC undermines the time-tested electoral processes that are well recognised and respected by all stakeholders,” he pointed out.

He charged the EC to approach the handling of electoral figures with the utmost seriousness.

“It is imperative that the EC approaches the handling of electoral figures with the utmost seriousness, as these numbers are fundamental to the integrity of the elections. No voter should be disenfranchised due to careless errors,” Fifi Kwetey stated.
[5/16, 5:26 PM] MASEM TV: Akosombo dam spillage: Replace voter IDs of flood victims – NDC tells EC

 

 

The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Kwetey, has called on Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC) to replace, the voter ID cards lost by victims of the recent Akosombo dam spillage for free.

The NDC general secretary during a press conference held on Thursday, May 16, Mr Kwetey emphasised the urgency of the situation and the need for the EC to act swiftly and compassionately.

“Let me use this opportunity to make this demand of the Electoral Commission on the replacement of lost voter ID cards. From May 30, the EC is expected to provide cards at no cost to the victims of the flood that happened along the Volta River and the lake. This is a demand, not a plea,” he stated.

Among other things, Fifi Kwetey also highlighted broader concerns regarding the EC’s operations.

The NDC as a party is pushing for an independent bipartisan parliamentary investigation into the EC’s handling of sensitive equipment, citing the theft of Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits that were under surveillance at the EC headquarters and the unexplained loss of Biometric Verification Devices (BVDs).

“We insist on the initiation of an independent bipartisan parliamentary inquiry into the conduct of the EC, particularly focusing on the stolen BVR kits which were under CCTV surveillance at the EC headquarters and the mysterious disappearance of BVDs.

“Indeed, the EC’s actions in the coming days will signal its commitment—or lack thereof—to upholding the democratic process in Ghana. We will accept nothing less than full accountability and immediate remedial action to restore faith in our electoral process,” he added