GHANA’S main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), organised mass protests across the country on Tuesday, ramping up its demand for an audit of the voter register ahead of the upcoming presidential election in three months.
The NDC has accused the Electoral Commission (EC) of tampering with the voter register to favour the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and its presidential candidate, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia. Bawumia is in a close race against the opposition’s flagbearer and former president, John Mahama.
On Tuesday, thousands of NDC supporters took to the streets in all 16 regions of Ghana, chanting slogans and displaying placards with messages like ‘EC, stop the rigging, let the people decide’ and ‘No clean register, no peace.’
Claims of electoral fraud
The opposition alleges that the EC has conspired with the NPP to manipulate the voter roll by adding the names of 50,000 deceased individuals, illegally transferring votes, and removing legitimate voters. The EC has denied these accusations, calling them ‘unfounded’ and insisting that the recent public exhibition of the voter register was intended to correct any errors and ensure transparency.
Speaking to a crowd of demonstrators in Accra, NDC national chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah stressed the importance of a fair election, warning of the potential consequences of electoral fraud. ‘We are not asking for a favour from the Electoral Commission; we are demanding our right to free and fair elections,’ he said, before delivering a petition to the EC.
Call for forensic audit
Nketiah vowed that protests would continue until the NDC’s demand for a forensic audit of the voter register is met. The demonstrations, branded ‘Enough is Enough,’ were attended by senior opposition figures and party loyalists across the country.
‘We just want a fair election. If the voter register isn’t clean, how can we trust the results? Rigging starts with a flawed register, and we won’t sit by and let that happen,’ said Francis Dontoh, a protester in Accra.
In response, the EC’s deputy chairman for operations, Samuel Tettey, dismissed the NDC’s demand for an audit as ‘misguided and unnecessary.’ He reiterated that the purpose of the voter register exhibition was to identify and correct mistakes, urging the opposition to engage in dialogue instead of street protests.
Tensions mount ahead of 2024 election
These protests come at a critical time for Ghana, as the nation gears up for a highly anticipated election in 2024. With President Nana Akufo-Addo stepping down after serving two terms, Vice President Bawumia is leading the NPP’s efforts to stay in power. Meanwhile, former president Mahama aims to reclaim leadership on behalf of the NDC.
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Both candidates hail from northern Ghana, marking a significant moment in the country’s political history. The upcoming election is expected to focus on Ghana’s economic recovery following the financial crisis of 2022, which led to a government default on external debt. The country is now recovering with support from a $3bn IMF relief package.
As tensions rise, the outcome of the election will likely hinge on the management of the voter register and the public’s confidence in the electoral process.
